In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003

R.E.M.

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 1, 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0006IIPKI
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,320 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
After putting Athens, GA, on the musical map in the early '80s, R.E.M. went on to become one of the world's biggest bands. Fusing folk, garage rock, pop sensibilities, and insightful lyrics delivered with Michael Stipe's inimitable lead vocals, these alt-rock forefathers built a massive indie following, and in 1988 unleashed their major-label debut, Warner Bros.' Green. This roots rock tour de force was followed in '91 by the Grammy-winning #1 blockbuster Out of Time, which led to an ongoing stream of masterpieces. These two classics, along with five more albums from R.E.M.'s extraordinary catalog-plus their retrospective Best Of-now each feature a Bonus DVD with Surround Sound audio and video extras.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great If You Have A DVD-Audio Player, September 12, 2008

By	James A. Dean (Arlington, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The previous reviewer either needs to get a new stereo set-up or a new pair of ears. I have listened to this release in both the regular and DVD-Audio versions and both sound just fine. The DVD-Audio version obviously being the better of the two and far cheaper than what the DVD-Audio only version is fetching right now on amazon. Well worth the money for 2 discs, in my opinion.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A good collection/selection of songs but over-compression/excessive loundness has butchered the sound of otherwise great songs, May 8, 2008

By	phdtobe (Glassboro, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

I've been a fan of R.E.M. for some years, and bought this CD in part because my collection of their best works is incomplete (the bonus CD also appealed to me). But when I fired up the first CD in my music player, I was aurally accosted by overloud/bass heavy/distorted sound blasting from the speakers. After enduring a few minutes of each song in the hope of hearing a glimpse of the sound treasures the original releases provide, I gave up and mentally tossed this CD in the trash. In my opinion, these great songs by R.E.M. were butchered by whatever sound engineer that had his or her finger/hand heavily on the loudness/compressor button/slider in/on the mixer program/machine. Or perhaps it was a foot.

In fact, to call the first CD a re-release of R.E.M.'s best hits of that period could not be further from the musical truth. This CD's sound for such classics as "Man on the Moon" and "Losing My Religion" resembles what one might hear from the original releases if someone listened to them with the stereo or music player volume turned up so loud as to overload the speakers far beyond their normal operating volume. Perhaps this CD should be added to the collection of "music" that the police/U.S. Army/FBI use to aurally stun holed-up hostage takers/dictators/wanted criminals into submission, but it surely should not be considered a half-reasonable re-release of otherwise great songs by a ground-breaking and much-loved band. And the result is that I feel pretty much ripped off by the record company that produced this CD.

And since I can't return this CD (I had to open the case to listen to it), I would love I know the name and email address of the record execute of the music company that produced this CD so that I can ask the musical horse's behind who approved of this disaster for half of my money back! Only half, mind you. After the bludgeoning my ears received from listening to the first CD of this two CD set, I haven't yet built up the courage or desire to listen to the bonus CD. I'll let you know when I do. If I do...