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

Whenever a well-known band releases a "best of" compilation, there is always a certain hesitancy involved. Are they going to select the appropriate mix of new and vintage favorites as well as offer previously unavailable flashy new bonus features? Are the songs going to further the band as a musical rock, surmounting the test of time? And, finally, economically - after owning a majority of the band's previous work (7 albums in R.E.M.'s case), is it worth it in dollars and sense to re-buy music you already own? With an 18 song compilation disc, furthered by a 15 song disc of rarities, b-sides, and concert versions, In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003(special edition) would like you to think the answer is yes.

But before we come to any hasty conclusions, let us consider the questions at hand. In terms of song selection, one of the greatest challenges is the dilemma of trying to create a fluid sound from song to song amidst an often chaotic and experimental catalog. In the case of R.E.M., one might say that they succeed almost too well; Michael Stipe's voice blends so well that the music is almost lulling. Nonetheless, upon a casual listening, the body of work is not jarring.

Initiating R.E.M.'s musical time machine with its twin Andy Kaufman tributes, "Man on the Moon" and "The Great Beyond," In Time proceeds to travel to a fair number of key songs post 1988. From "Losing My Religion," drawn from R.E.M.'s first big album circa 1990 all the way to new tracks, "Animal" and "Bad Day," no one can say that the disc doesn't know how to get around.

However, while the CD does manage to incorporate all the previous albums, it certainly does not do so evenly. "Shiny Happy People" was left off and represents one of the most obvious voids "Drive" - off the later and better represented Automatic for the People - is another notable track omitted. Additionally, "Bad Day" sounds suspiciously similar to the band's previous hit, "It's the End of the World as We Know It."

Beyond this liability, however, there is a peculiarity presented in this idea of "getting around," in that either a R.E.M. die hard fan or just an avid radio listener would be familiar with the core work of In Time. Thus, this would suggest that instead of a "best of" album, this is more of a "greatest hits" grouping. Not that one is necessarily better than the other; rather, they are just different beasts.

In terms of swanky new features on the special edition of In Time (it is possible and less expensive to purchase only the main "best of" CD sans special features), the fifteen songs range from tingling musical treasures to overindulgent annoyances. The live version of, "The One I Love," for instance, takes one's breath away. It feels genuine -- a living specimen of art -- without the manipulation of a label or studio. However, the solely instrumental"2JN" grates on the ears and quickly becomes boring, prompting a swift fast-forward to the next track. Beyond the physical music, another bonus additive is a song booklet with insightful comments by guitarist Peter Buck, offering a direct glimpse into the world that is R.E.M.

Tangentially, the collection begins in 1988 because that year separates the period when R.E.M. was signed under the IRS record label, before they moved to Warner Bros. Under their formative years spent with IRS, R.E.M. released an earlier "best of" CD of called Eponymous.

Moving on to the next qualification for a formidable compilation CD is whether or not R.E.M. has the musical chops to produce such a work. Considering that the main grievance with the album is the lack of favorite songs after hearing 18 other favorites, the answer to this conundrum should be simple enough. With their mix of lugubrious yet still poetically buoyant lyrics, R.E.M. has proven time and again that its music channels and will channel immeasurable imagination for years to come.

So we are left with the question of whether or not this steadfast disc deserves a place in your CD rack. And in the end, you're on your own.

R.E.M. seems to be aware of its own impending mortality within the music industry. In fact, rarely have they actually followed the trendy popular music of the time or followed the patterns of their own success for that matter. 1990's "Shiny Happy People" offered a style polar opposite to the popular Seattle grunge of the time, while the 1994 Monster strayed from everything R.E.M. was previously known and adored for. It charted foreign and less instrumental material for the group. The band claims to now be In Time, but with their all too familiar exit from the norm, in this supposed "best of" CD, the trio appears to once again be marching, singing, and thumping along to their own timeless drummer.