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The Best of R.E.M.

 
Album Review: The Best of R.E.M.

  • Artist: R.E.M.
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: June 30, 1998
  • Total Time: 59:17
  • Type: Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Rock

Review

This import collection highlights the band's formative years on the independent IRS label. Though it lacks the alternate mixes that spurred completists to purchase 1988's Eponymous, this set offers a more detailed picture of the band's early days, when they sounded more pastoral than pastiche. There is nothing here that can't be found on the original IRS albums, which are all worth purchasing, but this set is still recommended for casual listeners interested in owning just one R.E.M. disc from this creatively fertile period. ~ Brian Beatty, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars) Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Michael Stipe R.E.M. (3:52)
Radio Free Europe (Lyrics) Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills R.E.M. (4:05)
Perfect Circle (Lyrics) Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck R.E.M. (3:28)
Talk About the Passion (Lyrics) Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Bill Berry R.E.M. (3:22)
So. Central Rain (Lyrics) Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Peter Buck R.E.M. (3:14)
(Don't Go Back To) Rockville Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Bill Berry R.E.M. (4:32)
Pretty Persuasion (Lyrics) Peter Buck, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Bill Berry R.E.M. (3:49)
Green Grow the Rushes (Lyrics) Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Michael Stipe R.E.M. (3:45)
Can't Get There from Here (Lyrics) Mike Mills, Peter Buck, Michael Stipe, Bill Berry R.E.M. (3:40)
Driver 8 (Lyrics) Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Peter Buck R.E.M. (3:24)
Fall on Me (Lyrics) Peter Buck, Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Mike Mills R.E.M. (2:51)
I Believe (Lyrics) Bill Berry, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck R.E.M. (3:47)
Cuyahoga (Lyrics) Bill Berry, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck R.E.M. (4:20)
The One I Love Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Stipe R.E.M. (3:17)
Finest Worksong (Lyrics) Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe R.E.M. (3:49)
It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Bill Berry, Mike Mills R.E.M. (4:04)

Credits

Peter Buck (Group Member), Mike Mills (Group Member), Bill Berry (Group Member)
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Wikipedia: The Best of R.E.M.
Top
The Best of R.E.M.
Compilation album by R.E.M.
Released September 30, 1991
Recorded Unknown
Genre Alternative rock
Label I.R.S. Records
R.E.M. chronology
Out of Time
(1991)
The Best of R.E.M.
(1991)
Automatic for the People
(1992)

The Best of R.E.M. is a greatest hits album by R.E.M. released in 1991, shortly after the success of the band's previous Warner Bros. album, Out of Time. The Best of R.E.M., however, was released by the band's previous record label, I.R.S. Records, as were a few more "special edition" versions of their other albums including bonus tracks.

This record was only issued in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia, complete with liner notes from Remarks: The Story of R.E.M. by Tony Fletcher. It had no alternate mixes (unlike the other compilation album Eponymous), as all the songs were the versions found on the previous albums.

Three songs were taken from each of the five studio albums and one song was taken from Chronic Town, the band's first EP. Thus there were sixteen songs on this album.

Because it was issued out-of-contract, this album is generally not considered to be part of R.E.M.'s official discography.

Track listing

  1. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" (3:51)
  2. "Radio Free Europe" (4:03)
  3. "Perfect Circle" (3:23)
  4. "Talk About the Passion" (3:22)
  5. "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" (3:11)
  6. "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" (4:34)
  7. "Pretty Persuasion" (3:53)
  8. "Green Grow The Rushes" (3:42)
  9. "Cant Get There From Here" (4:10)
  10. "Driver 8" (3:18)
  11. "Fall on Me" (2:49)
  12. "I Believe" (3:32)
  13. "Cuyahoga" (4:17)
  14. "The One I Love" (3:17)
  15. "Finest Worksong" (3:48)
  16. "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" (4:07)

Administered throughout the globe by Unichappel Music, Inc. (except "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)", published by Murmur Music—BMI)


 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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