R.E.M.
- Janna Hutz
In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
Warner Bros. Records
As one of the seminal American alt-rock groups and the
underground’s greatest success story, R.E.M. grew from
unassuming jangle-pop upstarts into platinum-selling sensations.
Following a prolific six-year period on IRS Records, during which
they released six albums including their masterworks Murmur
and Reckoning, R.E.M. made the jump to the big time with
Warner Bros. in 1988. The years at Warner saw the band sticking to
its jangle roots while building a fan base numbering in the
millions.
In Time gathers 16 classics (and two new songs) from the
Warner years, including the touching Andy Kaufman tributes
“Man on the Moon” and “The Great Beyond,”
hit singles “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” and
“Losing My Religion” and the serenely beautiful
“Everybody Hurts” and “Nightswimming,”
paying proper tribute to some of America’s finest.
Rating: 4 stars.
— Joel Hoard