I picked up REM's best of, In Time, at Best Buy last week for $15.99. Per my usual, I had to have the "limited edition" version, which includes a bonus disc of "b-sides and rarities." For what it is, it's nicely packaged. Not something you'll want to sandwich tightly into your collection, however. First off, there's a clear plastic O-sleeve printed with parts of the artwork, through which parts of the artwork for the paper goods show. In the sleeve is a cardboard tri-fold sleeve for the two discs, an extensive book detailing the nitty-gritty on each song (including the bonus disc's contents,) and in between those two items is a . . . poster? Why? Of all bands, REM is not a band I need a poster for, especially not a pretty generic "band lolling about the parking lot" shot like this. I had hoped the poster was something more substantial, like with more information on the back . . . no. It's just a poster. What's more, removing and using the poster as intended would then make the O-sleeve too loose to actually hold the remaining contents. So, the poster will remain a very custom sort of padding between the two substantial items of the set.
As for the tracks, it's a good overview of REM's last 15 years of output. I'm actually glad to see it for some of the soundtrack and "various artists" collection songs pulled together into this set, making it worthwhile for all but the most die-hard of fans (those people who would have bought those soundtracks and oddities sets the songs were included on anyway.) The big complaint would be that nothing pre-1988 (pre-Warner Bros., in other words) makes it way onto the set, but that's what the "1988-2003" label means, you know? And that's what Eponymous is for, anyway.
Taken out of the context of the various albums, the songs chosen here stand up well. Outside of Monster, tracks like "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" don't seem as shallow - Monster being a pretty regrettable entry in their catalog. Of the two "new" songs, "Bad Day" stands out because, immediately, it's obvious that it is nothing more than the sibling of "It's the End of the World as We Know It" - and you won't be able to listen to it without expecting it to go into that memorable chorus. That it started out life as the inspiration way back when for "End of the World" comes as no surprise. "Animal," the other new song on the disc (and it actually is new,) harkens back to the hard-edged guitar jangle of REM in their prime. It's also nice to get tracks like "The Great Beyond" and "All The Right Friends" in one place - both were previously relegated to soundtracks.
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