Wezzo's DVD Reviews > REM: In Time
Wezzo's DVD Reviews > Music and Special Interest > REM: In Time - The Best Of REM 1988-2003
REM: In Time - The Best Of REM 1988-2003
Main Feature:
Quite obviously, the main feature in this disc is the band's videos, all 16 of them, for almost all of their singles released in the last 15 years. As an REM fan, I can't fault any of them, song or video wise; the songs are amazing, varying from emotional to catchy; and the videos range from depressing to camp. All in all, a great compilation, which complements the sister CD perfectly. 10/10
UPDATE:
27/01/2004
Here are some excerpts from my review of the CD version. The ordering is different, but what the hell. A couple songs had the review removed to fit on the page.
Man On The Moon
A great start to a great album, Man On The Moon displays everything that makes REM great. The song actually isn't in my favourites - in fact, shockingly, I didn't like it at all when I first heard it - but it's still a great combination of excellent lyrics, catchy chorus, and brilliant backing music. The verses are sung brilliantly, and build up to the chorus perfectly. The lyrics are catchy, and very well-written, with lots of lovely double meanings. The 'Yeah, yeah.. yeah, yeah' after each line in the verses is an excellent touch, and makes the song sound that much better. The video that goes with this song is shot and black and white, and has some excellent camera work and effect in it. So, while not a personal favourite, this one is certainly still an excellent song; typical of REM.
Lyrics: 9/10
Song: 9/10
Video: 8/10
OVERALL: Grade A, 9/10
The Great Beyond
This is certainly one of my favourites. Its one of their more recent songs, released in 1999, and was the poppiest song from the album ‘Up’. What makes this song so brilliant for me is the excellency that is the chorus. It’s catchy beyond belief - expect it to be stuck in your head for the next several years - and the lyrics, ridiculous as they are, fit the music perfectly and sound excellent in the song. I also like the way the chorus itself builds up towards the end of the chorus, and the way each line is sung so it begins the next one. If you don’t understand me, just go listen to it ;-). The verses are also great, and work excellently as ‘in-betweeners’ for the chorus. The video is also one of RE’s best - and most original. A perfect piece of pop. ..Well, rock.
Lyrics: 10/10
Song: 10/10
Video: 9/10
OVERALL: Grade A+, 10/10
Bad Day
This song is really the newest one on the record; it was released as a single just a week after this compilation was released. Although my favourite changes from time to time, this is certainly my favourite at the mo. It is certainly the catchiest song on the record, and like The Great Beyond, just won’t leave your head for ages. The lyrics to this one are again great, verses and chorus, and the lyrics to verse and chorus lead into each other perfectly. The words are also at first read or hear, quite random, but all becomes clear after a while, and the pieces come together. The music in the background is just amazing and makes the chorus unbearably great, coupled with the background ‘Aaaaaahhhhhh’s. The end of the song is excellent, and tops off the best song on the record. ..in my current opinion. The video is again one of the group’s best, based on a fake Breakfast TV show. Want my advice? Listen to this one now.
Lyrics: 10/10
Song: 10/10
Video: 10/10
OVERALL: Grade A+, 10/10
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
On first listen, this song is rubbish. On second, third and fourth, it probably still will be. Hell, maybe it still will be after ten listens. But my point is, this song is nothing like what it first appears to be. To me, when I first heard it, I though “guitar-laden load of rubbish”. But after a few listens, I totally changed my mind. It’s not one of the best on the album, but the song, chorus-less as it is, is catchy as hell once you know thee words, and the musical interlude halfway through makes this song pretty damn good. The lyrics are rather confusing and I don’t really get them, but regardless, they’re catchy and appear to be well-written, and the guitar in the background makes the song a great experience. The ‘uh-huh’s after each line somehow give the song a little more ‘oomph’ too. The video is one of REM’s worst unfortunately though, with nothing but the band singing the song. Hmm. Good overall.
Lyrics: 8/10
Song: 8/10
Video: 5/10
OVERALL: Grade B+; 7/10
All The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be A Star)
Lyrics: 7/10
Song: 6/10
Video: 7/10
OVERALL: Grade B; 6/10
Losing My Religion
This is probably REM’s most famous song. However, in my opinion, it’s undeserving of that status. The song isn’t really great, and there are plenty of REM songs better. However it’s by no means bad either. The song is catchy and the backing music gives a nice African music tint to it. The lyrics are really very good, and Stipe sings them very well; they’re actually quite empathic. The chorus blends perfectly into verses and vice versa, and the whole song sounds like 4 and a half minutes of one long verse (a good thing) with great backing instruments. The beginning and end of the song do their job well; they start and finish the song perfectly, and are possibly the best parts of the whole song. There is, though, a lack of catchiness in a lot of places, and overall I just don’t enjoy this as much as most of the others. The video is a great one though, with lots of religious set-pieces and costumes.
Lyrics: 8/10
Song: 6/10
Video: 8/10
OVERALL: Grade B+; 7/10
E-Bow The Letter
Come back “Reno”, all is forgiven!
This song really is REM’s worst. I can’t think of anything about it that’s good. It’s not catchy, it’s unbearably bland, the female backing vocal in the chorus is just horrible, the music is dreadful and too slow, the lyrics don’t make much sense and aren’t that good, and the song as a package doesn’t deserve this place on the album. God knows why this is on here yet “Shiny Happy People” isn’t. Simply, this is the worst song on the CD with few redeeming features. On the bright side, the video isn’t bad; and the lyrics aren’t terrible, just boring.
Lyrics: 6/10
Song: 3/10
Video: 6/10
OVERALL: Grade C; 4/10
Orange Crush
Lyrics: 7/10
Song: 7/10
Video: 5/10
OVERALL: Grade B+; 6/10
Imitation of Life
Simply put, this is the song that made me like REM originally, about 2 and a half years ago. I’d heard “At My Most Beautiful” in 1999, but that song didn’t actually make me a fan of REM. This song has the best chorus of any REM song - such an amazing combination of lyrics, voice and instruments - and, like many REM chorus’, catchy. One of the best qualities about this song is that anyone will like it - Beethoven loving conductors, to Slipknot loving Goths. Whoever, they will enjoy this song. God knows why, but it just has such a great quality. The verses in this song are just as good as the chorus, and all put together along with a great opening and closing add up to a great song. 10/10 all the way. Oh, and the video is again, one of the best of REM.
Lyrics: 10/10
Song: 10/10
Video: 10/10
OVERALL: Grade A+; 10/10
Daysleeper
Another simply excellent song, this time a slower one. Like many REM songs, the opening and closing are fantastic; particularly the closing - a lovely 30-second instrumental. But of course, it’s what comes before that that really counts. The verses are short and sweet, with beautiful, witty lyrics, that also tell a story very well. You can really relate to the verses, which also have lovely backing music, but what’s most important is the catchy chorus - amazing for a song in ¾ time. The backing music for the chorus is also incredible. There’s a rubbishy talky bit in there, like “Orange Crush”, but it doesn’t really affect the quality of the entire song at all. Another perfect one, with an awesome computer-style video, with realistic flicker vision. Excellent all round.
Lyrics: 10/10
Song: 10/10
Video: 10/10
OVERALL: Grade A+; 10/10
The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
Ahh, this song is heaven in my opinion. It ahs a lovely African tinge to it, thanks to sampling “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. The song is pretty clever actually, although I can’t figure out what the hell it’s about. The music in the background fits the singing very well, and the lyrics, while odd, and sort of even childish, are certainly the right ones for the song. The verses don’t really make much sense in my opinion, but hey they fit the song well so who’s complaining? The chorus is the best part of the song - “call me when you try to wake her up” repeated 8 times, at top speed. Sounds rubbish? Honestly, it’s not! One of the more ‘fun’ songs on the album, and has an excellent (albeit odd) video to accompany it. One of the best songs from early in REM’s career, can be enjoyed by everyone. A personal favourite I have to say.
Lyrics: 9/10
Song: 10/10
Video: 10/10
OVERALL: Grade A+; 10/10
Stand
The most ‘dumb’ song on the album in a way. But still brilliant. The lyrics are hardly rocket science .. ‘Stand in the place where you’ve been, that way, so, think about direction, wonder why you have it now’. But the song, like “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite”, is still fun to listen to, and can be enjoyed by anyone. The backing music is inbetween laugh-out-loud funny and perfectly complementary, I can’t decide which - but either is good. The song is sung well by Stipe, and the section with the words repeated in the background is great. A masterpiece in one way, a nursery rhyme in another. Which way to go? I think you know. A funny-as-God-only-knows-what video accompanies the song.
Lyrics: 8/10
Song: 10/10
Video: 10/10
OVERALL: Grade A+; 10/10
Electrolite
On first listen, I didn’t like this song. Too many sound effects, the chorus wasn’t catchy enough, the backing music was too odd, the lyrics seemed to make no sense. Then one day, I woke up, and I loved it.. God knows why. I’ve grown to love the backing music, sound-effect and piano chord-laden; and the lyrics are in my opinion written excellently. The chorus I actually find catchy now, and the verses I think are some of the best in any REM song - I almost like them as much as the chorus, in fact. And I don’t say that with many songs. The video for this is brilliant, funny and weird, and very brightly-coloured (all good), and it goes with the song very well. I strongly recommend, if you dislike this, as with “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?”, listen to it again and again… you will like it in the end.
Lyrics: 8/10
Song: 9/10
Video: 10/10
OVERALL: Grade A; 9/10
Everybody Hurts
This is probably REM’s most famous hit, after “Losing My Religion”. And again, like LMR, in my opinion it’s undeservingly so. Ok, Everybody hurts isn’t a bad song, but it’s hailed as if it’s the greatest emotional song ever.. When even REM have done better emotional songs themselves. However, I shouldn’t criticize it so. It really is a good song. Not great, but good. It is sung powerfully and has very good emotional lyrics, and the soft, two-instrument backing music really helps the song along. The echoing lyrics in later sections also give the song plus points. The song isn’t catchy, but then most emotional songs aren’t. The verses and the chorus’ are indistinctive until near the end. The video is very good, and it’s sometimes better to watch the video instead of just listening to it. Overall, good.
Lyrics: 8/10
Song: 7/10
Video: 8/10
OVERALL: Grade A-; 8/10
At My Most Beautiful
The title really is self-descriptive. This is REM at their most beautiful. This song is perfect, polished, pristine, and many other words that begin with ‘p’, probably. It opens with a beautiful piano bar or two, and closes the same way. The verses and chorus to this song are just beautiful, too. Stipe sings them very softly and they sound lovely. The bridge of ‘Do-do-do-do’ before the chorus .. Even that itself is excellent. The backing music throughout is fabulous, and what do you know? I’m already running out of superlatives. The song is just a masterpiece, whichever way you look at it. This was the first REM song I heard, back in 1999, and it blew me away. Although I didn’t become a fan until 2001, this has been a song I love since 1999. The violin ending tops off a fantastic song. The video is also great, one of REM’s slightly more serious videos. Highly, highly recommended.
Lyrics: 10/10
Song: 10/10
Video:10/10
OVERALL: Grade: A+; 10/10
Nightswimming
So, here I am, 17 tracks later, one track left to go. Thankfully, it’s a great one. It opens with a nice 3-second melody which I don’t understand, but love nonetheless. The lyrics to this song are really beautiful; they tell a story with excellent description, and as ever Stipe delivers them excellently. The chorus and verse blend seamlessly into each other; and the backing music here is probably the best backing music on the whole album. There really isn’t much else to say about the song; the ending is a beautiful instrumental which couldn’t be bettered, and this song really is an excellent ending to an excellent album. Lyrics-wise it’s excellent. Its sung well with lovely music, catchy all through, and a rather excellent (though slightly rude!) video goes with it. More 10/10 material methinks.
Lyrics: 10/10
Song: 10/10
Video: 9/10
OVERALL: Grade A+; 10/10
CD OVERALL: Grade A
Audio:
The audio is great, as is to be expected on a music release. There's a choice of 5.1 Surround, or DTS 5.1. Either is great and both do the songs justice. 9/10
Video:
In my opinion the video is the worst thing about this DVD release.. though it's still pretty good. It's in 4:3, with a few signs of edge enhancement and an occassional grainy scene, but otherwise great. 7/10
Price:
£15 on average in my experiences. Fair; would be better at £12.99 or so but oh well. 7/10
Extras:
No commentaries or deleted scenes or anything, but we get around 15 minutes of interviews, about a minute per song, 6 rare videos that aren't often seen elsewhere, and three performances at Trafalgar Square for a charity event. Not too shabby. There's also multi-lingual subtitles, and the disc is region 2,3,4,5 and 6. 8/10
Overall:
An excellent greatest hits compilation; a great tribute and recognization of REM. 9/10
Family-Friendly Rating:
This disc gets the grade 'Teen' from me due to mild bad language in one song ('Bad Day') and moderate nudity in another video ('Nightswimming'). Recommended for 12 and up.
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