Does anyone else REM's selection of song for their Best Of (Vol 1)?

Question

I very much question the selection of songs for REM's Best of 1988 - 2003. I read that Michael Stipe was very fond of the songs from Automatic For the People when he (they) decided on the songs.
However, I think that there should have been more songs from Monster than just What's the Frequency Kenneth. It should have included Strange Currencies or Bang and Blame. It could have als used more songs from Out Of Time. Please tell me if you agree, disagree, and if so how you would change it.

Track LIsting
# "Man on the Moon" – 5:14
# "The Great Beyond" – 5:05
# "Bad Day" – 4:06
# "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" – 4:00
# "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" – 4:44
# "Losing My Religion" – 4:28
#"All the Right Friends" – 2:46
Everybody Hurts" – 5:18
"At My Most Beautiful" – 3:34
"Nightswimming" – 4:18


2

Answer 1

To me, "Out of Time" and "Automatic for the People" are two of REM's masterworks. "Monster" left me kind of flat - Michael Stipe had gone with his whole Kojak look by then, and there was WAAAAAAY too much fuzzbox on the album. "WTF, Kenneth?" (ha - I just realized what that looks like!!!) is a great song, but much of the rest of "Monster" kinda bugs. If I had to choose any track, it'd probably be "Strange Currencies." "Bang and Blame" got too much noteriety for a not-so-great tune.

I'd pick almost any song from "Out of Time" to include - I can't think of a single song I dislike on that album, even "Shiny Happy People," which I know puts some people into fits.

From the "Automatic..." album, I would definitely add "Drive." That particular track has such an ominous intensity to it that is really underrated. The whole song seems like a cobra, sitting coiled, waiting just for the right moment to strike. "Try Not to Breathe" is another cool atmospheric piece that deserves more recognition. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" is probably a bit too peppy for a "best of " collection (kind of falling into the same category with some of the other brighter-sounding REM songs like the aforementioned "Shiny Happy People" and maybe "It's the End of the World blah blah blah"). Still, it's one of my faves, if only because a good friend of mine spent the summer of 1993 swearing up and down that Michael sings "calling Jamaica" in the line that reads "call me when you try to wake her." I guess it could say "calling Jamaica," and still make as much sense... lol

So, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Answer 2

i agree, out of time is a great album.