. . . and I feel fine

Since R.E.M. is my all-time favorite, I would be remiss if I did not mention their new album, out today. A couple of years ago, R.E.M. released a best-of compilation from the second half of their career, the Warner Bros. years. But today marks the release of the best of the early years, the I.R.S. Records years. These are the songs that initially made me love R.E.M.

Though my favorite R.E.M. album, Automatic for the People, is part of the second half, this new compilation reflects all that I love about this band: from the garage band lo-fi of "Radio Free Europe" to the jangle-rock of "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville"; from the tenderness of "Perfect Circle" to the angry politicism of "Beging the Begin" and "Welcome to the Occupation"; from the devastating heart-piercing of "The One I Love" to the gorgeous passion of "Fall on Me."


And I Feel Fine...The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987

Tracklist:
1. Begin the Begin
2. Radio Free Europe
3. Pretty Persuasion
4. Talk About the Passion
5. (Don't Go Back to) Rockville
6. Sitting Still
7. Gardening at Night
8. 7 Chinese Bros.
9. So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
10.Driver 8
11.Can't Get There From Here
12.Finest Worksong
13.Feeling Gravity's Pull
14.I Believe
15.Life and How To Live It
16.Cuyahoga
17.The One I Love
18.Welcome To the Occupation
19.Fall On Me
20.Perfect Circle
21.It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)


This is a brilliant collection of tunes. The band is also releasing a 2-cd special edition with rarities and band-picked favorites, as well as a DVD collection of the videos from this era. I love the video (and song) for "Fall on Me." And as a nice little archaeological find, here is a clip of R.E.M.'s first ever national television performance, 23 years ago on Letterman.

Sadly I know a lot of people who think that R.E.M. began with "Losing My Religion." But this new collection highlights what an important, influential, and wonderful band they are.