R.E.M.
Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011
Warner Bros.
By David Chiu
Sadly, one of the greatest bands of the last 30 years has recently folded. But unlike other groups, R.E.M. did it on their own terms and on top.
This new double CD-compilation marks the first time their music from the I.R.S. and Warner Bros. years have been put together. It’s a time capsule of some of the best music that came from the-then underground college rock era of the’80s (“Radio Free Europe,” “Talk About the Passion,” “Driver 8,” “Fall on Me”). Then after R.E.M. got signed with Warner Bros., the band’s popularity soared in the early 90s thanks to “Losing My Religion,” “Shiny Happy People” and “Everybody Hurts.” Despite the departure of original drummer Bill Berry and some less-than-received records in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, R.E.M. braved on and rebounded with their best final two albums in Accelerate and Collapse into Now (“Supernatural Superserious,” “Oh My Heart”). This collection features three new tracks: the upbeat New Wave-ish “A Month of Saturdays”; the lovely Burt Bacharach-like “We All Go Back to Where We Belong”; and the soulful rocker “Hallelujah.” Diehard fans may quibble over some omissions (“Can’t Get Here From There,” “Drive,” “Daysleeper”), but overall Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011 is an excellent way to appreciate the career of a truly great and now legendary rock and roll band.
NewBeats 