This album is essential for all but the newest REM fans. It is where you can find REM's one and only EP -- Chronic Town, which was released a year before their landmark debut, Murmur. It is also where you can find many cover songs, B-sides, and alternate versions of songs. I highly recommend the import version of this album (although I realize Peter Buck wasn't all that happy about the re-release with 2 extra tracks). Track 21, Gardening At Night (acoustic) is beautiful, although a little tenative. Track 22, All The Right Friends, is a Murmur outtake, but almost sounds like it belongs on Chronic Town. Another great song out of the 1,000s REM has done already. Maybe most people don't take this album seriously, but for me, it holds a dear place in my heart. Like that professional reviewer above mentioned, REM does a fine job of any cover song they record. This is a very enjoyable album. A 7-year cross section of early REM work.

As a compilation of rare B-sides and the first EP, this album provides an enjoyable listening experience although it may not be up there with the best of this brilliant band. With its 22 tracks, it offers good value for money anyway.

My favorites include the three Velvet Underground covers: There She Goes Again, Pale Blue Eyes and Femme Fatale. I also love the spiritual song Voice Of Harold with its gripping melody, churning guitars and whistling towards the end.

Other tracks of note are the instrumental White Tornado with its powerful guitars, the speedy and energetic Toys In The Attic, Wolves Lower with its nervous rhythm, Gardening At Night with its lovely winding melody and All The Right Friends.

Their sound appears a bit thin in places in this early phase of their career but it's rather charming to listen to the beginnings of this amazing band that later give us masterpieces like Document, Out Of Time and Automatic For The People.

This alblum, when it came out, was my absolute favorite. I was, and still am, a huge R.E.M. fan from the beginning. This alblum filled a gap for me since I did not have all their single at the time. Also the cover of "King of the Road" is not to be missed. If you are a fan of their latest work, check this one out to see where they came from.

This is REM's finest. No question. Their Velvet Underground covers are magical. But, keep in mind, this albulm shouldn't be taken too seriously. It's just the band having fun. please don't try to analyze this one, ok?