R.E.M.
In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003

Why can't we pantomime, just close our eyes, and sleep sweet dreams?

Old and dear R.E.M., so renowned and in recent years so - undeservedly! - criticized.

What better way to (re)discover them, or to approach them for the first time, as I did, with an anthology of their mythical past: fifteen unmissable tracks complemented by three unreleased ones, to be enchanted by Stipe's bewildering and purely American voice, his cryptic and often incomprehensible lyrics, and those evocative atmospheres dense with objective correlatives, emerging like flashes of truth through the veil that divides our dimension from the other, that of the unconscious, the subjective, of the brave who navigate by sight in stormy seas... even though this collection has nothing so dramatic.

This is the point of convergence and encounter between pop and indie rock; this is the album to listen to on the stereo while dining alone; yes, because R.E.M. are like the sky of your city during Christmas holidays; they are like a beer that makes everything a little less exhausting, relaxing, more bearable for a moment.

It suffices to mention pieces such as the superlative "The Great Beyond", dedicated to the unforgettable comedian Andy Kaufman, with its electro-melodic overlays and simultaneously engaging and sweetly delicate singing like a cake or a vision of the hereafter; "Man On The Moon", the perfect song to look inside yourself while taking a glance at paradise; "All The Way To Reno", perfect bar song for a moment of disillusionment; the hypnotic and almost dreamlike conversation of "E-Bow The Letter", highlighted by the voice of the immortal Patti Smith; the touching combination of adolescentism and tinged despair in "Imitation Of Life"; the poignant contrast between dark, visionary tones and seemingly cheerful ones in "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite", filled with the oppressive energy of "Automatic For The People"; the Los Angeles glamour and farewell to the old millennium in "Electrolite", and finally the undeniable sweetness of one of the most beautiful love songs ever created, "At My Most Beautiful".

Mainstream tracks like "Losing My Religion", "Everybody Hurts" or "Nightswimming" might seem almost out of place in the collection, but to omit them would mean renouncing HISTORY, and neglecting the need for that extra pinch of joy - or hope - in a river that will keep flowing steadily for much, much longer.

Of course, there are notable absences of songs like "Try Not To Breathe", "Shiny Happy People" or "The One I Love", but upon reflection, they might have altered the essence of a strictly anthological work, shifting it to a more specific, less general scope - where "general" doesn't equate to "lower quality".

Ultimately, an album to purchase for all rock and good music lovers, from 1979 to the early 2000s, and naturally for everyone else. Because those who love music will love R.E.M., those who prefer pseudo-compositions will not appreciate Stipe and his fellows.

Immortal, undying, futuristic. A voice and a guitar that traverse the world, attempting to deliver a message that few can comprehend. Let's keep listening to them.

I'm looking for answers from the Great Beyond...