The Process of REM

One of the first proper albums I ever bought myself was 'In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003' for some reason. I'd literally never heard of REM before I saw their 'Best Of...' being advertised on TV and in sort of a spur-of-the-moment, I-should-listen-to-a-wider-range-of-music panic I bought it.

First time I listened to it I was underwhelmed but sort of liked it but I found it's best use when I listened to in my Walkman (Oh yeah!) nodding off on the couch. It was the perfect sleep album (ironically given their name...or apt...maybe apt?). It just eases you into a comfortable state and slowly causes you to drift off. Every, single night for about half a year after that I listened to that album to get to sleep (as did my brother later - word spreads) and as long as you nodded off before The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight and Stand, which are equivalent to someone violently shaking you during a massage, it was literally the most relaxing thing ever. Here's how the album lures you in.

• __Man on the Moon:__"Ah this is an alright song. Pretty decent. I could nod along to this for a bit."
• __The Great Beyond:__"The title implies I should be reading something into this but concentrating is so hard when a song's so peaceful and comforting."
• __Bad Day:__"Pace is picked up a little but there's a steadiness to it. Like a constant drumbeat. I'm just gonna sit here not moving listening to it."
• __What's the Frequency, Kenneth?__"What is the frequency, Kenneth? Just tell me. I'm groggy and not in the mood."
• All The Way To Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star) "Reno that's the places with all the beaches right? Those hot...sandy...beaches...you sure Michael Stipes voice isn't a pillow?"
• __Losing My Religion__"This song loses all religious significance with your eyes closed."
• __E-Bow the Letter__"It's like I'm floating on a sea of harmony and feathers."
• __Orange Crush__"SHIT! Well that drumbeat was unnecessary but actually now I'm getting used to this pace I can pretty much just drift off..."
• __Imitation of Life__"I kind of recognise this one. Oh fuck it I don't care..."
• __Daysleeper__"You win..."
• __Animal__"Zzzzzzz..."
• __The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight__"Well that's jolted me awake. I'll just ride this one out."
• __Stand__"What an annoying ridiculous song. It's like they invented it just to fuck you off right when you were nodding off."
• __Electrolite__"And just like that you're back in that semi-conscious state again."
• __All the Right Friends__"Here I go..."
• __Everybody Hurts__"No one's committing suicide when they're this relaxed..."
• __At My Most Beautiful__"I'm done..."
• __Nightswimming__"If I was awake I might realise how seedy the lyrics sound. But I'm definitely not at his point so never mind. What a sleep!"