Dead Letter Office (Greatest Hits)
- Artist: R.E.M.
The following promotions apply
Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online.
Availability:
In Stock
This item is available online, but is not available in stores.
Items purchased from the Music, Movies + Books category have a standard shipping fee of $2.99 per order. Items in your order purchased from other categories are subject to standard shipping charges.
1 Disc(s)
Description
Arriving mere months before Document took the group into the Top Ten, the B-sides and rarities collection Dead Letter Office sums up all of the quirks and idiosyncrasies that made R.E.M. the leading underground guitar pop band of the '80s. While only a handful of songs on Dead Letter Office rank among the group's best, the record is extremely entertaining, even for casual fans, particularly because it captures the wild spirit of R.E.M. that was evident at their concerts, but not always on their records. Among the gems scattered throughout the collection are the cheerily ridiculous "Band Wagon," "Voice of Harold" (which features Michael Stipe singing the liner notes to a gospel album over the backing of "7 Chinese Brothers"), covers of the Velvet Underground, Pylon, and Aerosmith, the ringing pop of "Burning Down" (which is later reworked as "Ages of You"), and "Walter's Theme," a drunken attempt at a commercial for a local restaurant that segues into a clueless cover of "King of the Road." The material may be slight, but it's fun -- and R.E.M.'s albums aren't always fun. [The CD version of Dead Letter Office contains the group's debut EP, Chronic Town.] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Details
Description
Arriving mere months before Document took the group into the Top Ten, the B-sides and rarities collection Dead Letter Office sums up all of the quirks and idiosyncrasies that made R.E.M. the leading underground guitar pop band of the '80s. While only a handful of songs on Dead Letter Office rank among the group's best, the record is extremely entertaining, even for casual fans, particularly because it captures the wild spirit of R.E.M. that was evident at their concerts, but not always on their records. Among the gems scattered throughout the collection are the cheerily ridiculous "Band Wagon," "Voice of Harold" (which features Michael Stipe singing the liner notes to a gospel album over the backing of "7 Chinese Brothers"), covers of the Velvet Underground, Pylon, and Aerosmith, the ringing pop of "Burning Down" (which is later reworked as "Ages of You"), and "Walter's Theme," a drunken attempt at a commercial for a local restaurant that segues into a clueless cover of "King of the Road." The material may be slight, but it's fun -- and R.E.M.'s albums aren't always fun. [The CD version of Dead Letter Office contains the group's debut EP, Chronic Town.] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Features
- Genre: Rock
- Category: Alternative Pop/Rock, American Underground, College Rock, Jangle Pop
- Release Date: October 25, 1990
- Artist: R.E.M.
- Additional Artists: Michael Stipe (Vocals)
- Format: CD
Additional Information
- DPCI: 244-08-7587
- ASIN: B002SVMBVU
- Catalog #: 11695045
- Item can not be gift wrapped.
Shipping & Policies
- You may return this item to any Target store.Opens in New Window
- Shipping & Delivery InformationOpens in New Window
- Estimated Ship Dimensions : 5.6 inches length x 4.9 inches width x 0.4 inches height
- Estimated Ship Weight: 0.25 pound.
Guest Reviews
There are no reviews for this item.
Have any thoughts you'd like to share?