R.E.M. - R.E.M. at the BBC Super Deluxe Edition- 8-CDs + DVD
It's a testament to how popular Georgia band R.E.M. was in the U.K. during their heyday that a nine disc box set could be compiled from their appearances on various BBC programs. Everything here is a rarity, including a 1998 John Peel session featuring "Walk Unafraid," "Daysleeper," "Lotus" and "At My Most Beautiful" and two live BBC radio broadcasts of the band's 1999 appearance at the Glastonbury Festival that's packed with hits like "Losing My Religion," "What's the Frequency Kenneth," "Fall On Me," "The One I Love," "Cuyahoga," "Man on the Moon" and many others. Among the dozens and dozens of other songs spread throughout the set are more hits like "Orange Crush," "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)," and "Radio Free Europe" along with tons of deep album cuts like "New Test Leper," "West of the Fields" and "The Wake-Up Bomb." There's only one cut where the music features a guest; a take on "E-Bow the Letter" with Thom Yorke of Radiohead fame. The DVD hold the documentary film "Accelerating Backwards" and a "Later…With Jools Holland" show where the band performs 13 songs. Also on the DVD are bonus videos of "I've Been High," "Nightswimming" and "Bad Day." For those who don't want to pop for the box set, the 2-CD The Best of R.E.M. at the BBC culls the hits and highlights from the box. Liner notes include commentary from BBC personalities and music journalist Tom Doyle.