Eponymous
Much as the outtake and B-side collectionDead Letter Officeanthologizes the many oddities of R.E.M., 1988'sEponymousis a document testifying to the astounding strength of their formative I.R.S. years.Eponymousreinforces the notion that the inchoate R.E.M. was a rare and brilliant gem of a group. While a somewhat brief CD, it provides quality listening from start to finish with hits such as "The One I Love," "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville," and "Driver 8" tucked amid the likes of an alternate take of "Finest Worksong" and the wonderfully mysterious "Gardening at Night." Especially noteworthy is the inclusion of the original seven-inch version of "Radio Free Europe," the band's 1981 release.--Lorry Fleming