THE BEST of R.E.M. is a classic collection of their favourite hits from 1988 to 2003.

This may disappoint some fans who have grown fond of tracks not included on this CD, but the band certainly know their own minds and were not to be dissuaded from this choice.

And to be honest, they have pretty much everything on there a regular fan will like.

Kicking off with the hugely popular Man on the Moon, there are 18 full tracks, which even includes the newest Bad Day, which took over 15 years to write!

What's really good about this CD is that you get a brief explanation about each song on the sleeve; the inspiration for them, how easy they were to write and what makes them so special.

Not only does it give the listener something interesting to read, but it actually sheds a little light on some very bizarre titles, such as What's the Frequency, Kenneth. In a way, it's good to know that the band found the experiences that shaped their musical mould just as wacky as the fans who take notice of the lyrics.

All the favourites are here, like Nightswimming, Daysleeper, Losing My Religion, and the song that the band thinks belongs to everyone who has ever taken comfort from it, Everybody Hurts.

As the band has been around in some form since before 1979, when Peter Buck and Michael Stipe were writing together before Mike Mills and Bill Berry, there is more than a slim chance people of all ages will have been touched by R.E.M. If you're a casual listener, one who turned the volume up a little when one of their songs comes on, you'll love it.