This is a beautiful collection of music. Great selection and seamlessly woven together. I love what they did with "Man on the Moon." The second CD has some very nice extras, revealing the lighter side to REM. I can't find a single fault with this collection except for the packaging. It is eco-friendly but the light plastic slip case barely holds the CD's and the books that come with it. I like the liner notes but the poster is unnecessary.For those new to REM, there is no better place to start. It is a great compendium of their work, spanning nearly two decades. Hard to believe. I remember seeing them in Birmingham all those years ago and being totally smitten with their music, but for some reason didn't collect that much of it over the years. Now, I find my daughter turned on to their music, every bit as excited about this CD set as I am.