This is part of a series of mini-reviews of R.E.M.’s studio albums, ranked worst to best. (Don’t worry; I’ll keep them short.)

#11: Dead Letter Office.

Yes, it’s a compilation. But there are so many excellent songs here. Plus, it has their first record, the EP Chronic Town, which is one of the best debuts around.

BEST SONGS: The three Velvet Underground covers, Burning Down, Voice Of Harold, Ages Of You, and all five of the Chronic Town numbers.

WORST SONGS: White Tornado is kind of meh.