Arriving mere months before {^Document} took the group into the Top Ten, the B-sides and rarities collection {^Dead Letter Office} sums up all of the quirks and idiosyncrasies that made {$R.E.M.} the leading underground {\guitar pop} band of the '80s. While only a handful of songs on {^Dead Letter Office} rank among the group's best, the record is extremely entertaining, even for casual fans, particularly because it captures the wild spirit of {$R.E.M.} that was evident at their concerts, but not always on their records. Among the gems scattered throughout the collection are the cheerily ridiculous {&"Band Wagon,"} {&"Voice of Harold"} (which features {$Michael Stipe} singing the liner notes to a {\gospel} album over the backing of {&"7 Chinese Brothers"}), covers of {$the Velvet Underground}, {$Pylon}, and {$Aerosmith}, the ringing {\pop} of {&"Burning Down"} (which is later reworked as {&"Ages of You"}), and {&"Walter's Theme,"} a drunken attempt at a commercial for a local restaurant that segues into a clueless cover of {&"King of the Road."} The material may be slight, but it's fun -- and {$R.E.M.}'s albums aren't always fun. [The CD version of {^Dead Letter Office} contains the group's debut EP, {^Chronic Town}.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide