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Fables of the Reconstruction | 
 enlarge | Artist: R.e.m.
Label: Capitol
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
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New (40) Used (30) Collectible (2) from $3.35
Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 21773
Format: Original Recording Reissued
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 93479
UPC: 724349347922
EAN: 0724349347922
ASIN: B000002UW0
Release Date: January 27, 1998
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| Tracks:
| • | Feeling Gravity's Pull | | • | Maps and Legends | | • | Driver 8 | | • | Life and How to Live It | | • | Old Man Kensey | | • | Can't Get There From Here | | • | Green Grow the Rushes | | • | Kohoutek | | • | Auctioneer (Another Engine) | | • | Good Advices | | • | Wendell Gee |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
R.E.M.'s third full-length recording, Fables of the Reconstruction delivers the purest distillation of the band's early sound. With the exception of the horn-laden, radio-friendly "Can't Get There from Here," the songs form a connected soundscape. Nearly transparent production highlights the glittering guitar arpeggios, active bass, and the disciplined, patterned drum lines, with organ and spare string arrangements adding texture to several pieces. And then there are the vocals: dense harmonies of voices calling out to each other, a rich humming and howling around Michael Stipe's central mumble. A careful listener can discern most of the lyrics, though what exactly they signify remains unclear. The album is best contemplated in its entirety, and the songs reward careful, repeated listening. This is a seminal alternative album, its material evocative, its ultimate meanings elusive. If your CD collection has room for only a few R.E.M. albums, Fables should be one of them. --Albert Massa
Amazon.com
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| Customer Reviews: Read 77 more reviews...
 Early R.E.M. Material That Mainstream Radio Should Have Paid Attention To June 15, 2008
The 1990s music landscape saw Alternative Rock begin to basically become part of the mainstream music fold. Alternative Rock actually had its roots in the 1980s. Alternative Rock really ties itself to the "Indie Rock" (Independent Rock) movement. It is a style of music that often covers a wide variety of genres, often working on independent record labels, but most importantly the artist maintains complete control of the music and their careers. With 1980s Rock dominated by "Hit Radio" and mainstream music, much of the Alternative Rock movement was "underground" - heard in smaller venues and colleges. A band that was at the forefront of this underground movement of music was R.E.M. While many know R.E.M. is a pop-band from the 1990s, many also know R.E.M from the 1980s as one of the pioneers in Alternative Rock. Much of the reason for this popularity stems from their third album - "Fables of the Reconstruction". This album has been described as exploring stories from "Southern Mythology" - or stories dealing with the landscape of the Southeastern United States. My personal take was slightly different - although I can see the connection to the Southeast. This album is a prime example that an album not getting exposure to the mainstream is still an example of excellent material.
Back when I was a freshman in college in 1985, the college newspaper had done a review of "Fables of the Reconstruction" and proclaimed the album to be "Album of the Year". Now of course, there was some bias from R.E.M. catering to the underground audience. When R.E.M. would hit it in the mainstream world several years later, I decided to go back and see what the newspaper had meant by "Album of the Year". While I still wasn't convinced about this being 1985's best album (I give that nod to Sting's Jazz-infused "The Dream of the Blue Turtles"), I did discover an album that I could really get into.
Many of the reviews or summaries of this album will mention that this is an album about the "tales from the Southern United States". My subscription of things is slightly different as I see this as more or less stories from being in a car (or riding in a train) and driving along the highway (whether it's the southeast of not). Many of the songs have this feel. Here is a song by song synopsis:
"Feeling Gravity's Pull": While this song doesn't fit into my personal theme of "traveling along the highway", this is a great song. It has a darker tone - and the guitar work from Peter Buck combined with Michael Stipe's unique vocals truly helps set the tone to this song. The use of a string quartet is really done well on this track.
"Maps and Legends": Not only does the title fit into my highway theme, but the melody and beat of the song does as well. However the song isn't about driving down the highway and the title is more symbolic. I particularly like the harmonic background vocals that were incorporated on this track.
"Driver 8": The tempo picks up for this song and once again the title and melody fit into my highway theme. Actually this song is the story of a train (the Southern Crescent). In a way, this song also has a dark feel to it. The harmonica used on this song is the perfect touch, but ultimately Mike Mills' bass lines are the foundation to the sound.
"Life and how to Live It": Once again, this song has a perfect feel of driving down the highway. I've put this one on for long interstate rides. The chorus really has some great hooks on this one - terrific track that could have easily made mainstream radio.
"Old Man Kensey": Mills' bass work opens up this track and once again provides a great foundation. This also is a darker track, but it also one that grew on me.
"Can't Get There From Here": The title and melody also fit my highway theme for this album. Bill Berry's drums open this song nicely, but ultimately it is the unique vocals of Stipe that give this song its identity.
"Green Grow the Rushes": I also felt this song had melody that felt like driving down the highway. Lines like "Gone to find a cheaper hand" lend to the Southern theme around migrant farmers.
"Kohoutek" is the name of a comet. The band uses this as an analogy by saying "Like Kohoutek, you were gone" referring to a girl leaving someone. I also found this to be a catchy song.
"Auctioneer (Another Engine)": When you listen to the chorus, this song had one of the darkest themes. This is another song with mention of a train - although once again the beat also has a feel of driving down the highway. Berry's drums are right on target on this one, but ultimately it's Buck's guitar work to deliver the feel to this song.
"Good Advices": This was the one weak track of this collection. This was not a bad track, but overall it did not have me doing any handstands.
"Wendell Gee": From what I know Wendell Gee was some used car dealer in Georgia. This song has more of a ballad-feel to it. The part of this song I found interesting was a banjo solo done over a backdrop of an orchestral-like sound. There are also some great harmonic background vocals on this track.
The liner notes on my particular version of this collection were thin and the lyrics were not included. This was slightly disappointing because I think R.E.M. music has some of the most interesting music and adding lyrics would have been a good thing. Overall, long time R.E.M. fans are going to greatly enjoy this album. If you are fan of mainstream R.E.M, I would still recommend picking up this album.
 One of R.E.M.'s best........4.5 stars August 21, 2007
One of R.E.M.'s finest albums, Fables of The Reconstruction is sandwiched between Reckoning and Life's Rich Pageant. As good as those albums were, they were ever so slightly overrated just as this one's slightly underrated. An evocative and intense journey, Fables may be the most unique of all in this band's catalog. Like a fog soaked day full of rain but also fresh air, you'll realize that this is exactly the kind of music you need to hear sometimes. Fables of The Reconstruction is a damn good listen and it's a classic R.E.M. album.
Dark and underrated R.E.M. early effort July 6, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The third album by R.E.M. was recorded during a difficult phase where the band was fighting (and the future looked bleak). The music reflects this turmoil: it's often spare, moody, dark, troubled; a stark contrast to the more upbeat and harder rocking music in the near future. Like the last two albums, it begins strongly with a mostly great first half, but a few instantly skippable tracks later on spoil the broth ("Old Man Kensey," "Kohoutek"). As expected from early R.E.M., the best song comes right out the gate, and "Feeling Gravity's Pull" is reminiscent of the Cure and Joy Division, two groups that rarely get compared to this one. Truly, tensions have affected Stipe and company.
After that and "Auctioneer," though, the best tracks rarely stand with the upper echelon of R.E.M.'s catalog. The good news is that at least the sound is more consistent here than it will be during their peak commercial years. Just barely misses out on being one of their essential albums, but those weened on their major label material should still check it out.
Best cuts: "Feeling Gravity's Pull," "Auctioneer (Another Engine)," "Maps and Legends," "Driver 8," "Life and How to Live It," "Good Advices," "Green Grow the Rushes," "Can't Get There From Here"
Very Underrated November 1, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is that rarest of things: an underrated R.E.M. album. The sound is like nothing R.E.M. did before or since. "Maps and Legends" and "Green Grow The Rushes" are personal favorites, but almost everything here is solid. Much better than "Murmur" or "Reckoning," but seldom mentioned in the same sentence-until now!
Fabled Journey September 17, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
'Reconstruction of the Fables' showcases the uncompromising dedication R.E.M. has to reinvent their sound wheel on every outing. Every album is consistently great quality with the moxy even the Beatles lacked. (For them superstardom garnered nearly limitless resources at their disposal.) '...Fables' is a brilliant album that is only slightly tarnished by a production that reminds one of the sixties. The folk-rock sensibility is certainly updated, however, and the concept presented is consistent in a lyrically and musically varied fashion.
Sojourn is the keyword here. They start this adventure with the shivery instrumentation of "Feel Gravity's Pull." With Peter Buck's sharp guitar patterns, Michael Stipe sings of an inward journey, presented with a landscape of "...a Man Ray* kind of sky...". The invocation of "Step up..., step up...the light is mine" sets up a (possibly or other spiritual symbolism) Dante-esque journey, as in the 'Purgatorio,' to a higher spiritual realm. Then, if the destination is decided, "Maps and Legends" gives the listener a guide. Instrumentally, it is a sweeping and addictive tune at that. Every destination deserves stops along the way, so "Driver 8," with its fast-forward folk-rock appeal, encourages us weary pilgrims with refreshment. One of the best pair of songs from the album are "Life and How to Live It" and "I Can't Get There from Here". Both remind one of riveting punk-rock, not unlike the pace of the Ramones. Still, the first one is punchy; the latter is jazzy. Both have some sage thoughts in the mix. And, they don't stop their advice there, either. "Green Grow the Rushes" illustrates that the splendour of the earth make the journey worthy like its destinations. It contains not only more intricate folk-rock but more textured harmonies as well. (It also shows R.E.M.'s environmental proclivities.) However, not all the stops along the way are pleasant. "Old Man Kensey" is a shivery and startling portrait of a murderer or mobster (or both). The concise images of "wanting to be a goalie..." and "going far" are chillingly provided for a creepy character who seems to slip through the safety net for someone to find--like on a highway. The ending "Wendell Gee" provides a sad portrait of someone who has developmentally not reached his destination. The Southern accents and Stipe's lamenting refrain create a portrait of an innocent youth whose perpetrator of abuse will suffer the consequences. Before the C.D. ends, there is still good will provided. "Good Advices" is langorous, but not an overtime appeal to use gentility with heart in relationships. "Kahoutek" lingers even longer, but it illustrates well that there are key, but fleeting moments when brief relationships and discoveries make life exceptional. "The Auctioneer" provides a new twist thematically and musically to the train songs. More progressive, its admonition is to improve on time, talent, and relationships, but the sound simulates a train to good effect.
'Reconstruction of the Fables' is a thoroughly consistent outing by R.E.M. It may seem like a slight update of sixties' folkie albums, but it delivers a solid set of songs that seldom stray from its theme and without losing the sojourners' interest.
*a photographer, painter
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