R.E.M. – Fables Of The Reconstruction

R.E.M.'s third studio album faithfully restored on vinyl!

Originally released on June 10, 1985, Fables Of The Reconstruction is R.E.M.s third studio album and features such classics as "Driver 8," "Can't Get There From Here," and "Life And How To Live It." Now faithfully restored and available on LP, Fables Of The Reconstruction completes the IRS years catalog that is now available on physical formats.

Fables of the Reconstruction marked a moody and mysterious turn for R.E.M., stepping away from the jangly college-rock of their first two albums toward something more atmospheric and enigmatic. Recorded in London with producer Joe Boyd (best known for his work with Nick Drake and Fairport Convention), the album wraps Southern Gothic storytelling in foggy textures and elliptical lyrics. It’s an album steeped in myth and memory, capturing the tension between R.E.M.’s Georgia roots and their increasing distance from home.

While initially met with mixed reactions, Fables has grown in stature as one of the band’s most idiosyncratic and rewarding works. Tracks like “Driver 8” and “Can’t Get There From Here” offer bright melodic moments, but the overall tone is darker and more layered than their previous efforts. Michael Stipe’s vocals are often buried in the mix, lending the songs a dreamlike quality that rewards repeated listens. It’s not the most immediate R.E.M. album, but it’s one of the most enduringly strange and fascinating.

Reviews:

“Fables trades immediacy for intrigue, offering a foggy journey through Southern stories and psychic landscapes.” – Pitchfork

“Joe Boyd’s production bathes the band in mystery, and Stipe sounds like a man singing from deep within a remembered dream.” – Mojo

“Initially divisive, Fables now stands as one of R.E.M.’s richest and most haunted records.” – AllMusic