R.E.M. - Fables Of The Reconstruction 25th Anniversary
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CD Details
Artist: R.E.M.Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2010-07-13
Music Label: EMI
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- 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
- Actioneer (Another Engine)
- Good Advices
- Wendell Gee
- Auctioneer (Another Engine) [demo version]
- Bandwagon [demo version] [final version was B-side to Can't Get There From Here]
- Can t Get There From Here [demo version]
- Driver 8 [demo version]
- Feeling Gravity s Pull [demo version]
- Good Advices [demo version]
- Green Grow The Rushes [demo version]
- Hyena [demo version] [album version appeared on Life s Rich Pageant]
- Kohoutek [demo version]
- Life and How To Live It [demo version]
- Maps and Legends [demo version]
- Old Man Kensey [demo version]
- Throw Those Trolls Away [demo version] [previously unreleased]
- Wendell Gee [demo version]
Music reviews of Fables Of The Reconstruction 25th Anniversary
Music Review: REM's Lost Americana
Rating: 5 Stars
It seems so long ago, but in the early 1980s, REM was such a breath of musical fresh air. The punk era had morphed into new wave, new wave had morphed into the new romantics, but what of American rock n' roll? These four college kids from Athens, Georgia toured the U.S. extensively, playing small clubs, lodging at the homes of college disc jockeys, and playing what was, for that time, unique sounding folk influenced rock music featuring Peter Buck's "jangly" guitar lines, Michael Stipe's deep voiced but mostly incomprehensible lyrics, Mike Mills' melodic bass playing and harmony vocals and Bill Berry's solid drums. REM inspired countless college bands and came to be synonymous with the concepts "alternative" and "indie" rock. During their "early" period they recorded a terrific EP, Chronic Town, an incredible debut album, Murmur (Rolling Stone's 1983 album of the year), an equally strong sophomore effort, Reckoning, and this dark, atmospheric third album, Fables of The Reconstruction. It was their last album before they began altering their sound on the way to superstardom.
When it was released, Fables was an absolute knock-out album, and with two MTV/radio friendly singles, "Can't Get There From Here" and "Driver 8," was for many, including this reviewer, their first real introduction to REM. I fondly remember traveling up and down the California coast in the summer of 1985 listening to this album over and over on the car stereo.
Over the years, however, Fables has been viewed as a lesser REM album. There is a general perception that the band members do not like it, and I do recall reading one interview with the band that supported this perception. In the very brief, but fine, liner notes for this reissue, Peter Buck acknowledges, but disputes, this perception, and gives some insight into the difficult circumstances under which the album was made.
If I was asked to name REM's finest album, I'd probably say either Automatic For The People or Murmur. Reckoning and Out Of Time would also be up there. But as for my favorite REM album, it's Fables -- hands down.
Why is Fables so special? Fables has a special feel, it transports you to the rural south, at least the rural south of an era ago as conjured by the band, tells tales of the characters that live there (to the extent one can decipher the lyrics), and conveys a murky, dark, gothic feel, one that pervades the album. Moreover, the band experiments here with all sorts of instruments and sounds, including horns, strings and banjo. Peter Buck's playing may be simple, but it is simply majestic. Most importantly, the songwriting is absolutely first rate. You might not hear them on any greatest hits compilations, but "Maps and Legends," "Good Advices" and "Wendell Gee" are amongst the finest tunes the band has written. "Green Grow The Rushes," "Life and How To Live It" and "Kohoutek" are also terrific. Contrary to what has been written elsewhere, this is one REM album that is great to listen to from start to finish.
So what about this reissue? It's a two disc set, one disc featuring a remastered version of the original album and a second disc containing demos of album tracks and three bonus tracks recorded in Athens before the band left for England to record the album with producer Joe Boyd. The disc containing the original album is housed in a solid cardboard replica of the original album jacket and the second disc is housed in a similar, but black and white, sleeve. Also included is an actual full-sized (not kidding) poster for the album, several postcard type pictures of the band members from the original album and a somewhat sparse booklet that includes the original album sleeve text, pictures and the aforementioned liner notes authored by Peter Buck. The whole package is housed in a very, very solid box (good tactile feel), the top and bottom of which feature the front and back, respectively, of the original album. Although more extensive liner notes would have been welcome, cosmetically this is one damn nice deluxe edition.
Of course, packaging is nice, but what about the sound? I'm happy to report that with this remaster, Fables has never sounded better, however, it is much louder than the initial release of Fables on CD, likely the product of sound compression. Having said that, the music seems to just burst from the speakers. The sound has been cleaned up and you can actually decipher many of the lyrics now. While some of the murkiness has been lifted, the mood of the album is still there. Just throw this CD on, crank it up and you will be transported.
The second disc of demos is primarily of interest for fans only. It offers an interesting glimpse of the band's rough final run through of the album's tunes. Without the layers of sound later added, the lyrics and instrumentation are much clearer. Many of the performances are terrific. The three bonus tracks, "Bandwagon" (a very good tune), "Hyena" (later to appear on the band's fourth album, Life's Rich Pageant) and "Throw Those Trolls Away" (not available elsewhere), are a nice addition. While some might have preferred a concert recording, as was included in the Murmur and Reckoning deluxe reissues, I can report that the one 1985 show I attended was not a strong one, and perhaps these studio recordings made for a better option.
In sum -- price aside -- this is one of my favorite reissues, and is by far my favorite REM CD release. Musically, sonically (subject, however, to the above caveat about loudness) and cosmetically, this is terrific.
Description of Fables Of The Reconstruction 25th Anniversary
Originally released in 1985, R.E.M.'s 3rd album, Fables of The Reconstruction peaked at #28 on the Billboard charts and spawned two hit singles, Can t Get There From here and Driver 8. Breaking with their tradition of recording in Athens GA, the band recorded in England with producer Joe Boyd.This 25th Anniversary Edition features the classic album digitally remastered. The bonus disc is a complete run thorugh of the album done in studio in Athens, before the band left for London for the actual recording sessions. These demos have never before been released and feature three additional tracks, not on the final album, including "Throw Those Trolls Away, " a song the band has never released.
The albums are packaged in a lift top box and include a poster and 4 postcards, as well as the CD booklet.
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