R.E.M - "Fables of the Reconstruction"

i have something of a fanatacism for the back catalogue of r.e.m., and am of the distinct opinion that from their debut ep "chronic town" until their major-label "automatic for the people" they were an uncompromising force of brilliance, creating wonderful pop music that was in no way flat, but rather pregnable with possibilities, terrific melodies, coruscating arpeggios and the impenetrable, murky voice of michael stipe. it is inevitable that the excitability and ingenuity of their music would slacken the longer they remained an operable group, as much as that is a certainty for virtually every band or artist who persists in making music for an extended period of time. r.e.m. had a stretch that is enviable, though, in that every record they released over a decade had something commendable, mesmeric about it. of their studio work from "chronic town" to "automatic," only their fifth record, "document," was marred by regrettable choices (mostly in the form of trying to "rock out" in a fashion that is entirely foreign to them). "out of time" - that preceded "automatic for the people" - does indeed have "shiny happy people" and a few other songs that are questionable, but the remaining four songs on the album are among the greatest songs of their respective career. as much as i am indebted to their full-length debut "murmur" for hours upon hours of listening and rapture, it is their third album, "fables of the reconstruction/reconstruction of the fables," to which i am recurringly drawn.



the texture of the record is one of its inherent charms for me, as there seems to be a slight, obscuring fog hanging over the instruments, and there is a feeling of being buried by the sounds it invokes. the chorus of "auctioneer" has a wall of flanged-guitars that scare the shit out of me, but that dissonance and the angular flashes of darkness permeate the whole album. i usually discredit the back stories surrounding the completion or composition of books, films, records, but in this instance i find it interesting that r.e.m. was preparing to disband shortly after the recording of "fables." the depressive atmosphere would certainly support that, and in a way it would be nice to speculate the "what-ifs" had they parted ways, leaving only "chronic town," "murmur," "reckoning" and this manic mess in their wake. the gothic, southern mood prevails through much of the album, especially the puzzling, entrancing "maps and legends," a song that could certainly pepper the soundtrack to any suicidal southerners summer, with its weary pulling and slow waves of chords; the word "impenetrable" - often used parallel to r.e.m. - is most apt here.



light occasionally breaks through, however, most notably - and merrily - on "green grow the rushes go." i have no goddamned idea what the hell stipe is singing about, but it brings a certain, inextinguishable joy to me whenever i hear it. i can see how the album could be viewed or castigated as "uneven" or some such adjective, as some of its juxtapositions are a bit surprising ("can't get there from here" or the strangely sedated end of the album, "wendell gee"). i welcome all of it promiscuously, and hope it can be enjoyed, and that news of its greatness will spread like contagion.



this is the remastered edition of the album with supplemental tracks. i grabbed this anonymously from the internet and the sound is a relief. the prior cd release of "fables" was mastered at such sub-humanly low levels that volume was a significant problem. this mix is unmuddied (as much as possible, it's meant to be a bit blurred) and rings with a refreshing clarity. enjoy!

download fables of the reconstruction:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7Z60P3ZY