Comments for R.E.M., Fables Of The Reconstruction

***1/2 (5 star scale)-- Personally, I feel that this was the band's best album at the time. It was more diverse than Murmur, and had better songwriting than Reckoning. But this is just the calm before the storm. -- j.teel

While the music community at large and even the band would disagree with me this is my favourite R.E.M. album. Its brooding darkness mixes perfectly with the gorgeous melodies, and Mike Stipe has never been so submurged and enigmatic. I think I liked him better hen you couldn't understand a word he was saying!

Ignored by a bunch of people, and that's fine with me. The folklore-inspired lyrics and the use of alternative instruments (banjo - yes, folks this album predates the mandolin and stuff on "Out Of Time") may urge others to move on to more accessible stuff, but this album's worth the time and trouble. Those who think "Everybody Hurts" is REM's emotional apex needs to listen to "Good Advices" (or "The Flowers of Guatemala - but that's another album).

Am i the only guy in the world who thinks that "Fables" is the best album ever?

Never a favorite??????? What????? I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! Definitely the summation of the early period of beautifully murky R.E.M. The next album, Life's Rich Pageant marked the beginning of modern R.E.M. for me, while this album was the masterpiece of their older work.

I never understood why this album wasn't more well-received upon its release. I can remember, at the time, enjoying it at least as much as RECKONING or MURMER, and it's only improved with age. "Green Grow the Rushes" has a great Byrds sound.

A let-down, lots of silly filler on here. Only "feeling Gravity''s Pull" is different and brilliant.

The third full length album from REM. Never a favorite of either the fans or the band itself, Fables does contain some outstanding cuts, esp. Driver 8 and Cant Get There From Here. This was the first REM album produced by someone other thanMitch Easter. Joe Boyd produced it at Livingston Studios,London and the result is the first "dark" sounding albumfrom a band know for bright, jangly, pop.