Next up on the list is Fables of the Reconstruction, which was originally released in 1985. Since school is gonna be starting for two of us I think we should try and be done listening to this album on September 18. I also noticed only 1 person has commented on the last album so PICK IT UP SLACKERS!
After listening once again to Fables of The Reconstruction (or Reconstruction of the Fables) I had a hard time getting a handle on where it stands among all of R.E.M's alblums. On one hand it has some of m favorite songs, Maps & Legends, Driver 8, Green grow the Rushes and Good Advices. On the other hand it does not quite fit together or have as much energy or mystery as Murmur or Reckoning.
ReplyDeleteThe sound seems a little compressed not as crisp perhaps intentionally. The meaning of some of the songs is a little clearer than on the previous alblums, and the songs seem more focused on other people han on the songwriter's thoughts, as Stipe starts to branch out in his songwriting. The trademark jangly guitar is still there but is more in the background. Feeling Gravity's Pull is a nice departure in sounds and structure from their previous work.
Overall I enjoyed listening to FOR once again. I would rank it below the tiop tier of R.E.M. releases but it still holds up well.
This album is a great improvement from Reckoning. Unlike Reckoning, which lost all momentum in the middle, Fables starts with high energy and carried it throughout. Like most R.E.M. albums this one had a couple quirky song in Old Man Kensey and Feeling Gravity's Pull to an extent with it's distinct guitar riff. I wonder if Stipe is trying to convey a serious message in song like Old Man Kensey or if songs like that found their origins as a joke and ended up making an album. Fables had some of the best R.E.M. songs to date (of its release) in Maps and Legends, Driver 8, Green Grow, and Can't get There From Here as well as Life and how to Live it. Even the other songs were great, which I was not able to say about the last two albums.
ReplyDeleteFables has a much more Rock feel then the last two albums. The drums sound much fuller and the guitar is much less jangly. In previous albums it seemed like they seemed like they were trying to make it through the end of the songs by playing off each others music. In Fables, however, they sound much more confident like they are all playing the instruments separately, but it all fits together into one song.
One last note, Stipes voice seems to have gotten better and he takes more chances by putting himself out there over the music.