Fables of the Reconstruction

Fables of the Reconstruction was the third album released by the band R.E.M. It was released in 1985. Despite the critical acclaim received by the band after their initial two albums, Murmur and Reckoning, R.E.M. decided to make noticeable changes to their style of music and recording habits, including a change in producer and recording location (from the United States to the United Kingdom).

Lyrically, the album explores the mythology of the Southern United States. A celebration of an eccentric individual is the subject of no less than four songs on the album ("Maps and Legends", "Life and How to Live It", "Old Man Kensey", "Wendell Gee"). "Maps and Legends" is dedicated to the Reverend Howard Finster, "a man of vision and feeling--a fine example to all." "Driver 8" is a song about the scenery surrounding railroad tracks. Trains are a frequent topic of Southern music; they epitomize the freedom and promise of an escape from one's home environment. The source of the title of "Can't Get There from Here" is a curious phrase heard when asking directions in a rural area. "Kohoutek" is about a comet, and is perhaps the first song by R.E.M. about a romantic relationship. By the time this album was released, R.E.M were already well-known and critically acclaimed, and the video for "Can't Get There from Here" was played frequently on MTV.

Track Listing