Fables of the Reconstruction
1985 album by R.E.M. / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Fables of the Reconstruction?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Fables of the Reconstruction (or Reconstruction of the Fables) is the third studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released on June 10, 1985, through I.R.S. Records. It was the band's first album recorded outside of the U.S., with sessions taking place at Livingston Studios in London with producer Joe Boyd. The record displays a darker, murkier sound and lyrics drawing from Southern Gothic themes and characters. Additionally, more varied instrumentation is utilized, including string and brass arrangements and banjo.
Fables of the Reconstruction | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 10, 1985 | |||
Recorded | February–April 1985[1][lower-alpha 1] | |||
Studio | Livingston (London) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 39:44 | |||
Label | I.R.S. | |||
Producer | Joe Boyd | |||
R.E.M. chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Fables of the Reconstruction | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception to Fables of the Reconstruction was positive, with many reviews noting its folk elements and murky tone. Retrospectively, it has also been viewed as a transitional album, retaining the sound and obscure themes of the band's early work while hinting at the experimentation with acoustic instrumentation that would be present on their later albums. The album's sales reflected R.E.M.'s growing popularity, with it becoming their second album to reach the top 30 in the US and first to make the top 40 in the UK. It was later certified Gold by the RIAA in 1991. While none of its singles achieved mainstream chart success, "Driver 8" has since become one of R.E.M.'s best-known and most-covered songs from their early period.