R.E.M. Fables of The Reconstruction [Import]

3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[V]ague, spellbinding music that floats in the space between history and memory."
"R.E.M. doubled down on death, darkness, and Southern gothic mystery for their third record, a haunting collection of Americana tales." -- Grade: A
5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]here are hymns to a vanishing America like impressionistic travelogue 'Driver 8'..."
Ranked #88 in AP's list of the 'Top 99 Of '85-'95' - "...FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION follow[s] the also moody and sublime RECKONING with its dark, backwoods wanderlust and a labyrinth of lyrics woven through banjo, cello and violin....FABLES [is] like a dark cloud in the band's discography: Full of stormy rhythm, trademark guitar jangling and box-car philosophy..."
Ranked #4 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1985"
5 stars out of 5 -- "[The] tension between rock kineticism and hermetic atmosphere makes FABLES... continue to ring loud and clear."
"...FABLES... is both REM's most impenetrable and fulfilling release to date....FABLES... is...etched with paranoia, slooooowly-strangled guitars and...the sound of four young Athenians who were neither shiny nor happy.
Pitchfork (Website) - "[A] great and inspired album....FABLES is a dark and murky set with a textural palette close to the muted earth tones of its packaging."