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Fables of the Reconstruction was intentionally murky, and Lifes Rich Pageant was constructed as its polar opposite. Teaming with producer Don Gehman, who previously worked with John Mellencamp, R.E.M. developed their most forceful record to date. Where previous records kept the rhythm section in the background, Pageant emphasizes the beat, and the band turns in its hardest rockers to date, including the anthemic "Begin the Begin" and the punky "Just a Touch." But the cleaner production also benefits the ballads and the mid-tempo janglers, particularly since it helps reveal Michael Stipe's growing political obsessions, especially on the environmental anthems "Fall on Me" and "Cuyahoga." The group hasn't entirely left myths behind -- witness the Civil War ballad "Swan Swan H" -- but the band sound more contemporary both musically and lyrically than they did on either Fables or Murmur, which helps give the record an extra kick. And even with excellent songs like "I Believe," "Flowers of Guatemala," "These Days," and "What if We Give It Away," it's ironic that the most memorable moment comes from the garage rock obscurity "Superman," which is sung with glee by Mike Mills.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Bill Berry, ComposerLyricist - Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, ComposerLyricist - PETER BUCK, ComposerLyricist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Bill Berry, ComposerLyricist - Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, ComposerLyricist - PETER BUCK, ComposerLyricist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ross Hogarth, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Dineen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Katayama, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Fetig, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Mitch Bottler, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gary Alan Zekley, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1986 Capitol Records LLC
Album review
Fables of the Reconstruction was intentionally murky, and Lifes Rich Pageant was constructed as its polar opposite. Teaming with producer Don Gehman, who previously worked with John Mellencamp, R.E.M. developed their most forceful record to date. Where previous records kept the rhythm section in the background, Pageant emphasizes the beat, and the band turns in its hardest rockers to date, including the anthemic "Begin the Begin" and the punky "Just a Touch." But the cleaner production also benefits the ballads and the mid-tempo janglers, particularly since it helps reveal Michael Stipe's growing political obsessions, especially on the environmental anthems "Fall on Me" and "Cuyahoga." The group hasn't entirely left myths behind -- witness the Civil War ballad "Swan Swan H" -- but the band sound more contemporary both musically and lyrically than they did on either Fables or Murmur, which helps give the record an extra kick. And even with excellent songs like "I Believe," "Flowers of Guatemala," "These Days," and "What if We Give It Away," it's ironic that the most memorable moment comes from the garage rock obscurity "Superman," which is sung with glee by Mike Mills.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:38:30
- Main artists: R.E.M.
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: IRS CATALOG MKT (I91)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2016 I.R.S Records Inc. ℗ 1986 I.R.S Records Inc.
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