8. FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION (1985) “Driver 8” and “Kohoutek” are exceptional and the gauzy deep south romance of this album pre-dates Jim White’s “Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus” by almost two decade. Thing is, at the same time R.E.M. were doing this, John Cougar was making straight-up heartland-loving records like Scarecrow that had a political bite and power far greater than arty adventures.