'''R.E.M.'' COMPANION: IT CRAWLED FROM THE SOUTH'

About this book

Now in its second edition It Crawled from the South is an encyclopedic non-linear mostly non-hagiographic book about those enigmatic guys from Athens Georgia. Marcus Gray furnishes thumbnail sketches of each member as well as chapters on the bands recording history politics album packaging and regional accent. The author is also fearless enough to venture into the black hole of Michael Stipes lyrics. He doesnt to be sure make sense of Stipes associative rambles and the singer himself lets Gray off the hook by confessing that "three-quarters of my lyrics probably come from overheard conversations. I steal a lot basically. Someone will say something really interesting and Ill write it down." Okay. But wed still like to know what a moral kiosk is.