Library Rock's Backpages

R.E.M.: Marquee, London

Barney Hoskyns, New Musical Express, November 1983

IF YE Smythes are anything to go by, rock's set-piece quartet of voice and guitar, bass and drums is making a decided comeback. Witnessing R.E.M.'s astonishing performance at the Marquee last week, it seemed to me about time too. There were more possibilities, more trails and extensions pushed out by this music than a dozen New Orders have conjured.

Total word count of piece: 421

Subscribe

Becoming a member is easy. Membership gives you access to all the thousands of articles in the library.

Click here to go to Subscribe page.

Click here for academic and other group subscriptions.