It was R.E.M. who showed other Eighties bands how to get away with ignoring the rules – they lived in some weird town nobody never heard of, they didnt play power chords, they probably couldnt even spell spandex. All they had was songs. – Rob Sheffield
Ah, the bond between English boys and California girls. For those of us who arent either, its a bond that fascinates and mystifies. So much of the worlds favorite music comes out of that relationship. – Rob Sheffield
At an incredibly divisive point in pop history, Donna Summer managed to create an undeniable across-the-board experience of mass pleasure – after Bad Girls, nobody ever tried claiming disco sucked again. It set the template for what Michael Jackson would do a few months later with Off The Wall. – Rob Sheffield
Big Star invented a vision of bohemian rock & roll cool that had nothing to do with New York, Los Angeles or London, which made them completely out of style in the 1970s, but also made them an inspiration to generations of weird Southern kids. – Rob Sheffield