When the book first came out in 1991, R.E.M. was the most popular rock band in the world, and music fans were understandably fascinated by the funky Southern college town from which it sprang, Athens, Georgia.
When the book didn’t sell like a chart-topping album, it was quickly cast off by its publisher, presumably to be forgotten.
But R.E.M., of course, will never be forgotten, as the band is generally acclaimed to be among the greatest bands ever, continuing to sell millions of records and selling out concert venues all over the world. And Brown, an insider during the formative years of the distinctive Athens scene, had truly captured a unique moment in popular cultural history. Legions of rock music lovers continue be intrigued by this particularly fertile outpost. Demand for Party Out of Bounds has remained steady in the subterranean out-of-print book market, prompting our reprint.
Reviews with the most likes.
Quick re-read after finishing BEGIN THE BEGIN, just to see how many anecdotes and stories overlapped (quite a few). I haven't read this since the early 1990's, a fun and lovely book... feels “thinner” than BEGIN THE BEGIN as a deep dive into the scene, but has more detail about THE B-52's and PYLON, which I loved, could have used even more, but was written in the wake of the “scene” exploding and the ending feels hurried, as if trying to get the book done. Still, a lovely walk down memory lane, especially for the B-52's material, which shines.
