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Wish You Were Here: An Essential Guide to Your Favorite Music Scenes—from Punk to Indie and Everything in Between
by
Leslie Simon (Goodreads Author)
A snarky, fact-filled look at the people and places that made the indie/punk scene what it is todayThe American underground music scene is exploding everywhere—not just in New York City and L.A. (although we've got those cities covered too!):
In Washington, D.C. . . . Ian MacKaye and Fugazi inspired the straightedge culture, which had kids everywhere drawing black X's on th...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
April 7th 2009
by It Books
(first published March 30th 2009)
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Dec 02, 2009
Aaron
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
shallow emo crybabies
Recommended to Aaron by:
read about it in the local paper
You know those episodes of The Simpsons where Lisa meets a smart-and-sassy-but-super-cool older girl and wants desperately to be her friend? Reading this book was like listening to the dialogue the writers give to these characters, or maybe like reading their LiveJournals. It's all snark, parenthetical asides, and carefully made casual name drops in the hopes of establishing cred.
Don't read it expecting to learn much about the actual music that makes or made regional scenes. It's more about maki...more
Don't read it expecting to learn much about the actual music that makes or made regional scenes. It's more about maki...more
I'm not really sure why I read this informally written (okay, it was because it mentions the Twin Cities) but I have been on a pop music kick lately, attempting to rectify my appalling ignorance about it. Gotta keep that edge as I get older, you know! I'm not sure how much I really learned from this amusing bit of snarky fluff, but it was quick and fun read, and I might have gotten to know the stereotypes of the various "scenes" across the country. Leslie Simon writes with a very personable, cas...more
Jun 26, 2011
Jess
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Music junkies
Recommended to Jess by:
AP magazine
Shelves:
nonfiction,
music
I loved reading about the different bands and figuring out what originated where, but I felt a large part of it was really poorly researched. For example, the whole Jenny lewis part was shit and the little picture drawn had absolutely no relevance to the actual album cover it was supposed to be. It was like the artist was too lazy to go and look up the picture so they just freehanded it from memory instead.
And a major no-no was the Twin Cities part, which is where I'm from. The author needs to...more
And a major no-no was the Twin Cities part, which is where I'm from. The author needs to...more
This is a review of local music scenes in several cities. You've probably heard of some of these bands and some probably not. I had a difficult time relating to this book (hence the 2 star rating), but I think this was mostly because I'm just not that into being a 'scenester'. I like music, but I'm not planning on committing my life to following my favorite local band or dedicating my time and money to such pursuits. I guess I'm too old. Anyhow, for me, most of the info is fairly trivial. I prob...more
Aug 13, 2009
Sean
marked it as to-read
Skimmed this since I checked it out from the library. Not sure what to make of the fact that Austin is not mentioned, nor is the whole Bloodshot/Hideout/Insurgent Country Chicago scene. Mabye that's a good thing because if a scene is in here, it will be mocked. Nice illustrations though.
I love this book nearly as much as I loved 'Everybody Hurts'. There were so many references to bands I love and listen to, and as I read it, I learnt a whole lot more about the scenes they all came from, and what made their home towns special.
I think my favourite chapter was probably the chapter on Long Island, due to the fact it talked so much about Taking Back Sunday / Brand New etc.
Leslie Simon has this snarky sense of humour that I just adore, with all her nicely placed footnotes giving inf...more
I think my favourite chapter was probably the chapter on Long Island, due to the fact it talked so much about Taking Back Sunday / Brand New etc.
Leslie Simon has this snarky sense of humour that I just adore, with all her nicely placed footnotes giving inf...more
I didn't learn much new in this book, but the author, formerly of Alternative Press magazine, has a great sense of humor. Waxing nostalgic for my adolescence of Fugazi and Nirvana was an enjoyable break from a much heavier work I'm about to start reading, Columbine.
Not sure why I read this, really. I should've read Simon's guide to emo culture first, but anyway - this is a city-by-city guide to music scenes, specifically post-punk emo type stuff. I did learn a bit about a few bands I like, but I really don't think I was the intended audience for this...
The snarkiness of the writing was cute and funny for the most part. However, if you aren't living near one of the cities mentioned in the book, or you aren't fond of sarcasm, I wouldn't rush out to buy this book.
Funny enough, chock full of bias and bile. Not really recommended for anyone who draws considerable identity from their music scene, unless it's one of the two or so that the author actually respects.
Aug 16, 2009
Rachel
marked it as to-read
For those of us hoping to understand 21st century music, its movements/lackthereof, and/or simply make fun of hipsters, HERE IS (perhaps) THE BOOK WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
I'm not gonna lie: I only skimmed the part about the Bay area and ignored the rest. But the whole twenty pages read like they were making fun of me! Nice. Sold!
I don't know where to start, this just wasn't very good. I picked it up on accident while looking for something else, but I gave it a go anyway.
Honestly unless you want a history of early 90s emo bands, and the scenes they came from then don't bother with this because that is literally all they talk about. They also try to be funny about it, but it doesn't work.
Honestly unless you want a history of early 90s emo bands, and the scenes they came from then don't bother with this because that is literally all they talk about. They also try to be funny about it, but it doesn't work.
Seriously awesome. If you love guides this book is awesome. If you might want to do a roadtrip in the future this book is exactly where it's at!!!
Don't know that I'd need to buy this book, but I might have to get it from the library again to make a list of the bands mentioned. Simon hits the major scenes and evolutions therein.
No Detroit. No Hoboken. Way too much snark.
view all 3 comments
I love it, duh. But I had to give it 4 stars because "Everybody Hurts" is my first love and I don't want it to feel as if it's been replaced in my heart.
I might have skipped some of the "mapping out" sections because it just made me huff about how I never have enough money to travel.
High five for the suburban Florida section.
Oh, and my NAME is in the acknowledgments!!! I squealed like a child when I saw that.
I heart you, Leslie Simon.
I might have skipped some of the "mapping out" sections because it just made me huff about how I never have enough money to travel.
High five for the suburban Florida section.
Oh, and my NAME is in the acknowledgments!!! I squealed like a child when I saw that.
I heart you, Leslie Simon.
meh. maybe i'm just too old for this sort of thing. it's super uneven and there's a definite air of trying-to-hard about the snark. but the good chapters definitely made me want to check out some of the name-checked bands and made me semi-nostalgic for my geeky indie rock fan days.
Interesting guidebook, but it leaves out some essentials: how do you mention Minneapolis without mentioning Prince??? The album lists were helpful, though, and I loved the snarky comments.
For music fans and those wanting to be only.
(Free ARC provided by publisher)
For music fans and those wanting to be only.
(Free ARC provided by publisher)
Worst music-related book I've ever read. Check out my more detailed thoughts over at http://2bitmonkey.wordpress.com/2013/...
This book was not very good.
Jun 04, 2013
Denika Clay
marked it as to-read
May 25, 2013
Yentl Reynders
added it
May 03, 2013
Alex Kish
added it
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Leslie Simon lives in Los Angeles, isn’t a fan of hot weather and loves her parents, Gilmore Girls and French bulldog puppies. She’s the author of Wish You Were Here: An Essential Guide To Your Favorite Music Scenes and co-author of Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture. Her latest book, Geek Girls Unite: How Fangirls, Bookworms, Indie Chicks and Other Misfits Are Taking Over the Worl...more
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