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A History of Rock Music: 1951?2000
This history of rock music is not a history of the charts (which I consider an aberration), but a history of the great ideas introduced by rock musicians over 50 years of relentless innovation, and the history of their greatest albums (regardless of how many copies were sold). It ends up being more focused on "alternative" rock than on "mainstream" rock, simply because alternative musicians tend to be more innovative and sincere than mainstream musicians.In a sense, rediscovering "alternative" rock and giving it its dues is also a way to restore the reputation of rock music among the more sophisticated audiences. Today, rock music is a genre that employs sampling techniques, electronic instruments, digital/computer technology, cacophony, and ethnic sources. The roots of today's rock music lie in the technical innovations brought about in the first half of the 20th century. Therefore, my "alternative" history of rock music begins much earlier than most books on the origins of rock'n'roll, and covers much more territory than guitar-driven rock'n'roll.
566 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 15, 2008
Scaruffi's theory is that the only valuable music is that which pushes boundaries. He lists the best band "of all times" as Captain Beefheart. He lists two of the most overrated bands "of all times as The Beatles and Radiohead. He gushes after The Electric Prunes and Pere Ubu, but is disgusted with Cheap Trick and David Bowie.
The book is fraught with copyediting errors, and it takes a real sort of concentration to move forward, as the format is at best unconventional.
Scaruffi's book is useful to learn about new bands, but utterly frustrating in almost every other regard. At least he makes heavy use of lists, so if nothing else, you'll have something to compare your taste to.
It's important to note that I disagree a great deal with his thesis and his opinions, so that could have an affect on my opinion of this book.
Scaruffi's website, scaruffi.com, has a lot of the same information as this book, including his lists, his half-assed essays, and thoughts on other culture, as well as awful web design.
The book is fraught with copyediting errors, and it takes a real sort of concentration to move forward, as the format is at best unconventional.
Scaruffi's book is useful to learn about new bands, but utterly frustrating in almost every other regard. At least he makes heavy use of lists, so if nothing else, you'll have something to compare your taste to.
It's important to note that I disagree a great deal with his thesis and his opinions, so that could have an affect on my opinion of this book.
Scaruffi's website, scaruffi.com, has a lot of the same information as this book, including his lists, his half-assed essays, and thoughts on other culture, as well as awful web design.
July 19, 2014
This book is poorly written and bristling with arrogance. However, I owe a great deal to Scaruffi for introducing me to some of my favorite rock albums. Just check out his lists on his website instead of reading this book.
June 1, 2017
I give credit to Scaruffi for really surging my fascination with studying the history of rock music. His "reviews" aren't really about whether or not albums were good at what they did, but more about their overall innovation and originality. I'm hard pressed to disagree with a lot of what he claims (other than his consistent downplaying of female musicians' importance, which probably the most problematic nature of his writings) and even in situations where I love an album he hates, his writing is so filled to the brim with analysis and critical thought that I'm forced to understand where he is coming from.
He's pretentious, for sure, but he's introduced me to some absolutely unforgettable albums.
Warning: this reads more like an encyclopedia of musicians and groups per era and scene, with intermittent narrative descriptions of the time and circumstances of said era (and descriptions of rock music's overall progression). Keep a notebook beside you, you'll wanna write some names down.
He's pretentious, for sure, but he's introduced me to some absolutely unforgettable albums.
Warning: this reads more like an encyclopedia of musicians and groups per era and scene, with intermittent narrative descriptions of the time and circumstances of said era (and descriptions of rock music's overall progression). Keep a notebook beside you, you'll wanna write some names down.
May 10, 2022
This book is not what one would likely expect from a music history text. You won't be an expert in the no-wave movement, 70s progressive rock, Kraut rock, or anything else from this book. What you will get is essentially a list of artists and albums, linked together with a few words to show connections, that will demonstrate the evolution of rock music from it's predecessors to modern-day. The artist choices are fascinating, especially given Scaruffi isn't much of a fan of rock music.
If you want to be king dog of the hipsters or legitimately want a list of lesser-known artists who were still important in the progression of various musical genres, this book is recommended. It's a list of artists and a few interspersed facts, not a narrative history of music.
The editing is atrocious, too. Lots of errors throughout the text (misspellings, punctuation, etc).
.. but the list of artists contained is such a high quality list of stuff you've probably never heard that it's worth dealing with the poor writing, structure, and lack of proper copyediting.
If you want to be king dog of the hipsters or legitimately want a list of lesser-known artists who were still important in the progression of various musical genres, this book is recommended. It's a list of artists and a few interspersed facts, not a narrative history of music.
The editing is atrocious, too. Lots of errors throughout the text (misspellings, punctuation, etc).
.. but the list of artists contained is such a high quality list of stuff you've probably never heard that it's worth dealing with the poor writing, structure, and lack of proper copyediting.
December 31, 2018
A dizzying parade of names, about three-quarters of which I'd never heard of. Completely idiosyncratic - for instance he doesn't rate the Beatles at all - but absolutely consistent and catholic.
One of his principles: He maintains an art vs pop distinction I don't agree with anymore:
He is willing to forgive incompetence, contempt and if only there is a cup of originality in it.
This is really a stand-in for his website, which is an astonishing, rambling, deep testament to him, on history, neuroscience, AI, poetry, politics and whatever. I hope I leave behind something nearly as towering and distinctive.
One of his principles: He maintains an art vs pop distinction I don't agree with anymore:
fundamentally, being an art musician is a different kind of job... than the job of popular entertainer. The art musician is pursuing a research program that will be appreciated mainly by his peers and by the “critics” (functioning as historians of music), not by the public... The goal of an art musician is, first and foremost, to do what s/he feels is important...
Art music knows no stylistic boundaries: the division in classical, jazz, rock, hip hop and so forth still makes sense for commercial music (it basically identifies the sales channel) but ever less sense for art music whose production, distribution and appreciation methods are roughly the same, regardless of whether the musician studied in a Conservatory, practiced in a loft or recorded at home with a laptop.
He is willing to forgive incompetence, contempt and if only there is a cup of originality in it.
This is really a stand-in for his website, which is an astonishing, rambling, deep testament to him, on history, neuroscience, AI, poetry, politics and whatever. I hope I leave behind something nearly as towering and distinctive.
April 28, 2020
Best read as an alternate history of rock music. Scaruffi has dedicated his platform to elevating underrated masterpieces and wholly unconventional music. Where he has succeeded in popularizing the likes of Captain Beefheart, Neu, Royal Trux and Throbbling Gristle (amongst the right crowds) his blatant disregard for more popular entries in the genre has alienated a lot of would-be listeners to these bands. I suggest browsing the stuff he enjoys and leaving it there.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews