Appetite for Definition: An A-Z Guide to Rock Genres – A Music Reference for Rock Lovers, from Tower Records to Spotify

by Ian King

Part reference book, part history, and part road map to the connectivity of popular music, this book is a must for all rock ‘n’ roll fans as it brings together a compilation of over two hundred genres of rock music—an entertaining, enlightening, knotty family tree of America’s favorite musical genre. In the six decades since rock ’n’ roll stole America’s soul, the single genre has produced over two hundred sub-genres. The days of being able to walk in to a Tower Records and seek out recommendations from an aloof, all-knowing staffer has been relegated to a long-lost Generation X paradise preserved in John Hughes films. From iTunes to Spotify, listeners now regularly turn to algorithms instead of human advice to develop relationships with the music they love. The essential companion for any rock lover’s collection—be it on vinyl or Spotify playlists— Appetite for Definition breaks down algorithms into their human stories and interconnected histories.  It provides and pulls up recommendations from a deeper well of consideration and gives you the tools to do the same. Operating on a macro level it surveys the myriad microlevel movements into an accessible map that readers can use to navigate the vast, craggy terrain of rock music and take their rock knowledge—whether casual or obsessive—to the next level.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Reference

528 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2018

About the author

Ian King is a music writer and publishing professional who has contributed to Stereogum, Nylon, Slice magazine, The Line of Best Fit, PopMatters, KEXP.org, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn, as well as other music media. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their son.

Reviews

[Roglin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I'm probably going to buy a copy.

[Michael Lovito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, informative, and well researched, but I think there's an even deeper dive to be dove into the history of genre and the way it shifts and gets redefined over time.

[Sherry Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you think you’re an expert in rock music? If you browse Appetite For Definition : An A-Z Guide To Rock Genres, it may change your mind and probably expand it. The author, Ian King, dissects over 200 sub-genres, and micro-genres in this interesting and enjoyable book.
Every punk, metal, and rock you can shake a stick at is in here. The A to Z format allows you to read the book cover-to-cover or randomly. For instance, it describes the differences between black metal and death metal, acid rock and psychedelic rock, and glam rock and shock rock. There are times where many of the genres intersect and sometimes collide with each other. A list of “key players” and “crossover tracks” accompany each genre which is an added benefit. King rolled up his sleeves and did a great job researching.
While there are some genres that could have been covered a bit more, I was thoroughly entertained and learned a few new things.
For example, I was appreciated that Blondie is listed as a pioneer in the Rap Rock category for the song “Rapture” and Comedy Rock holds it own with acts such as Flight Of The Concords and Spinal Tap. However, in my selfishness, I wanted the segment on The Paisley Underground to solely focus on Prince and his proteges. He does make a small appearance with The Bangles based on his love for the genre with gifting them with “Manic Monday”.
Appetite For Definition : An A-Z Guide To Rock Genres can be used as a reference point for trivia or a catalyst to spark conversation about music. It comes highly suggested as a gift for the music lover in your life.

[Catherine Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy books like this a lot because I love learning more about music history, and the format here was fun and light. It's not meaning to do a crazy deep-dive into each sub-genre of rock; rather, it's rooting you in context of the genre's development, identifying key players in that development, and recommending songs/albums to check out.

The reason this grabbed my attention at the library is because, in the synopsis, it says something about how AI is getting more involved these days with recommending music to listeners but doesn't always do a great job of it, which I strongly agree with because pretty much every day I make it a point to check out what nonsense Spotify has decided to give me with my "Daylist." And the descriptions and genres are just goofy or made-up! Tell me what songs will be on a playlist titled, "yearning coastal grandmother monday evening," a list made because, apparently, I listen to "rockin" and "aor" on Mondays in the evening so I should try listening to "yearning" and "coastal grandmother." Those aren't genres!

All this to say, I appreciate that this book was making a point to be about a timeless, human pastime: sharing music, one person to another. I think there are thirty or forty songs I wrote down to give a listen (not to mention entire albums I saved to my Spotify library), and I also think this is a fun read for other music lovers out there.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging depending on your tastes. Some entries such as Britpop prove informative. Others, such as Freakbeat, Skate Punk, and Stoner Rock, too short to border on tautological or pointless in their lack of clarification. However, a brave attempt overall to connect the dots between your ears, as eclectic.

Not so much an encyclopedic guide as a blog in print. There's even a tongue-in-cheek section, micro-genres, which seems parodic. It included a Blogrock spin of its own, and appears to take the piss out of the seriousness with which some approach these taxonomies and definitions, hundreds at a time. But if you're totally unfamiliar with a particular category, whether or not you'll finish the few paragraphs or few hundred words (the depth varies greatly) with a better understanding's open.

Even before you get out of the first letter, a fine instance of art rock and another of Americana regions enlivens the content. And there's connections between if not cross-references, than at least artists of worth who can be found straddling boundaries, with some clever choices revealing King's impressive range of references. Not all of this can be streamed, however, and a lot, of course, will linger obscure. So it's what you'd expect, a hodgepodge of influences, quirks, and "trainspotting."

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely an informative reference tool and can be read cover to cover or as needed. I like how deep we get into subgenres that are more nuanced or obscure, and I felt like there was a good discussion on each one. Also, the author partnered with Spotify to create playlists for each genre, so that was a fun discovery.

[Fee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to get this back out of the library. It's more like a reference book to dip into.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good referential job, useful to me mostly for the cross references ending the chapters

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting volume that covers a LOT of ground. Useful as a reference tool. Probably already behind the times as of 2018 publication....

[Phoebe L.]

Great book. I learned that I hate metal.