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The A to X of Alternative Music
What do AC/DC and Aphex Twin have in common? David Bowie and Butthole Surfers? The Clash and the Chemical Brothers? On the surface, very little. Yet they are all representative of the most important movement in modern music—Alternative.
What makes these acts alternative? And why do we care? The A to X of Alternative Music answers these questions. This is both the story of the greatest music ever made and an investigation into what it means to be cutting-edge.
The book covers global giants like Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and Radiohead, cult favorites like Joy Division, Pixies, and the Velvet Underground, as well as lesser-known pioneers like Can, Fela Kuti, and Spacemen 3.
Entries assess each act on the basis of their claim to alternative music status according to three working practice, musical output, and cultural perception. These acts have rejected the easy route to success, avoiding commercial imperatives and cliché to make inspiring and influential music that has won devoted—in some cases fanatical—followings.
The entries place artists in their musical and chronological context, providing the background to key scenes and tracing links—both formal and aesthetic—between these seminal acts. The book is also a buyers' guide for established and new fans of alternative music, with each entry recommending key releases. The A to X of Alternative Music is the essential reference companion for anyone who loves music made—and listened to—outside the mainstream.
What makes these acts alternative? And why do we care? The A to X of Alternative Music answers these questions. This is both the story of the greatest music ever made and an investigation into what it means to be cutting-edge.
The book covers global giants like Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and Radiohead, cult favorites like Joy Division, Pixies, and the Velvet Underground, as well as lesser-known pioneers like Can, Fela Kuti, and Spacemen 3.
Entries assess each act on the basis of their claim to alternative music status according to three working practice, musical output, and cultural perception. These acts have rejected the easy route to success, avoiding commercial imperatives and cliché to make inspiring and influential music that has won devoted—in some cases fanatical—followings.
The entries place artists in their musical and chronological context, providing the background to key scenes and tracing links—both formal and aesthetic—between these seminal acts. The book is also a buyers' guide for established and new fans of alternative music, with each entry recommending key releases. The A to X of Alternative Music is the essential reference companion for anyone who loves music made—and listened to—outside the mainstream.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Steve Taylor
1 bookLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Steve Taylor presents The A to X of Alternative Music on London-based radio station Xfm and is a lecturer in media studies at Thames Valley University.
Steve Taylor presents The A to X of Alternative Music on London-based radio station Xfm and is a lecturer in media studies at Thames Valley University.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 26, 2019
List books are hard to review. Are they ever really anyone's favorites? Do you treat it like a regular book? Do you judge more for content or layout? Don't worry, because this book had issues with both!
I don't like the format for how the bands were listed. It would begin with a bolded preview about the background of the band, then the real paragraph, which would also include origins, and then a "style, time, scene" summary at the end. Some of these parts would just overlap or contradict each other and it kind of made it too slow to get through at parts.
The content was also messy. I realize it's his own book and alternative is a vague title, but he had a LOT of weird exclusions, with most of them being women. The Breeders (mentioned briefly in the Pixies part), Lush (the third leg of the shoegaze stool), Garbage (what, were they too successful?), Liz Phair (!!! literally doing 4 track tapes and homemade compilations), Poe (part alternative rock, electronic, and hip hop), Esthero (okay, she had 1 album at the time and she was more of a wishlist than a realistic mention but she definitely held her own in a lounge/chillout inspired trip hop album), Tori Amos, Sneaker Pimps, No Doubt (they covered other ska, alt rock, 2 tone, and new wave bands, which No Doubt all did), Curve, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, Slowdive, Hooverphonic, Neneh Cherry, Helium, Jhelisa, Veruca Salt, Solex, X Ray Spex and Luscious Jackson all got the shaft. When I realized he didn't include Siouxsie and the Banshees, who I don't love but I recognize and appreciate, I realize he was just trolling around at this point. The women he did include, like PJ Harvey, he praised them for not caring about gender politics or not identifying as feminists. He didn't even include Smashing Pumpkins, and they're lead by a man too, so I have no clue how he was picking people out.
He really loves his Madchester and Britpop music, which I expected to see as XFM is based in the UK. He dragged grunge music a little but still included grunge staples I haven't listened to yet, like Mudhoney which I want to blame on it being a guy's scene and people only thinking male music is legit. I think he excluded some bands like Pearl Jam, which I guess was equality.
Also, another pet peeve is that the title makes you think he won't cover Y and Z, but don't worry! Just as you excitedly finish X, there are 2 more letters waiting for you.
I don't like the format for how the bands were listed. It would begin with a bolded preview about the background of the band, then the real paragraph, which would also include origins, and then a "style, time, scene" summary at the end. Some of these parts would just overlap or contradict each other and it kind of made it too slow to get through at parts.
The content was also messy. I realize it's his own book and alternative is a vague title, but he had a LOT of weird exclusions, with most of them being women. The Breeders (mentioned briefly in the Pixies part), Lush (the third leg of the shoegaze stool), Garbage (what, were they too successful?), Liz Phair (!!! literally doing 4 track tapes and homemade compilations), Poe (part alternative rock, electronic, and hip hop), Esthero (okay, she had 1 album at the time and she was more of a wishlist than a realistic mention but she definitely held her own in a lounge/chillout inspired trip hop album), Tori Amos, Sneaker Pimps, No Doubt (they covered other ska, alt rock, 2 tone, and new wave bands, which No Doubt all did), Curve, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, Slowdive, Hooverphonic, Neneh Cherry, Helium, Jhelisa, Veruca Salt, Solex, X Ray Spex and Luscious Jackson all got the shaft. When I realized he didn't include Siouxsie and the Banshees, who I don't love but I recognize and appreciate, I realize he was just trolling around at this point. The women he did include, like PJ Harvey, he praised them for not caring about gender politics or not identifying as feminists. He didn't even include Smashing Pumpkins, and they're lead by a man too, so I have no clue how he was picking people out.
He really loves his Madchester and Britpop music, which I expected to see as XFM is based in the UK. He dragged grunge music a little but still included grunge staples I haven't listened to yet, like Mudhoney which I want to blame on it being a guy's scene and people only thinking male music is legit. I think he excluded some bands like Pearl Jam, which I guess was equality.
Also, another pet peeve is that the title makes you think he won't cover Y and Z, but don't worry! Just as you excitedly finish X, there are 2 more letters waiting for you.
March 26, 2019
It was kind of short for a database but too long for most things. I took a break while reading it so I can't remember most of the start.
didnt-finish
November 20, 2018My brother owns it. He didn't like it very much, but he prefers punk so he only liked a few of the bands mentioned in it. He also felt that it was too subjective.
I'm going to try reading bits of it, but my school's starting soon so I'm not sure how long it's going to take to finish. I'll write my own review when I'm done.
I'm going to try reading bits of it, but my school's starting soon so I'm not sure how long it's going to take to finish. I'll write my own review when I'm done.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews