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Europe and the People Without History by Eric R. Wolf

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

The Golden Age Is in Us by Alexander Cockburn

The ABCs of Socialism by Bhaskar Sunkara

The Bolsheviks Come to Power by Alexander Rabinowitch

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Anthony is Currently Reading

Anthony is currently reading

Butcher's Crossing

by John Williams

bookshelves: fiction, currently-reading

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Sep 30, 2026 07:25AM

Anthony is currently reading

Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991

by Michael Azerrad

bookshelves: favorites, strange-melodies, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in August 2006

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Anthony said: " With summer just starting I'm prone to thinking about some of my best summer reads. Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could Be Your Life is one of them. I first read it 6 years ago and it introduced me to a musical world I had barely even heard of. His enth With summer just starting I'm prone to thinking about some of my best summer reads. Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could Be Your Life is one of them. I first read it 6 years ago and it introduced me to a musical world I had barely even heard of. His enthusiasm for the 13 American bands that came before the Frankenstein's monster that was Nirvana is infectious and his storytelling skills are sharp.

More importantly, however, Azerrad captures a bygone era where indie rock and underground music was less about scoring points with the in crowd and more about creating a sustainable alternative to mainstream American culture. Sure, there were music snobs back then but keep in mind many of the bands in this book were largely indifferent to their critical following (if they had any at the time.) Some of these bands (Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth, The Replacements, Dinosaur Jr.) eventually jumped ship to the major labels although it came with mixed results and even regret. I mention this not to idealize the poverty that often came with living the punk lifestyle but rather show that not all drive is about reaching a wider with the intention of being famous or wealthy or a "brand" but adherence to an authentic self and culture.

In 1980, it was possible for bands to exist outside the Money-Go-Round music industry. In 2012, "indie" labels have been absorbed as umbrella companies for entertainment conglomerates. Even the alleged democracy of the internet hasn't entirely eroded ther influence. In 1980, most underground bands recoiled at the idea of selling their music for advertising. In 2012, "indie" bands/artists not only sell their music to advertising companies but they think it's cool to do so. All part of their hip entrepreneur image (I'm looking at you Vampire Weekend!)

"Indie", like a lot of art, is now just another commodity for sale and we're all the poorer for it.

Below are all the bands chronicled in this book and my favorite albums by them:

Black Flag-Damaged
Minutemen- What Makes a Man Start Fires?
Mission of Burma- Signals, Calls, and Marches
Minor Threat- Complete Discography
Hüsker Dü- New Day Rising
The Replacements- Tim
Sonic Youth- Sister
Butthole Surfers- Locust Abortion Technician
Dinosaur Jr.- You're Living All Over Me
Big Black-Atomizer
Mudhoney-Superfuzz Bigmuff
Beat Happening- You Turn Me On ...more "

May 31, 2012 07:05AM · see review