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p_t_b's review against another edition
4.0
worth reading if only for the black flag/minutemen/fugazi/minor threat portions.
least surprising revelation of any capsule bio ever: henry rollins had an unhappy home life.
least surprising revelation of any capsule bio ever: henry rollins had an unhappy home life.
nicolebeans's review against another edition
finally finished! good but got a little tired of it after awhile 👍
kingkermy's review against another edition
3.0
After performatively displaying this book on my shelf for 5 years, I finally got around to reading it. To be honest, I expected to enjoy it a lot more than I did. Although the book is organized and each feature is thorough, I didn't find myself vibing with the Azerrad's perspective. That is probably in part due to this being a real white dude centric book. That being said, this is one of the essential indie/punk literature books. Having read it, I do feel like I have a better understanding of the rise of indie music. For what it is, this book is a solid piece of literature. I certainly prefer pieces that have a more diverse set of indie artists.
itatemyheart2's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really great book but it's far too much to try to absorb in one sitting. I recommend spreading it out. Likewise, it's far too much to write about and cover all aspects of every band in here to the fullest. Sometimes you get quantity over quality, but mostly you get some great quality.
thewrittenword's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
On September 24, 1991 Nirvana released Nevermind. From then on, the musical, social and cultural landscape have never been the same. In one fell swoop what once was considered inferior, obscure, unknown and inaccessible was now part of the mainstream. Most thought that this success came from a vacuum, an inspired moment from a talented band who hit the big time. But little did they know the rich, deep, wide and wild background it emerged from.
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Underground 1981-1991 fills the gap. Foremost music critic and author Michael Azerrad, author of the well-regarded Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana narrates the fascinating, wacky and inspiring tales of the bands that created a nationwide scene whose influence would spread far and wide belieing their isolated and difficult stories. Watching a music documentary on Rock he was appalled in one episode how this groundbreaking era was skipped with nary a nod or acknowledgenent to its importance and influence. Deciding to take matters into his hands and inspired by the said era's DIY "Do It Yourself" ethic he got to work. Choosing 13 of some of the best groups from that heady and artistically fertile period one is transported to another time and place. Whether it be the seminal Black Flag, the eclectic Minutemen, the highly principled Minor Threat, the trendsetting Sonic Youth and many others, in brisk, seamless prose injected with opinion and humor Azerrad lays bare these motley group of misfits who created their own musical landscape. With minimal knowledge and equal naiveté and talent these acts started their own record labels, distributed their own music, managed themselves, carried their own equipment, organized their own tours, wrote their own fanzines and endured the hell of being ripped-off, performing to barely existing (and usually violent and hostile) audiences, and sleeping in inhospitable environments all while being ignored by mainstream media and the public at large. One is amazed and inspired at the belief and tenacity of these brave men and women who charted and trekked new frontiers bypassing the usual and comfortable route to a musical career paving the way to the ubiquitous independence in the music industry now taken for granted.
The flaws come primarily from Azerrad's questionable opinions on some of the potent matters discussed in the text. His dismissive and snarky snides on Minor Threat's Straight Edge philosophy and lifestyle says more about him than the band's game-changing and lifesaving ideology. Hey Mike, if you can't quit the booze and the cigars don't take it on MacKaye and his legion of X-marked baldies! His gripe on the global breakthrough and success of Nirvana and the Grunge movement and bemoaning of how it "altered" the Indie scene to what he believes is the worse is deluded hipster posturing as shortsighted as his spectacles signify. What's the point of art if not to share and spread it to as many as possible? Isn't art the elevating release that inspires and enriches people to help them get through the challenges and monotony of life while appreciating its beauty and substance at the same time? The triumph of the '90s Rock phenomenon ended the 20th Century on a memorable note whose legacy continues to inspire in these empty and inferior times.
Widely-praised and since regarded as one of the best books on music, Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Underground 1981-1991 is a highly readable document on a time when people were still at their best, electricity was in the air, the future held so much promise and Rock was everything. Bask in these riveting pages and blast the great music of these one of a kind acts whose sonic musical assaults powered, shook and inspired an entire nation from coast to coast extending to a global reach unlike any seen since. "Rise Above"!
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Underground 1981-1991 fills the gap. Foremost music critic and author Michael Azerrad, author of the well-regarded Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana narrates the fascinating, wacky and inspiring tales of the bands that created a nationwide scene whose influence would spread far and wide belieing their isolated and difficult stories. Watching a music documentary on Rock he was appalled in one episode how this groundbreaking era was skipped with nary a nod or acknowledgenent to its importance and influence. Deciding to take matters into his hands and inspired by the said era's DIY "Do It Yourself" ethic he got to work. Choosing 13 of some of the best groups from that heady and artistically fertile period one is transported to another time and place. Whether it be the seminal Black Flag, the eclectic Minutemen, the highly principled Minor Threat, the trendsetting Sonic Youth and many others, in brisk, seamless prose injected with opinion and humor Azerrad lays bare these motley group of misfits who created their own musical landscape. With minimal knowledge and equal naiveté and talent these acts started their own record labels, distributed their own music, managed themselves, carried their own equipment, organized their own tours, wrote their own fanzines and endured the hell of being ripped-off, performing to barely existing (and usually violent and hostile) audiences, and sleeping in inhospitable environments all while being ignored by mainstream media and the public at large. One is amazed and inspired at the belief and tenacity of these brave men and women who charted and trekked new frontiers bypassing the usual and comfortable route to a musical career paving the way to the ubiquitous independence in the music industry now taken for granted.
The flaws come primarily from Azerrad's questionable opinions on some of the potent matters discussed in the text. His dismissive and snarky snides on Minor Threat's Straight Edge philosophy and lifestyle says more about him than the band's game-changing and lifesaving ideology. Hey Mike, if you can't quit the booze and the cigars don't take it on MacKaye and his legion of X-marked baldies! His gripe on the global breakthrough and success of Nirvana and the Grunge movement and bemoaning of how it "altered" the Indie scene to what he believes is the worse is deluded hipster posturing as shortsighted as his spectacles signify. What's the point of art if not to share and spread it to as many as possible? Isn't art the elevating release that inspires and enriches people to help them get through the challenges and monotony of life while appreciating its beauty and substance at the same time? The triumph of the '90s Rock phenomenon ended the 20th Century on a memorable note whose legacy continues to inspire in these empty and inferior times.
Widely-praised and since regarded as one of the best books on music, Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Underground 1981-1991 is a highly readable document on a time when people were still at their best, electricity was in the air, the future held so much promise and Rock was everything. Bask in these riveting pages and blast the great music of these one of a kind acts whose sonic musical assaults powered, shook and inspired an entire nation from coast to coast extending to a global reach unlike any seen since. "Rise Above"!
bjor6n's review against another edition
4.0
Well, the mp3 player is again stocked with Black Flag, Minutemen, Big Black, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Fugazi, Minor Threat, Mudhoney, Dinosaur jr,Husker Du and the Replacements. I can't believe I don't have any Beat Happening. Now I'll wander and wonder.