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A review by thewrittenword
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad
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"!