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Review
He can write well and has a keen eye for a good quote. (Christopher Hirst, The Independent )
Review
"Smith knows this is a subjective process, and he does not expect everyone to agree with him. His criteria for inclusion are not simply commercial success or critical acclaim, but also the degree to which a recording inspired others to imitate it, follow the direction it led, or take up music themselves....this guide provides a though-provoking look at the development of the dominant art form of the last fifty years. It will serve as a useful selection or listening guide for wide range of audiences from high school to adult." -
Lawrence Looks at Books --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
It was 1948, and suddenly the music industry was at war. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
It was 1948, and suddenly the music industry was at war. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Chris Smith has attempted to define the 101 albums that changed popular music. An obviously impossible task. As she states, every rock star, critic, or listener will come up with his or her own list. First let's state that Chris Smith chooses her 101 albums from an American point of view. A European writer would certainly have chosen a wildly different list (Smith lists no Rolling Stones, no Traffic, no Cream, no Björk). Actually, Chris selects 111 albums, as she even names ten that "nearly made it". She lists her choices chronologically and one immediately realises what a fantastic year 1967 was for popular music (The Doors, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Surrealistic Pillow, The Velvet Underground & Nico, Are You Experienced? are all from that year).
The albums have been meticulously researched and Smith writes scholarly reviews of each and every one putting each in its musical context and explaining why it is important, including many fascinating and quite obscure facts.
The book stimulates the reader to first pull out the cited albums and replay them just to hear what Smith is talking about. Then, not unnaturally, to start compiling his or her own list.
I have a gender issue. Why cannot a rock writer be a woman? I suppose the publishers thought that if this book was perceived to be written by a woman, it wouldn't sell. So it is credited to the ambivalent "Chris" Smith, hoping readers will assume that Chris is a man. Well, in this case, she ain't and Chris has done a great job.
The albums have been meticulously researched and Smith writes scholarly reviews of each and every one putting each in its musical context and explaining why it is important, including many fascinating and quite obscure facts.
The book stimulates the reader to first pull out the cited albums and replay them just to hear what Smith is talking about. Then, not unnaturally, to start compiling his or her own list.
I have a gender issue. Why cannot a rock writer be a woman? I suppose the publishers thought that if this book was perceived to be written by a woman, it wouldn't sell. So it is credited to the ambivalent "Chris" Smith, hoping readers will assume that Chris is a man. Well, in this case, she ain't and Chris has done a great job.
0 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bought a new 160gb iPod and wanted to get some good music for it, what better advice could you want?!!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Analysis includes notes from critics, insights on music history, release dates and notes, and clear surveys
5 Feb 2008
Format:Hardcover
Plenty of Billboard-type guides provide chart lists of hit albums and many a music book discusses key albums; but this is the first to select 100 albums with lasting influence on popular music trends, and should be considered an essential reference for any collection strong in popular music history. Analysis includes notes from critics, insights on music history, release dates and notes, and clear surveys of why the albums are to be considered groundbreakers.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Fascinating reading , whether you're a music expert or not
31 Dec 2006
Format:Hardcover
What a great book! I love music but don't know all that much about it, and this book told me just what I wanted to know about my favorite albums of all time. The book devotes 2-3 pages to each album, providing fascinating details about the album's historical context, creation, musical style, and long-term significance. All of the entries are written in a clear, engaging style that made me want to keep reading. In addition to covering classic albums by figures like Elvis and Miles Davis, the book covers more recent albums by current stars like Eminem and the Dixie Chicks, which i found particularly interesting. Highly recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in music!
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Beware authors who believe their own persona.
26 April 2009
Format:Paperback
For a scathing, erudite, and funny review, from someone who really does know what he's talking about, read:
"The worst book about pop music I have ever read" in the Austin American Statesman. <http://www.statesman.com/search/content/life/stories/books/04/26/0426101albums.html>.
"The worst book about pop music I have ever read" in the Austin American Statesman. <http://www.statesman.com/search/content/life/stories/books/04/26/0426101albums.html>.
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