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Review
"Worthy. As a straightforward timeline account of rave culture-the DJs, the drugs, the choons, the clubs, the clobber-"Generation Ecstasy succeeds. Tracing the music. Reynolds shows that he certainly knows his stuff.."
-"Now, Toronto
"For anyone who has been to a rave or bought a techno CD, this book is an excellent complement. Reynolds does a great job throughout, even making this book readable for those who know littel or nothing about techno and rave culture."
-"Dead Trees Review
"Invaluable."
-"Toronto Star
"The single best book about rave culture."
-"The Roverfront Times
"A classic chronicle of the Nineties rave movement."
-James Hunter, "Rolling Stone
-"Now, Toronto
"For anyone who has been to a rave or bought a techno CD, this book is an excellent complement. Reynolds does a great job throughout, even making this book readable for those who know littel or nothing about techno and rave culture."
-"Dead Trees Review
"Invaluable."
-"Toronto Star
"The single best book about rave culture."
-"The Roverfront Times
"A classic chronicle of the Nineties rave movement."
-James Hunter, "Rolling Stone
Product Description
In the early nineties, rave culture exploded with the availability of cheap computers and sampling technology, causing a punk-style do-it-yourself revolution. The resulting upsurge of independent labels and home studio-based artists spawned a legion of subgenres: hardcore, trance, jungle, ambient, gabba, big beat, and many more. Today, DJs and producers such as Fatboy Slim, Prodigy, Goldie and The Chemical Brothers have huge followings, while mainstream artists like Madonna and Bjork have turned to rave's offspring for artistic rejuvenation.
In Generation Ecstasy, Simon Reynolds takes the reader on a guided tour of this end-of-the-millenium phenomenon, telling the story of rave culture and techno music as an insider who has dosed up and blissed out. The first critical history of techno music--and the drug culture that accompanies it--Generation Ecstasy traces rave's origins in Detroit techno and Chicago house, then shows how these black American genres were transformed by British and European youth. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about the artists and the DJs who created dance culture, the fans for whom it is a way of life, and the dance club and outdoor rave scenes that brought it both fame and infamy.
A celebration of rave's quest for the perfect beat and the ultimate rush, Generation Ecstasy is the definitive chronicle of rave culture and electronic dance music.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
To promote Kraftwerk's 1991 remixed "greatest hits" compilation The Mix, the group's American label, Elektra, came up with an amusing ad: a simulation of the famous one-and-only photo of blues pioneer Robert Johnson, but with his suit filled by a robot's body. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
To promote Kraftwerk's 1991 remixed "greatest hits" compilation The Mix, the group's American label, Elektra, came up with an amusing ad: a simulation of the famous one-and-only photo of blues pioneer Robert Johnson, but with his suit filled by a robot's body. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Simon Reynolds writes as an enthusiast, not a critic. This is, nevertheless, the most intelligent, vivid, comprehensive book I have ever read about the ecstacy culture. I'm a fan of Reynolds' writing - I've actually read all of his works - all highly recommended. What is so special about this book is that it covers the music, the drug and the evolution of the culture with incredible energy and intimacy. I devoured the book. He is also a great writer - he writes sentences that are dense with meaning and really insightful turns of phrase - and every word demands to be read. I have recommended this book to several people and they have all enjoyed it thoroughly. Rather than saying something polite I'll just say "Big Up, geezer. Massive respect! Top stuff!!!!"
If you're interested in rave culture, if the music makes you jump - don't miss this one. It's seriously brilliant!!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having just worked my way through the UK publication of this book, alternitavely titled "Energy Flash", I must say that I have been given a decent working history of movement that has become a dominant part of youth culture over the last ten years. But as the author remains a fan (one might even say preacher for) of one particular sub genre of these varied strains of music, his analysis and interpretation often fails to deliver the goods. If Mr. Reynolds were not desperately searching for a modern day incarnation of the late 60's hippy attempt to redefine society through a common musical affinity, he might be willing to accept genres such as ambient, prog. House and the like as valid artistic fields. But since all music must satisfy his need for underground consciousness raising revolt(in this case through a culture that drops out of the mainstream completely a la expressionists of the nineteen twenties)he finds it difficult to accept a music that is merely intended to entice and provide pleasure or rediefne the way we think of musicality. The resulting rejections and arrogant denials of alternatives to the dance till you lose yourself 'ardkore ultimately remain self indulgent and tainted by his wishful myth formation. The further inability to critically question the prescribed goals of this 'ardkore also leaves a strong desire for more discussion. However this is where the text is also the most intriguing. Reynolds with his solid knowledge of the genre manages to pique interest and in my case have led to a renewed desire to search out a truly intelligent discourse on the movement and its consequences. On a final note the obsessive UK-centric approach to the music also wears thin, denying foreign countries their due until they begin to affect the UK scene.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Simon Reynolds is a raver. He readily admits as such, right from the outset of the book. But unlike the biased, sensationalist 20/20 would have you believe of everyone in the scene, he's not simply a drugged-out zombie, living life for the next fix. Mr. Reynolds shares the viewpoint of many ravers today; albeit a perspective which rarely sees the light of day, because its not news-worthy enough. It's all about the music. This book is an exhausting history of electronic, going back to its very roots, all the way to the current teen-sensations The Prodigy, et. al. The book also delves into the darker side of the scene, however; the drugs. It's interesting to note that Reynolds carefully walks the border, never really making explicit his beliefs on drug use. (He's used them, he knows they're bad...but what's his real opinion?) Maybe you can figure it out. This is a definite recommendation if you're even remotely interested in the rave scene, its history, or its current incarnation. Pick it up, but don't expect to get to sleep. My serotonin level got boosted just from reading it :)
ke!th
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fine stab at overview
I disagree with the second reviewer, although I appreciate what they mean. The topic itself is not necessarily anti-academic surely although it does benefit from the perspective... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2002 by hueylovesaphrodite@hotmail.com
Overly dramatic, but still a decent read
I'd have to agree with the above reviewer about Reynolds' annoying pseudo-intellectual speak. This guy obviously just read Baudrillard's _Simulacra and Simulacram_ one night... Read more
Published on 24 Jun 1999
highly-informative and vividly written summary of rave
Reynolds provides an highly-information, excruciatingly detailed view of the history of rave culture and techno music. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 1999
Boring. Reynolds sucks the life out of an interesting topic.
Filled with annoying postmodern pseudo-english, Generation Ecstasy seems to be written by someone who desperately wants to be thought of as intelligent. Read more
Published on 27 Oct 1998
excellent. I'm glad to see the world of rave is out!
AWESOME!! ONE WORD: AWESOME!
Published on 12 Oct 1998
The first really great book about rave culture I've read
This is a really lively and provacative book about dance music that goes from its beginnings in the 80s right up to now. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 1998
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