ROBERT CHRISTGAU'S RECORD GUID - Softcover

Christgau, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 067973015X ISBN 13: 9780679730156

Publisher: Pantheon, 1990

Synopsis

The definitive guide to the rock albums of the '80s by rock critic Robert Christgau. Arranged alphabetically by performer for easy reference, these 2,800 capsule reviews concisely recall the musical highlights--and low points--of the last ten years of rock 'n' roll.

About this title

Review:

The Grand Poobah of Rock Criticism and longtime Village Voice contributor rates 3,000 releases in this dandy book, which belongs on the night table of every self-respecting music fan. Robert Christgau's tastes are admirably catholic: refusing to limit himself to solid rock, he takes on rap, hardcore, country, blues, reggae, worldbeat, and everything in between. His vest-pocket pronunciamentos are always fun to read--even when they seem perversely wrongheaded--and who else would zoom in on Ruben Blades's "ability to skip along the shores of schlock without ruining his best pair of shoes," or refer to "Amazing Grace" as "the 'Send in the Clowns' of roots music"? Who else, for that matter, could almost persuade you to run out and pick up The Very Best of Deep Purple?

From Library Journal:

The "glib and oily art" (as Shakespeare might say) of rock music criticism is on full parade in Christgau's compilation of 2800 1980s rock album reviews, most of which are lifted as is from Christgau's "Consumer Guide" column in The Village Voice . Arrangement is alphabetical by recording artist, and each entry, generally 50 to 150 words in length, includes album name, label, release date, and a letter grade. Introductory essays on 1980s trends and developments and appendixes of artists neglected in the reviews are included. Christgau's catholic tastes provide a wonderful cornucopia, but the cumulative effect of his terminally hip prose and gymnastic verbal constructions ("boho Americanism," "antipunk discowave," "postprog art-rock," "mucho pusho," etc.) is vacuous. Ira Robbins's The New Trouser Press Record Guide ( LJ 3/1/89; 3d ed.) is a superior choice for its depth and information.
- Barry Miller, Austin P.L., Tex.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pantheon
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 067973015X
• ISBN 13: 9780679730156
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 514