All Music Guide to Rock 2nd Edition - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0879304944 ISBN 13: 9780879304942

Publisher: Backbeat Books, 1750

Synopsis

Fun-to-read and easy-to-use, this reference, compiled by dozens of noted music critics, lists more than 15,000 recordings by 2,500 rock, pop and soul artists. Performers are profiled, with their top albums listed and rated. Reviews of key recordings discuss the artist's evolutions and significance in the world of rock. Major figures are highlighted with expanded biographies and complete album discographies. 40 charts.

About this title

Review

The second edition of All Music's popular rock encyclopedia is a thorough and informed survey of thousands of CD titles currently on the market. While pop, soul, R&B, and rap titles are critiqued, the emphasis here is on rock with a capital "R." Indeed, it's not too hard to stump the book with indie titles and other offbeat recordings. (Try The Trouser Press Guide to '90s Rock for a fitting underground complement to this more mainstream reference.) That said, the genre's almost 2,000 musicians are placed under the microscope. Recommendations for first and essential purchases as well as biographies and other vital facts flesh out the entries. This isn't the only book you'll need for your pop-music reference library, but it is a key purchase for rabid CD buyers. --Steven Stolder

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 UpAThis title might appeal to casual music fans and trivia buffs, but is not an essential purchase for libraries. It consists mainly of an alphabetical listing of performers and bands. The entries include date of birth (date formed for bands), death (date disbanded for bands), and a sketchy biography (or group history). A detailed discography includes the relative merit of various albums and points out essential purchases for each artist. Unfortunately, the criticism is dismissive, offering descriptions such as "brief and angular punk rock" and "ponderous and overblown" with no real clue as to what qualities these phrases refer to. This is not an exhaustive resource. Groups such as Shakespeares Sister or The Crash Test Dummies are left out, while the one-hit wonder Blues Magoos is included. An ad in the front claims that the All Music Guide Web page is more comprehensive. The most interesting part of the book is a look at the history of rock genres, from rockabilly to girl groups to grunge. These essays are dry and dense, but informative. At best, this can be used as a supplement for libraries with large music collections.ALawrence Kapture, New York Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Backbeat Books
• Publication date: 1750
• ISBN 10: 0879304944
• ISBN 13: 9780879304942
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2