This text surveys the popular music of the decade that brought us rap, hardcore, MTV, new age, new wave, worldbeat and speed metal - the decade of Prince, King Sunny Ade, Marshall Crenshaw, De-Barge, The Replacements, Black Union, Hukser Du, New Order, Sonic Youth, R.E.M., Madonna and Public Enemy. Robert Christgau, author of "Rock Albums of the '70s" is one of America's leading rock critics. In this book he reviews and letter-grades some 3000 albums, providing a guide to the rock, pop, country, rap, blues, rock-related jazz, reggae, and African records of the 1980s.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com 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 School Library Journal
YA-- A companion to Christgau's Rock Albums of the '70s (Ticknor & Fields, 1981), representing all types of music: country, rock, rap, metal, etc. The book is arranged alphabetically by the name of the group or artist, and not by genre. A short paragraph gives Christgau's biased but informative views on each of 3,000 CDs/LPs/tapes, along with his A+ through C ratings. An appendix includes a core list of pre-1980 music and a "Gone But Not Forgotten" list of music that is good but not quite core quality. While similar to The New Rolling Stone Record Guide (Random, 1983), edited by David Marsh, and The New Trouser Press Record Guide (Macmillan, 1988), edited by Ira Robbins, this volume covers only one decade. However, it works well not only by itself, but also as an update of the other two guides.
- John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Invaluable resource for collectors and novices alike.,
By Chuck Ciany (ciany@ids.net) (Newport RI) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s (Paperback)
In these days of vinyl disposition for replacement CDs, I continually find myself referring to this invaluable resource (as well as its predecessor for the 70's decade) before going to used record stores and garage sales. Chrisgau's insightful record reviews with their effective letter grading system (F through A+) have protected me from those "disaster purchases," while steering me to several bargain used albums that I have spun at home to great satisfaction. He admirably flaunts a highly discriminating musical taste that spans an array of musical genres to expand the horizons of even the most devout enthusiast. But the real beauty of the book is that it also provides for downright fun reading as in "What was I thinking when I bought that record?"
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good guide for the best '80s music.,
By ltripps9@ix.netcom.com (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s (Paperback)
Although somewhat more obtusely written than the '70s volume, Christgau's '80s rock and roll music guide is an excellent way to find the best music of the decade. Notable for what was included as much as what was not: an appendix lists a couple hundred "post new wave" bands that the author felt did not merit more than a mention. While relatively obscure in the '80s, some of these bands demand a more thorough evaluation based upon their achievements and/or influences in the '90s.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great bathroom reading, definitely!,
By
This review is from: Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s (Paperback)
Though ever-so-slightly less enjoyable as a sheer reading experience than his 70s collection, this book is still chock full of phrases so clever/apt/snotty/etc. that they've taken up residence in my mind like classic rock riffs. For example, what more perfect description of Chuck D.'s rapping style could there be than "bully-boy orotundity"?
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