Customer Reviews

Modern Twang: An Alternative Country Music Guide and Directory

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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_Modern Twang_ is an amazing book that provides information on the artists as well as the infrastructure of alt.country. Goodman has written artist profiles and given information on internet resources, labels, radio and television outlets, and live venues. The prose is always readable and insightful. This is a must for the alt.country fan. Goodman has created a model for how music guides should be written. A+++

An awesome, all-purpose, up-to-date guide to the alternative country "scene", this includes profiles of about five hundred bands, both big and small, with special emphasis on local scenes. It's an amazing resource, sure to fill in numerous blanks for just about any reader. Goodman's writing is straightforward, and not overly concerned with the "look, I'm a postgraduate!" rhetorical flashiness which plagues many contemporary music reviews. Let me put it this way, if I had a staff here at Slipcue, I'd hire this guy as a writer. Of course, with books like this, it's fun to flip around checking on bands you already know about... and the good news here is that Goodman is pretty thorough. For example, I looked up The Movie Stars, a Bay Area band whose late-'80s album preceded most of the current wave of twangsters by several years. They didn't have their own entry, but were mentioned under the listing of Red Meat, which is sort of a reconstituted version of the old band. Other '80s pioneers are included as well, though things start to get a little fuzzier and less consistent in the '70s (the Blue Ridge Rangers get listed, but what about Larry Hosford?). One problem I have, though, is the use of scene-specific catch phrases to denote "styles" of music... for example, Sun Volt as "No Depression" music, or any of the bands on Bloodshot as "insurgent country". Yeah, sometimes the things bands (or labels) call their music are cute, but they aren't necessarily that descriptive. But maybe I'm just being too crabby. Goodman also includes listings for radio stations, e-zines, websites and publications related to the current Twang-craze... obviously many of these listings will be quickly out of date, but we can hope that just means another, bigger, better edition will follow...

This book is a joy for fans and historians of country music. Patterned after Ira Robbin's succesful Trouser Press record guides, Modern Twang focuses on the alt.country movement, its history and its many offshoots, not the glossed-over country that dominates the airwaves today. Author David Goodman approaches his subject with obvious love. Capsule reviews of more than 500 artists, discographies, listings of compilation CDs-Goodman has done a fine job. Especially educational (for me) is the inclusion of such artists as the Byrds, Dylan, Neil Young, Parsons, Emmy Lou Harris-early major players in the alt.country scene whose influence remains vital today. This book works as a historical document, as well as a CD buyer's guide.

A good editor would have resulted in a five-star rating. Numerous typos and punctuation miscues (commas anyone?) detract slightly. There are some inconsistencies in style, as well-many of the reviews offer some form of critique, while a few read like letters from adoring fans, offering little insight as to how the band actually sounds.

I am not sure how in the world David Goodman got all this together. It is obviously a work of love for Alternative Country Music. It will be a valuable resource for recording companys,festival and entertainment show managers,and radio and TV program planners and DJs. Think Dowling Press has found a true niche with their publications.