The New Trouser Press Record Guide [Paperback]

Ira A. Robbins (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Based on reviews in Trouser Press , which regularly covered such groups as the Sex Pistols, Clash, Ramones, Television, and Blondie, the first edition of this book ( LJ 9/15/83) assessed 1000 of the most significant recordings of New Wave music. Evident in this new edition is how New Wave has been cross-fertilized by reggae, rap, hardcore, and other nonmainstream styles. The third edition reviews 3000 albums of innovative, political, witty, and often offensive music--music like that of the group Polkacide, described as "accordians, horns, yelps, and general lunacy." The reviews are refreshingly blunt and insightful, without claiming more for the music than it merits, and the simple alphabetical arrangement and cross-referencing works well. The one drawback is that the book no longer includes both the U.S. and U.K. labels when both exist, but it may list a U.S. label with a U.K. release date. An authoritative survey of a largely ignored segment of the music world.
- Daniel J. Lombardo, Jones Lib., Inc., Amherst, Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 657 pages
• Publisher: Crowell-Collier Pr (Macmi); 3 Rev Sub edition (March 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0020363702
• ISBN-13: 978-0020363705
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #647,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars got me through middle school, June 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Trouser Press Record Guide (Paperback)

I was in middle school from late '95 to 98. it was a weird time as i was getting sick of all the modern rock music on the radio and the changing format. so i bought a Sonic Youth record on a whim, loved it, and looked at the sleeves to see all these band posters. i had no idea who most were, so i went to the Orange County Library in Florida seeking education and found this book, this edition...

the writing on it was very well done with great reviews (especially from Ira Robbins and Jack Rabid). and i got into so many incredible, obscure bands that captured the era (and since then, not often mentioned) like Saccharine Trust, Volcano Suns, Squirrel Bait, Die Kreuzen, Contortions, etc. as well as all the important bands on SST, Dischord, Alternative Tentacles, etc.

i haven't seen it in the library lately, but it has been digitized at www.trouserpress.com for great nostalgia. even though allmusic has pretty much taken the lead when it comes to music review devices, Trouser Press is still filled with great reviews.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He's the one who started it all, May 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Trouser Press Record Guide (Paperback)

Seminal work capturing the less main stream of music before Spin could even think that it would have a 17 year in heart underwear on their cover.

Robbins provides susinct reviews, useful info, discographies and band "family" trees.

I relied on Ira to make me smart more than a few times, even won the complete RHINO collection of New wave hits because I knew the name of Mitch Easter's bass player on some album. Thanks IRA.