I hate New Music the Classic Rock Manifesto [Hardcover]

Dave Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

Uproariously funny and relentlessly thought-provoking, I Hate New Music is one man's crusade against everything that isn't what rock ought to be. Author Dave Thompson examines the sacred cows of the past 30 years - from U2 to Days of the New, from Radiohead to The White Stripes - and then slaughters them for their sins against our souls in this un-put-downable compendium of outrageous opinion, hilarious anecdote, and wild accusations.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Thompson’s pick as the top “classic rock” song (1968–1976) is Led Zeppelin’s ubiquitous “Stairway to Heaven.” And it gets worse. His next three picks, all warhorses, are “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (the Who), “Hotel California” (Eagles), and “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Queen). He detests the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper, though, so there’s grit under the treacle. Perhaps. He basically presents a scattershot critique of the music that lives forever on boomer-oriented oldies radio and at wedding receptions. He overdoes the sly humor only occasionally and has a good sense of the bizarre to compensate a shortage of appreciation of the backbeat. Most of his targets are exceedingly deserving of skewering, and all are by pretty well-heeled cats, most of them white, whatever that tells one. Thompson finds “moments of endorphin-pumping pleasure” in the likes of Jimmy Page’s guitar solo in “Stairway” and discourses merrily on the monumental nature of the 1960s–’70s album-oriented pop he esteems. He also finds great value in disco excursions by rockers, so obviously his humor knows no—or few—bounds. Good, clean fun. --Mike Tribby

About the Author

Dave Thompson is the author of over 100 books on rock music and pop culture, including best-selling titles on Nirvana, Cream, David Bowie, and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. His writing has also appeared in numerous magazines and publications, including Rolling Stone, Mojo, Melody Maker and Q.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879309350
• ISBN-13: 978-0879309350
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,127,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, April 18, 2010

By 

J. Aragon "Feminist Educator" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I hate New Music the Classic Rock Manifesto (Hardcover)

This is a hilarious quick read. And, some of the sections provide useful information that will make you run to your iPod or MP3 player to update songs or listen to some of the classics.

This is not a serious read, but rather the author's opinion regarding the heyday of is favorite music, rock n roll. (Note no use of the ampersand or and). One of my issues with the book, though is that it's very anglophone and male focused. It's a veritable sausage party without any analysis.

That said, he is critical of the over-commercialization of rock music or new music of today. Anyone interested in music and pop culture will enjoy this book.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars why in MY day ... !!!!!, May 24, 2009

By 

Eric "seric26" (Somerville, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I hate New Music the Classic Rock Manifesto (Hardcover)

My suggestion: do not take this book seriously. Thompson (who has written memorably on Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers among others) declares in this tome that the only good music EVER was made between 1968-1976. Period. His acid words are so extreme they're laughable, and believe me, he knows it! But he's not going to back down for a book obviously undertaken as a self-indulgent rant against all things that annoy a grumpy baby boomer who remembers the good old days.

And the thing is, when he gets going on the stuff he loves and why (for example, Heart's lifting of every idea they had from Jimmy Page, but doing it so well he succumbs even to their folkiest moments as well), he's readable and full of fascinating detail.

Thompson, in this book, is Don Quixote, and iPods are his windmill. Tilting at them will never work, but you can't blame a grouch for trying.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grouchy, cynical, brilliant, September 18, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I hate New Music the Classic Rock Manifesto (Hardcover)

When you strip away the caustic observations and bitter humor of Dave Thomson's I Hate New Music: The Classic Rock Manifesto, what you're left with is a fierce, passionate love letter to the classic rock `n' roll (never rock and roll) bands the veteran music journalist cut his teeth on. The fact that those caustic observations and bitter humor are what makes I Hate New Music so much fun is an added bonus. It's Fargo Rock City : A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota if you replaced Chuck Klosterman's wide-eyed farm boy with the bitter troll hunched over stacks of used vinyl at the local record show.

Thomson makes his case for the superiority of classic rock with razor sharp wit and the crushing, casual dismissal of contemporary sacred cows like R.E.M, U2 and Radiohead. The fact that he's (almost) completely wrong shouldn't deter anyone from enjoying this book for what it is. There's a reason they call music from that era "classic" rock, and Thomson's obvious passion for the music is extremely contagious. Whether he's holding forth on concept albums, double-live albums, benefit shows, whether or not Clapton is actually God, or the innate superiority of the 8-track (seriously), even when you disagree with the man you can't help but grin at his observations.

At just over 200 pages, I Hate New Music: The Classic Rock Manifesto is a quick read, but it's also a wickedly funny one that pays tribute (in its own cynical way) to the greatest music ever made. If your radio is perpetually stuck on the classic rock station and you still spin Uriah Heep, Budgie and Mountain on a regular basis (even better if they're on vinyl), you have to check out I Hate New Music: The Classic Rock Manifesto. Turn it up.