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Book Review
Jan. 8th, 2024 10:31 amMajor Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres
by Kelefa Sanneh
This history of popular music starts after the break-up of the Beatles in the late sixties, and is organized by seven genres: rock, R&B, punk, country, hip-hop, dance, and pop. Each section follows the development and evolution of the genre and a selection of its sub-genres. Sanneh discusses the music itself as well as the fan communities that surround the genre and a little bit of how that genre fits into and interacts with the business side of things. It's fascinating, often exuberant, and largely appreciative.
Genre is an interesting lens through which to look at popular music history, given how slippery it sometimes can be, and it very much works here. My favorite chapter was oddly the one on country music, largely because it is not a genre that I engage with much and thus a lot of the material was new to me. I also found the coverage of heavy metal in the rock section good. I found the punk chapter a bit lacking, though. It felt a little to me like Sanneh was approaching it as a slightly embarrassing phase that was cool at the time but a little cringey now. There's plenty of great punk music still being made and plenty of people who are very much into it.
I found the book overall very enjoyable to read - Sanneh is compelling and has a great dry wit.I liked the way Sanneh periodically addresses how much genre is defined by musical features and how much by the demographics and personalities of its fans. I loved how voracious and open-minded a listener he is.
by Kelefa Sanneh
This history of popular music starts after the break-up of the Beatles in the late sixties, and is organized by seven genres: rock, R&B, punk, country, hip-hop, dance, and pop. Each section follows the development and evolution of the genre and a selection of its sub-genres. Sanneh discusses the music itself as well as the fan communities that surround the genre and a little bit of how that genre fits into and interacts with the business side of things. It's fascinating, often exuberant, and largely appreciative.
Genre is an interesting lens through which to look at popular music history, given how slippery it sometimes can be, and it very much works here. My favorite chapter was oddly the one on country music, largely because it is not a genre that I engage with much and thus a lot of the material was new to me. I also found the coverage of heavy metal in the rock section good. I found the punk chapter a bit lacking, though. It felt a little to me like Sanneh was approaching it as a slightly embarrassing phase that was cool at the time but a little cringey now. There's plenty of great punk music still being made and plenty of people who are very much into it.
I found the book overall very enjoyable to read - Sanneh is compelling and has a great dry wit.I liked the way Sanneh periodically addresses how much genre is defined by musical features and how much by the demographics and personalities of its fans. I loved how voracious and open-minded a listener he is.
