The Album: An explosion of diversity : 1989-Present

Résumé du livre

In this accessible four-volume set for students and general readers, essays on great albums are presented chronologically. Each volume begins with an overview of the era musically and socially. About half of the essays are by editor Perone (music, University of Mount Union); other contributors are musicians and scholars in American studies, history, sociology, and popular culture studies. Although many essays include a biographical box, the essays focus on the artistic merits of each album and its groundbreaking musical, stylistic, and lyrical elements. Essays also highlight the impact of the album on popular culture and the music industry, and discuss production and marketing aspects. Volume 1 covers 39 country, rock, soul, pop, and blues albums from Joan Baez in 1960 to the Woodstock soundtrack of 1969. Volume 2 revisits the golden age of the singer-songwriter, 1970-1973, looking at 46 albums, from George Harrison's All Things Must Pass to Stevie Wonder's Innervisions. Volume 3 adds punk attitude to the mix, looking at 43 albums produced in the period 1974-1988; diverse artists covered include Patti Smith, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Tom Waits, and The Eagles. Volume 4 examines 35 albums from 1989 to the present, by artists including Nirvana, Sheryl Crow, Sufjan Stevens, and of course Lady Gaga. The four-volume set also includes a discography, a chronology of the album as a sales medium and as an artistic statement, and a list of 101 other important albums. Sadly, there are no pictures. Some of the essays are drawn from previously published volumes in the series, The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)