Genre in popular music /

Likely to become required reading for those interested in popular music, this concise, thorough book examines the concept of genre (as opposed to style). Holt (Univ. of Roskilde, Denmark) begins with a clear introduction that defines the terminology of popular music studies, and then offers convincing case studies revealing the development of specific music genres in the 20th century. Although others have touched on issues of genre in popular music--e.g., Timothy Taylor in Global Pop (CH, Jun'98, 35-5577)--no one has examined it from this near-Straussian structuralist perspective. Scholars of popular music need to publish more titles like this in order to distinguish themselves from "urban ethnomusicologists." That said, just as Holt recognizes musical genre as "fluid" and "unstable," so too are the academic genres known as folklore, ethnomusicology, and popular music studies. One hopes that future works will focus on world- and art-music genres. The present volume includes photos, musical notations, notes, and extensive references. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students and researchers. A. C. Shahriari Kent State University

Devoted to a current topic in musicology, Holt's (music & performance, Univ. of Roskilde, Denmark) book asks, What are music genres, why do people debate music categories and music classification so vehemently, and what current music genres' roots have become so indistinct that they are considered new genres altogether? He covers the history and impact of late 20th-century popular music-namely, rock 'n' roll, country, and jazz-and examines many relevant case studies, including the soundtrack to the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Genre transformations such as the Nashville sound, jazz-rock fusion, and the influence of Jeff Parker and the Chicago jazz scene on the development of indie jazz round out the content. This work fills a void in current thought and development regarding popular American music and its influences, and it provides a unique perspective and grounded research. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Bradford Lee Eden, Univ. of California Lib., Santa Barbara (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.