Review by Choice Review
Cogan (Molloy College) draws on his long-term involvement with punk culture as writer and musician to create this broad-based, up-to-date guide to the performers, publications, labels, venues, and terminology of punk. The more than 600 entries are alphabetically arranged, and can also be found via a topical guide and analytical index (that unfortunately misses many textual references). The US-British focus is enhanced by brief overviews for selected countries with punk scenes. Entries are concise (most are under two pages) and include biographical details and discographies for performers, with occasional black-and-white photos. The work's strength is the analytical discussion of styles (e.g., emo, hardcore, straight edge); city scenes; gender, sexual, and political issues; and influences (e.g., reggae, rockabilly, Captain Beefheart), with coverage inclusive of 1960s protopunk through each evolution of the following 40 years. Few influential figures are missing, although recent significant bands like Hatebreed and Against Me! are notably absent. Cross-references allow readers to follow relationships throughout the work. Sloppy editing detracts from this unique reference tool: several entries are marred by typos, diction and tense errors, and unintentional repetition; one hopes these are cleaned up in later printings and editions. At the time of this review, The Rough Guide to Punk, by Al Spicer (2006), advertised as presenting 250 profiles with critical reviews and entries on venues, styles, etc., was still in press. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. All levels. R. A. Aken University of Kentucky
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
To many music buffs, 2006 marks the 30th birthday of punk rock. Publishers are marking the event with a smattering of books, including these two reference titles, which could be the first such works on the genre. Londoner Spicer (editor, The Rough Guide to Rock, 2d ed.) divides The Rough Guide to Punk into three main sections: a time line (1965-85) of the movement, 250-plus A-to-Z entries (which make up the bulk of the book), and a brief "Punkology" media guide of further resources. At first, his young, loud, and snotty writing might seem too subjective, but one soon realizes that the amorphous nature of punk necessitates writing that conveys strong opinions alongside band lineups. Speaking of bands, all the usual suspects are here, from the Adverts and Blondie to the Sex Pistols and X-Ray Spex. Adding to the guide's appeal are the layout, visuals, and self-contained history. Perfect for the Hot Topic-haunting preteen, the crusty with the thinning mohawk, and all serious enthusiasts of the seedy underbelly of popular music. Encyclopedia of Punk Music and Culture is a somewhat more formal affair. Longtime punk fan, journalist, and academic Cogan (communication arts, Molloy Coll.) takes a highly catholic approach to what is and isn't punk, opting not to restrict the movement to a particular locale or time period. He tries to cover nearly every important band, taking in all manner of subgenres from hardcore to oi with an octopuslike reach. The book is structured like a typical A-to-Z encyclopedia; the entries (nearly 600) usually run a few paragraphs, and band entries include discographies. Unfortunately, this style of organization could pose a problem for punk neophytes, who may find themselves adrift in a sea of sound with no context and little supplementary information to help them navigate. Bottom Line These two books have different aims. Cogan's Encyclopedia is one to consult briefly and keep coming back to, while Spicer's Rough Guide could be read from start to finish, leaving one with a well-rounded knowledge of punk music. It should be noted that the Encyclopedia contains too many spelling errors, unseemly for a reference book. That said, there are also a few mislabeled captions and factual mixups in The Rough Guide. Still, The Rough Guide is the better of the two books and recommended for all libraries. The Encyclopedia would be better for academic and larger public libraries. Matthew Moyer, Jacksonville P.L., FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Library Journal Review
