KINDA SPOILERS + KINDA VULGAR

“In many ways, we’ll miss the good old days.”

Just like the singers of yesteryear, everyone in this book is obsessed with the past. Not sure if they’re longing for some moment where music meant something, where instruments mattered, where you belonged to a scene instead of clinging to chart indicators.

Of course, the good old days are filled with partying and drug abuse. Some cute moments too.

I love the Strokes as much as Zooey Deschanel loves the Smiths, but I can hardly stand them at times in this book, yet they happen to be some of the least obnoxious people interviewed.

The oral history is just a series of chronological quotes, btw.

I couldn’t be arsed to know who half these people are. The book clearly doesn’t want me to know. It’s 1,200 pages on my phone, with an index at the front—physical format for the win with this one.

I DEFINITELY did not need to know about Albert bringing his BALLS out at the function. Like, hoe, is you cool??? And half the strokes doing it with him??? There’s more. I’m not gonna type it out… in case you actually want to read the book. Not as bad as Montley Crue, though.

At the end of the day, most music scenes boil down to: Someone got addicted to drugs, someone stole someone’s girlfriend, someone died, or someone turned into a capitalist demon (Gene Simmons-ass behavior.)

This book is not bad if you’re a superfan, but it could use some context.

Gonna be taking a break from 2000s indie rock after this one.