There is a quotation of uncertain origin - Elvis Costello, Frank Zappa, Robyn Hitchcock, and Laurie Anderson are all frequently cited as sources - that is rapidly becoming a postmodern rallying cry for guys like me: writing about music is like dancing about architecture.

The parsimonious beauty and simple truth of this statement are undeniable, and it has spawned at least one weekly column (now defunct) and a website (apparently moribund). And yet, still I write - if for no other reason than that I get a kick out of it. Sure, I hope someone is out there reading my work and gleaning both enjoyment and education from it, but I would do it anyway out of sheer compulsion.

Almost as soon as I started listening to records, I started reading about them. Hit Parader magazine, Partridge Family novelizations, serious biographies, (literally) long-haired critical analysis - it didn't really matter. I consumed the literature almost as voraciously as I did the music.

The books that I read back then told me about things I was too young to have experienced firsthand and could have never heard on the radio. I read of the crazed, dangerous, early days of rock and the intense, hazy days of Woodstock. I learned about blues and soul, country and folk, jazz pharaohs and garage bands - sounds far removed from the buoyant Top 40 tunes I cut my teeth on. So, for me, reading about music was a gateway to revelation, and writing about music feels like creation itself. If I dance about architecture, well, at least it's a dance of joy.

Through my teens, my discretionary income grew at about the same rate as the nascent rock press, and I came of age (1978) about the same time that pop music journalism hit its stride. For a short while, I had a nearly definitive rock 'n' roll library. Soon, however, the industry outpaced my ability to afford - let alone read - all the latest music tomes. The market was quickly flooded (and remains so to this day) with books of every weight - from slim, exploitive tell-alls to hefty coffee-table histories.

Amidst this maelstrom, I offer this section as a beacon to guide you to the very best music books by the most accomplished music writers. The books I discuss herein sit well-read and tattered on my shelves, and I refer to them often when writing for this website. When what you find here does not slake your hunger for knowledge, these are the resources I recommend for satisfying your musical curiosity. Got a dog-eared favorite? Drop me a line...

Randy Anthony

There I go, turn the page...

Book & Writing Links

	Pop Matters: yes, it certainly does. Don't know who these guys really are, but they put together a hell of a web site - apparently without remuneration.
	Dancing About Architecture: pop music commentary - that's all folks! Cranky, picky, occasionally inscrutable - everything good criticism should be.
	Indie Geek: an indie music fansite that is well-designed and easy-to-read - rare commodities in the semi-literate world of the web.
	RockCritics.com: they hate your favorite band! But, we love to read them. An all-purpose resource for folks who love to read about rock.
	RockList.net: critics love lists, Julian loves critics. The "net" result? Lotsa lists for you and me including ones from Billboard, NME, Dave Marsh, and Robert Christgau.
	Rock's Back Pages: if you got the money, honey.... I don't, but a quick perusal of their archives makes me wish I did - hundreds of articles by renowned writers.
	Metacritic.com: One stop rock criticism shopping - type an artist or album into their search engine and get a quick list (linked where possible) of reviews and articles.

Feedback

Your witty comments, impertinent questions, helpful suggestions, and angry denials are altogether encouraged. Submit feedback via email; submissions will be edited and posted at my discretion.