Reviews

When it first appeared in 1998 under the title Generation Ecstasy, Reynolds's (Rip It Up and Start Again) work received praise for its insider take on the myriad subgenres of electronic dance music. Critics took issue, though, with its lack of objectivity in describing those subgenres. This reissue, which includes four new chapters covering developments from the late-1990s resurgence of trance to the current dubstep phenomenon, acknowledges that partisanship but does little to rectify it. Nevertheless, you won't find a better all-in-one historical overview of the music, personalities, drugs, and cultural trends that influenced the rave scene in the UK and beyond. Verdict Although this book is neither an academic study nor a scene memoir, Reynolds uses his authoritative voice and ability to draw clear parallels to more established genres to pull off that most difficult of feats: effectively describing a style of music that may be completely alien to his audience. That this music can, as Reynolds himself admits, often be fully appreciated only by listeners in a chemically altered state makes this achievement doubly impressive. Highly recommended for contemporary music collections and all fans of electronica.-Neil Derksen, Gwinnett Cty. P.L., Lawrenceville, GA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.