Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for the advance read.

This is a tough one. I have often enjoyed Mr DeVille's byline in stories/news features on Stereogum and have admired his writing. This book is somewhat frustrating, but also extremely well thought out and researched, as well as written and organized creatively. The "problem" is I love the sections on microgenres that I like, but absolutely resent all the pop-skewing music that is covered in the back 1/3 of the book.

I honestly suspect that only voracious pop culture obsessives can possibly enjoy this entire book. By embracing and TELLING the stories of artists I couldn't care less about, DeVille alienated me and made me question his witty placement of Pavement references. Who is this book for? I wish the fringe "indie-qualifying" sections were lopped out and the book solely focused on the traditional Pitchfork aesthetic. I wanted to love this book more, but it's bringing me down.

Whether you’re an Arcade Fire loyalist or someone who just found Phoebe Bridgers on a Spotify playlist, this is a must-read. It’s a love letter to the scene, the sound, and the stubborn belief that music will always matter.