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Rating:  Summary: Admirable Though Failed Review: An admirable though failed attempt to somehow prove that punk is not dead when in reality whether you considered Nirvana a punk band or not(personally I didn't)their signing and major label release in 92 forever changed the face of underground rock in america. The fact is though is that punk was already on it's last legs in and around 85-86. The demise of both Black Flag and The Dead Kennedys as well as major label offerings from Husker Du and The Replacements indicated that the music was changing, despite the latters failed attempts at more mainstream success. The trouble here is that now and in 97 when this book came out punk(a term I use loosely) had already been done rehashed redone and copyied a gazillion times and to metion the likes of Green Day or The Offspring in present tense as punk bands is ludicrous at best considering their success's are directly related to Nirvana's breakthrough despite the fact that they both came from a very vibrant California music scene. When was the last time Green Day played Gilmans? The fact remains that no matter how you look at it punk is a done deal. Whatever may be going on today is merely a rehash from the past. the excitement anger etc. have manifest themselves into other generes(ie-rap--rap metal hybrids) and just as with the radical 60's bands(ie the Mc5, Stooges) the revolution isn't going to be...
Rating:  Summary: Good ideas;not fulfilling Review: Gina Arnold is a good writer who painstakingly researches these books and is passionate for the subject of punk.This book,however,promises a lot of punch but delivers only small jabs.She is right on the money about punk's recent commercialism and lack of creativity(read:fad songs and everyone trying to sing like Billy Joe).She also obviously spent a lot of time studying today's "punk" bands;the problem is,who cares? These bands are just like the '80's metal hair bands attitude wise! They fall right in place and dominate MTV and act like,well,rock stars!!If you thought Nirvana destroyed all that,well,you were wrong!Here they are,the post-punk Axls dressed in mohawks and ripped jean jackets! This book has honorable intentions and is well written, it's just boring,and a lot of that is due to the bands included.I strongly recommend "The Road To Nirvana" over this one.And if Nirvana wasn't punk,there never was such a thing.
Rating:  Summary: Good, but it's not about `real' punk. Review: I feel that there is some confusion about what this book sets out to do. It isn't a review of todays underground punk scene. It is a look at todays commercial punk scene. Unlike other reviewers I never felt that Arnolds was trying to claim that Rancid, Green Day, and the Offspring are real punk bands. She was using them as examples of bands that started off with punk roots and then followed them to see what happened when they went comercial. Will you like this book? Well it depends what you want. If you want a look at how punk went from an underground sub-culture to the phony commercial MTV and Snow-board trend it is today, then this is a good book for you. If you want a book about todays underground punk culture look elsewhere
Rating:  Summary: the commercialization of punk rock Review: Ms. Arnold has always been an insightful and interesting writer and this book is no different. Anonymous stone throwers referring to her as a hack should perhaps learn to spell "quality" so as not to be chuckled at when they are trying to be vicious.
Rating:  Summary: Book about punk for those who were alive in '76 Review: This is pretty cool. It has a lot about punk in general and a lot about Green Day, Rancid, and the Offspring. But the writer mentions Kurt Cobain WAY too Much!!! HE'S NOT PUNK! Gina says that every band now a days wants to be like them and copy Nevermind. GINA! GET OVER IT!
Rating:  Summary: This book is not worth yr time or money. Review: To the reviewers who say things like "she mentions real punk bands like Rancid, Green Day, and the Offspring" Get your thumb out of your butt. I was shocked at this book's inability to mention ONE real punk band who exists after 1985. The punk scene is thriving, with bands like The Casualties, The Unseen, Aus-Rotten, and Stratford Mercinaries not forgetting their roots, cutting their hair, and cleaning up their sound to attain commercial viability. Nirvana and the rest lost all their creditability the minute they traded in their souls and beliefs for a new model car and a giant home. This book does nothing but perpetuate the myth that punk is commercial radio crap. Up The Punx!
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