Essays

If you're fascinated by the intersection of music and societal shifts, this is your fix. It delves into iconic movements and bands that have shaped not only music but also youth culture, gender norms, and political landscapes. Imagine revisiting the raw energy of punk and grunge scenes, understanding how they echoed and influenced the times – it's history, but with a killer soundtrack.

Was punk just another moment in music history, a flash in time when a group of young rebels exploded in a fury of raw sound, outrageous styles, and in-your-face attitude? Greil Marcus, author of the renowned "Lipstick Traces," delves into the after-life of punk as a much richer phenomenon a form of artistic and social rebellion that continually erupts into popular culture.In more than seventy short pieces written over fifteen years, he traces the uncompromising strands of punk from Johnny Rotten to Elvis Costello, Sonic Youth, even Bruce Springsteen. Marcus's unparalleled insight into present-day culture and brilliant ear for music bring punk's searing half-life into deep focus. Originally published in the U.S. as "Ranters and Crowd Pleasers.""