Da Capo Best Music Writing Book

I read this collection of essays in a day, it's fast reading. I was particularly interested in Sanneh's "Rap against Rockism" (which is a condemnation of rock snobs) Eggers' homage to Big Country (a stirring tribute to one of the almost-forgotten one-hit wonders of the 80s) and Segal's piece on shortwave numbers radio stations. The latter is a Washington Post piece that is fantastically intriguing, touching on clandestine spy activities, as well as interrogating conceptions of rock music and outlining a breed of avant-garde sound/music. If you can believe it, it all makes sense and sent me scrambling to find the elusive 4-CD set "The Conet Project." Read it to believe it.

Though I agree with the others that the forward by the guest editor is maddeningly colloquial and irritating (and his selection of essays from different media is quite eclectic), there are a handful of excellent essays here.