A leading music journalist's riveting chronicle of how beloved band Pearl Jam shaped the times, and how their legacy and longevity have transcended generations.
Steven Hyden Bücher
THE MAKING AND MEANING OF RADIOHEAD'S GROUNDBREAKING, CONTROVERSIAL, EPOCHDEFINING ALBUM, KID A. In 1999, as the end of an old century loomed, five musicians entered a recording studio in Paris without a deadline. Their band was widely recognized as the best and most forward-thinking in rock, a rarefied status granting them the time, money, and space to make a masterpiece. But Radiohead didn't want to make another rock record. Instead, they set out to create the future. For more than a year, they battled writer's block, intra-band disagreements, and crippling self-doubt. In the end, however, they produced an album that was not only a complete departure from their prior guitar-based rock sound, it was the sound of a new era-and it embodied widespread changes catalyzed by emerging technologies just beginning to take hold of the culture. What they created was Kid A. Upon its release in 2000, Radiohead's fourth album divided critics. Some called it an instant classic; others, such as the UK music magazine Melody Maker, deemed it "tubby, ostentatious, self-congratulatory... whiny old rubbish." But two decades later, Kid A sounds like nothing less than an overture for the chaos and confusion of the twenty-first century. Acclaimed rock critic Steven Hyden digs deep into the songs, history, legacy, and mystique of Kid A, outlining the album's pervasive influence and impact on culture in time for its twentieth anniversary in 2020. Deploying a mix of criticism, journalism, and personal memoir, Hyden skillfully revisits this enigmatic, alluring LP and investigates the many ways in which Kid A shaped and foreshadowed our world.
This thought-provoking exploration delves into Bruce Springsteen's iconic album, Born in the U.S.A., released on June 4, 1984, which became one of the best-selling rock albums ever. It serves as a landmark for both Springsteen and American culture, capturing the essence of the country at that moment while also predicting its future trajectory. In this work, veteran rock critic Steven Hyden addresses essential questions about the album's meaning, creation, and impact. Through a blend of personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, he examines the songs on Born in the U.S.A. and those that didn't make the cut, including tracks from its sister album, Nebraska. Hyden traces Springsteen's journey as he balanced commercial success with artistic integrity, exploring how the artist's subsequent work responded to the album's legacy. The narrative extends beyond Springsteen, situating the album within a broader context of rock music and American society. It reflects on Springsteen's aspirations and the challenges of navigating a tumultuous era marked by Vietnam and Watergate. The album captures a nation in disarray while advocating for unity, influencing a generation of bands seeking to replicate its impact. As political shifts occurred, Hyden questions how the heartland Springsteen depicted transformed and what lessons can be gleaned from the album about America's decline. Through this journey, readers are invited to reflect on the en