The Best of No Depression: Writing about American Music

Brad and Michele Moore Roots Music

by Grant Alden (Editor), Peter Blackstock (Editor)

Since the magazine's founding in 1995, No Depression has reported on and helped define the music that goes by names such as alt.country, Americana, and roots music. Though dismissed by the commercial country music establishment as "music that doesn't sell," alternative country has attracted thousands of listeners who long for the authenticity and rich complexity that come from its potent blend of country and rock 'n' roll and any number of related musical genres and subgenres. To celebrate No Depression 's tenth anniversary and spotlight some of the most important artists and trends in alt.country music, editors Grant Alden and Peter Blackstock have compiled this anthology of twenty-five of the magazine's best and most representative feature articles. Their subjects range from venerated country artists such as Johnny Cash and Ray Price to contemporary songwriters such as Lucinda Williams and Buddy and Julie Miller to the post-punk country-influenced bands Wilco and the Drive-By Truckers. All of the articles included here illustrate No Depression's commitment to music writing that puts the artist front-and-center and covers his or her career in sufficient depth to be definitive. Alden and Blackstock have also written a preface to this volume in which they discuss the alt.country phenomenon and the history and editorial philosophy that have made No Depression the bible for everyone seeking genuine American roots music.

Genres: Music

300 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Thad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still mourning the loss of this publication. It was the cream of the crop. RIP

[East Bay J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess I have never read an issue of No Depression, which is odd to me considering my love of roots music. The Best Of No Depression contains several articles about various bands and singers in the roots/Americana style, each providing short bios, discussing then new albums, examining some of the attitudes and worldview of each artist and giving a bit of insight into what they do. It was great to read about those musicians and singers I am a fan of, as well as to learn about new people I might be interested in checking out. The writing is consistently good and well informed, though sometimes writers get a little awkward with what they're trying to say. I learned a lot and enjoyed reading this book!

[Joshua Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool book, jay farrar!