Book Review: Ye Olde Metal: 1968 to 1972

Martin Popoff
YE OLDE METAL: 1968 TO 1972
(Power Chord Press)

Writing about music is such a subjective thing that it often takes the perspective provided by at least a minimum of a dozen years to put a recording in its proper place. Given the ever-changing moods of the cultural zeitgeist, as well as the individual personal tastes of each reader, it's a wonder that rock critics, the term itself an albatross of sorts -- "music journalist" seems to be the preferred title these days, as if writing about music necessitated any real journalistic training -- ahem, it's a wonder that rock critics can agree on anything for much longer than lunch. Even the Reverend has listened to records that he raved about during, say, back in the '90s, and found them to be a shrill and bitter-tasting pill here in the new millennium.

Of course, a sort of consensus is eventually forged over much discussion, spilled blood-and-beer, and more tears than sweat, really, and thereby the coveted status of "Classic Album" is chiseled into stone for all time -- or at least until some young jackass know-it-all comes around and states that so-and-so was really much better back in the day and takes a jackhammer to the whole mess. The safe bet, kiddies, is to steer clear of these rockcrit reindeer games and just listen to what you like -- you know, like Dylan said, "don't follow leaders, watch the parking meters," or something equally obtuse. Really, the lifespan of the "Classic Album" in the media-overdrive Internet age seems to spin faster than the revolving door at a celebrity rehab center, so why try pinning the critter to the mat?