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THE BOOK NOOK
by Trent Fitzgerald
 | ROCK~100 Essential CDs: The Rough Guide
by Al Spicer
Rough Guides/Penguin Books . 200 pp. / $9.00
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Last month, VH1, an Adult Contemporary music channel, issued their list
of the 100 greatest rock songs of the century. Any rock fan that reads VH1's
so-called rock list, would have to agree, that it's one of the most
ridiculous lists ever compiled in the annals of pop culture. First of all,
the list is full of songs that shouldn't be on the list in the first place
and secondly, there are major omissions of artists with no explanation
whatsoever. VH1's list slaps the face of every rock fan that unwillingly
watches that crummy music channel.
My suggestion to the so-called music experts and radio DJs, who compiled
that pitiful list, is for them to read the book, Rough Guides' Rock-100.
Essential CDs by rock journalist/fan Al Spicer. It's a small pocket size
reference book that lists 100 of the greatest rock albums of the century with
a detailed capsule review of each record selected. Although some of his
submissions in the book are questionable, Spicer's list comes closer to a
legitimate rock list than VH1's list. You'll cheer at Mr. Spicer for including "the architect of rock n' roll" Little Richard's Greatest Hits album on the list. As well as Elvis Costello (his groundbreaking debut My Aim Is True), AC/DC (Back In Black), Black Sabbath (Vol. 4) and guitarist Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits album.
But you'll jeer at Mr. Spicer for including Madonna's sacrilegious album,
Like A Prayer on the list (True Blue was a much better record). As well as,
The Chemical Brothers' Exit From Planet Dust (an overrated album from an
overrated duo).
And then you'll ask several questions: Where's the Smashing Pumpkins?
Where's Bruce Springsteen? Where's B.B. King? Where's Run-DMC? All of these
artists had at least one essential rock album that a record collector must
have. The only Midwestern artist featured in the book is the Chicago band The
Tortoise for their second album, Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Spicer
calls The Tortoise "the most intriguing musical practitioners of the '90s."
All and all, this book will have rock fans scratching their heads as well
as cause heated debates. But generally, this is not a bad book for nine
bucks. Order the book at your local bookstore or via the Internet at:
www.roughguides.com.
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