Best Music Books to Broaden Your Horizons

1.
Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture
Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture 3.91 avg rating — 319 ratings
2.
Designed for Dancing: How Midcentury Records Taught America to Dance
Designed for Dancing: How Midcentury Records Taught America to Dance it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
3.
Lost in Music
Lost in Music 3.82 avg rating — 632 ratings
4.
David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music
David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music 3.59 avg rating — 816 ratings
5.
Dig: Australian Rock and Pop Music, 1960-85
Dig: Australian Rock and Pop Music, 1960-85 4.11 avg rating — 28 ratings
6.
Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture
Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture 4.11 avg rating — 1,562 ratings
7.
Independence Days: The Story of UK Independent Record Labels
Independence Days: The Story of UK Independent Record Labels
by: Alex Ogg
3.77 avg rating — 13 ratings
8.
Hungry Beat: The Scottish Independent Pop Underground Movement (1977-1984)
Hungry Beat: The Scottish Independent Pop Underground Movement (1977-1984) 3.74 avg rating — 57 ratings
9.
Designed for Hi-Fi Living: The Vinyl LP in Midcentury America
Designed for Hi-Fi Living: The Vinyl LP in Midcentury America 4.05 avg rating — 38 ratings
10.
Encyclopedia Madonnica 20: Madonna from A to Z
Encyclopedia Madonnica 20: Madonna from A to Z 4.91 avg rating — 22 ratings
11.
Mars by 1980: The Story of Electronic Music
Mars by 1980: The Story of Electronic Music 3.83 avg rating — 371 ratings
12.
Now Is the Time to Invent!: Reports from the Indie-Rock Revolution, 1986-2000
Now Is the Time to Invent!: Reports from the Indie-Rock Revolution, 1986-2000 4.14 avg rating — 14 ratings
13.
Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011
Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011 4.14 avg rating — 12,232 ratings
14.
Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius
Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius
by: Rakim
4.07 avg rating — 1,188 ratings
15.
The Rough Guide to World Music : Volume 1
The Rough Guide to World Music : Volume 1 4.19 avg rating — 26 ratings
16.
Shock antistatico. Il post-punk italiano 1979-1985
Shock antistatico. Il post-punk italiano 1979-1985 3.75 avg rating — 8 ratings
17.
MEB: A História da Música Eletrônica Brasileira
MEB: A História da Música Eletrônica Brasileira 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
18.
Hudba ostrova
Hudba ostrova 4.43 avg rating — 70 ratings
19.
Les 1000 chansons préférées des Français
Les 1000 chansons préférées des Français 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
20.
Polski hardcore. Część pierwsza
Polski hardcore. Część pierwsza 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
21.
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom 4.24 avg rating — 2,349 ratings
22.
Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy, from the Seventies to the Twenty-first Century
Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy, from the Seventies to the Twenty-first Century 3.98 avg rating — 744 ratings
23.
Tysiac i jedna opera
Tysiac i jedna opera it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
24.
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
by: Alex Ross
4.10 avg rating — 15,700 ratings
25.
Polish Jazz Recordings and Beyond
Polish Jazz Recordings and Beyond 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
26.
Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult
Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult 4.29 avg rating — 1,248 ratings
27.
Babbling Corpse: Vaporwave and the Commodification of Ghosts
Babbling Corpse: Vaporwave and the Commodification of Ghosts 3.79 avg rating — 748 ratings
28.
Unadimille: Mille canzoni italiane dal 2000 a oggi, raccontate (Musica)
Unadimille: Mille canzoni italiane dal 2000 a oggi, raccontate (Musica) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
29.
Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century
Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century 4.13 avg rating — 653 ratings
30.
Könnt ihr uns hören? - Eine Oral History des deutschen Rap
Könnt ihr uns hören? - Eine Oral History des deutschen Rap 4.34 avg rating — 187 ratings
31.
To nie jest hip-hop. Rozmowy
To nie jest hip-hop. Rozmowy 4.26 avg rating — 61 ratings
32.
Ugly Beauty: Jazz in the 21st Century
Ugly Beauty: Jazz in the 21st Century 3.90 avg rating — 52 ratings
33.
The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces
The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces 3.97 avg rating — 67 ratings
34.
The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Popular Music of Brazil
The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Popular Music of Brazil 3.83 avg rating — 41 ratings
35.
Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King
Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King 4.39 avg rating — 629 ratings
36.
Detroit 67: The Year That Changed Soul
Detroit 67: The Year That Changed Soul 4.14 avg rating — 627 ratings
37.
Factory
Factory 3.77 avg rating — 327 ratings
38.
Simply Thrilled: The Preposterous Story of Postcard Records
Simply Thrilled: The Preposterous Story of Postcard Records 3.72 avg rating — 128 ratings
39.
Love Rock Revolution: K Records and the Rise of Independent Music
Love Rock Revolution: K Records and the Rise of Independent Music 3.70 avg rating — 266 ratings
40.
Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge
Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge
by: Mark Yarm
4.27 avg rating — 4,277 ratings
41.
Derek Bailey and the Story of Free Improvisation
Derek Bailey and the Story of Free Improvisation 3.51 avg rating — 84 ratings
42.
Different Every Time: The Authorised Biography of Robert Wyatt
Different Every Time: The Authorised Biography of Robert Wyatt 4.28 avg rating — 333 ratings
43.
Experimental Music: Cage and Beyond
Experimental Music: Cage and Beyond 4.14 avg rating — 370 ratings
44.
On Some Faraway Beach: The Life and Times of Brian Eno
On Some Faraway Beach: The Life and Times of Brian Eno 3.88 avg rating — 600 ratings
45.
Crossover the Edge: Where Hardcore, Punk And Metal Collide
Crossover the Edge: Where Hardcore, Punk And Metal Collide 4.78 avg rating — 27 ratings
46.
The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho-Punk, 1980-1984
The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho-Punk, 1980-1984 4.01 avg rating — 310 ratings
47.
The Manual (How to Have a Number One the Easy Way)
The Manual (How to Have a Number One the Easy Way) 4.34 avg rating — 442 ratings
48.
Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group
Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group 4.02 avg rating — 583 ratings
49.
Fearless: The Making of Post-Rock
Fearless: The Making of Post-Rock 3.74 avg rating — 142 ratings
50.
Storm Static Sleep: A Pathway Through Post-Rock
Storm Static Sleep: A Pathway Through Post-Rock 3.66 avg rating — 101 ratings
51.
Copendium
Copendium 4.25 avg rating — 115 ratings
52.
30 lat polskiej sceny techno
30 lat polskiej sceny techno 3.05 avg rating — 19 ratings
53.
Sweet Dreams: The Story of the New Romantics
Sweet Dreams: The Story of the New Romantics 3.85 avg rating — 370 ratings
54.
Fight Your Own War: Power Electronics and Noise Culture
Fight Your Own War: Power Electronics and Noise Culture 3.60 avg rating — 85 ratings
55.
Believing in Opera
Believing in Opera 3.25 avg rating — 8 ratings
56.
The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958
The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958 3.87 avg rating — 84 ratings
57.
Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be
Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be 4.03 avg rating — 1,144 ratings
58.
The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop
The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop 4.23 avg rating — 668 ratings
59.
Chuck D. Presents This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History
Chuck D. Presents This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History
by: Chuck D.
3.90 avg rating — 187 ratings
60.
Popkiss: The Life and Afterlife of Sarah Records
Popkiss: The Life and Afterlife of Sarah Records 4.32 avg rating — 150 ratings
61.
Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s
Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s 3.96 avg rating — 1,309 ratings
62.
1984: British Pop's Dividing Year
1984: British Pop's Dividing Year 3.88 avg rating — 8 ratings
63.
Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980-1984
Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980-1984 3.95 avg rating — 139 ratings
64.
The Britpop Bible
The Britpop Bible 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
65.
Free Music Production. FMP – The Living Music
Free Music Production. FMP – The Living Music 4.88 avg rating — 8 ratings
66.
Bass, Mids, Tops: An Oral History of Sound System Culture
Bass, Mids, Tops: An Oral History of Sound System Culture
by: Joe Muggs
4.51 avg rating — 88 ratings
67.
Blackstar Theory: The Last Works of David Bowie
Blackstar Theory: The Last Works of David Bowie 4.59 avg rating — 63 ratings
68.
The Cricket: Black Music in Evolution, 1968–69
The Cricket: Black Music in Evolution, 1968–69 4.59 avg rating — 17 ratings
69.
Spirits Rejoice!: Jazz and American Religion
Spirits Rejoice!: Jazz and American Religion 4.12 avg rating — 17 ratings
70.
Spirits Rejoice! Albert Ayler and His Message
Spirits Rejoice! Albert Ayler and His Message 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings
71.
Turn On, Tune In, Drift Off: Ambient Music's Psychedelic Past
Turn On, Tune In, Drift Off: Ambient Music's Psychedelic Past really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 10 ratings
72.
Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music
Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music
by: Rob Young
4.19 avg rating — 1,008 ratings
73.
You're with Stupid: kranky, Chicago, and the Reinvention of Indie Music (American Music Series)
You're with Stupid: kranky, Chicago, and the Reinvention of Indie Music (American Music Series) 3.87 avg rating — 155 ratings
74.
Extreme Music: Silence to Noise and Everything In Between
Extreme Music: Silence to Noise and Everything In Between 3.85 avg rating — 39 ratings
75.
South African Popular Music
South African Popular Music 4.53 avg rating — 15 ratings
76.
Trip-Hop
Trip-Hop 3.88 avg rating — 40 ratings
77.
Twentieth Century Music
Twentieth Century Music really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6 ratings
78.
Lindo Sonho Delirante: 100 Psychedelic Records from Brazil (1968-1975)
Lindo Sonho Delirante: 100 Psychedelic Records from Brazil (1968-1975) 4.57 avg rating — 7 ratings
79.
Red Flag : une histoire du rock chinois
Red Flag : une histoire du rock chinois it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
80.
A Short History of Electronic Music and its women protagonists
A Short History of Electronic Music and its women protagonists 3.12 avg rating — 8 ratings
81.
This Is Our Music: Free Jazz, the Sixties, and American Culture
This Is Our Music: Free Jazz, the Sixties, and American Culture 3.58 avg rating — 48 ratings
82.
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 4.22 avg rating — 17,533 ratings
83.
Loops 1: Una historia de la música electrónica en el siglo XX
Loops 1: Una historia de la música electrónica en el siglo XX 4.24 avg rating — 169 ratings
84.
Loops 2. Una historia de la música electrónica en el siglo XXI
Loops 2. Una historia de la música electrónica en el siglo XXI 4.43 avg rating — 46 ratings
85.
Yé-Yé Girls of '60s French Pop
Yé-Yé Girls of '60s French Pop 3.89 avg rating — 114 ratings
86.
Techno Rebels: The Renegades of Electronic Funk
Techno Rebels: The Renegades of Electronic Funk
by: Dan Sicko
4.09 avg rating — 488 ratings
87.
In Defense of Ska: The Ska Now More Than Ever Edition
In Defense of Ska: The Ska Now More Than Ever Edition 4.40 avg rating — 15 ratings
88.
The Ambient Century: From Mahler to Trance: The Evolution of Sound in the Electronic Age
The Ambient Century: From Mahler to Trance: The Evolution of Sound in the Electronic Age 3.83 avg rating — 216 ratings
89.
Doom Metal Lexicanum
Doom Metal Lexicanum 4.18 avg rating — 17 ratings
90.
Stranded: Australian Independent Music, 1976-1992.
Stranded: Australian Independent Music, 1976-1992. 4.14 avg rating — 92 ratings
91.
Adventures In Wonderland: Acid house, rave and the UK club explosion
Adventures In Wonderland: Acid house, rave and the UK club explosion 4.39 avg rating — 103 ratings
92.
NegrOscuro: Onda siniestra y afterpunk en España
NegrOscuro: Onda siniestra y afterpunk en España 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings
93.
Go All The Way: A Literary Appreciation of Power Pop
Go All The Way: A Literary Appreciation of Power Pop 3.81 avg rating — 122 ratings
94.
Five Years Ahead of My Time: Garage Rock from the 1950s to the Present
Five Years Ahead of My Time: Garage Rock from the 1950s to the Present 3.56 avg rating — 39 ratings
95.
Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth: The Dark History of Prepubescent Pop, from the Banana Splits to Britney Spears
Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth: The Dark History of Prepubescent Pop, from the Banana Splits to Britney Spears 3.92 avg rating — 211 ratings
96.
Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)
Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)
by: Dan Ozzi
4.38 avg rating — 6,023 ratings
97.
POST: A Look at the Influence of Post-Hardcore-1985?2007
POST: A Look at the Influence of Post-Hardcore-1985?2007 3.83 avg rating — 100 ratings
98.
Contract in Blood: A History of UK Thrash Metal
Contract in Blood: A History of UK Thrash Metal 4.32 avg rating — 22 ratings
99.
Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? An Indie Odyssey
Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? An Indie Odyssey 4.09 avg rating — 298 ratings
100.
Reach for the Stars: 1996–2006: Fame, Fallout and Pop’s Final Party
Reach for the Stars: 1996–2006: Fame, Fallout and Pop’s Final Party 4.27 avg rating — 1,341 ratings