The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic

The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic presents 42 pieces of music journalism by Jessica Hopper, spanning her career as a professional critic. The collection pulls from various sources including mainstream publications, music magazines, and underground fanzines. The book organizes Hopper's work into eight thematic chapters, covering topics from live performance reviews to artist interviews to cultural commentary. Released in 2015 by Featherproof Books, the collection generated significant pre-release demand, requiring three print runs before publication. A 2021 expanded edition includes additional essays and a foreword by writer Samantha Irby. The work presents perspectives on music culture, gender dynamics in the industry, and the evolution of rock criticism through multiple decades. This collection marked a milestone in music journalism by highlighting the historically underrepresented voices of women critics in rock music coverage. Through reviews, profiles, and analytical pieces, the book examines the intersection of music, culture, and identity in contemporary society.

Readers praise Hopper's sharp analysis and personal voice, with many highlighting her essays on Lana Del Rey and emo music's gender dynamics as standouts. Several reviews note the book's value in documenting female perspectives in music criticism, which has been historically male-dominated. Liked: - Clear, conversational writing style - Mix of academic analysis and personal narrative - Coverage of underground/indie scenes - Strong feminist perspective Disliked: - Some essays feel dated - Focus mainly on indie/alternative music scenes - Repetitive themes across certain pieces - Collection feels somewhat scattered Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews) Notable reader quote: "Hopper writes about music the way your smartest friend talks about it - passionate, informed, and unafraid to call things out." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers mentioned wanting more current pieces and broader genre coverage, but most found the historical significance of the collection outweighed these limitations.

Just Kids by Patti Smith Smith's memoir chronicles the 1970s New York music scene through her perspective as a female artist navigating the masculine world of punk rock.

Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution by Sara Marcus This cultural history documents the rise of the feminist punk movement through interviews with musicians, zine makers, and activists who shaped the 1990s underground music scene.

How to Write About Music by Marc Woodworth, Ally-Jane Grossan The compilation features essays, reviews, and interviews from music critics alongside practical instruction for developing a critical voice in music journalism.

Out of the Vinyl Deeps: Ellen Willis on Rock Music by Ellen Willis Willis's collected works showcase her groundbreaking rock criticism from the 1960s and 1970s as the first pop music critic for The New Yorker.

Let's Talk About Love: Why Other People Have Such Bad Taste by Carl Wilson Wilson examines music criticism, taste, and cultural capital through an analysis of Celine Dion's music and its reception among different audiences.

🎵 Hopper started her music writing career at age 15, publishing her own fanzine called "Hit It or Quit It" in Minneapolis. 📝 The book's provocative title was inspired by Ellen Willis, who was widely considered the first female rock critic at a major publication (The New Yorker). 🎸 Before becoming a full-time critic, Hopper worked as a band publicist and tour manager for several indie rock bands in Chicago. 📚 The 2021 expanded edition added more than 20 new pieces, including coverage of artists like Lana Del Rey and Chance the Rapper. 🏆 The book made history as the first anthology of music criticism solely authored by a female writer, despite women having written about rock music since the 1960s.