Nic Harcourt

A huge disappointment. Do we really need a book that tells us to listen to Led Zeppelin? Throughout, the selections are generally quite mainstream and quite well-known . . . you are unlikely to find anything new here, and you are unlikely to read anything insightful or revelatory about the well-known artists and albums Harcourt concentrates on. In every way superficial and superfluous. I would heavily recommend anyone thinking about this book take a look at "The Best Music You Never Heard" by Nigel Williamson. While Williamson occasionally falls into the trap of fixating on obscurity and neglect rather than quality, he generally does a great job of suggesting new musical discoveries, and describes the music and band histories with a level of detail and enthusiasm that is bound to draw you in.

[Disclosure: I, like Harcourt, work in public music radio.]… (more)