Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres

 On paper, Major Labels is a book about how seven different genres of music (rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, dance and pop) have evolved over the past 50 years.  In practice, it's a book about how music has an ability to define those who are fans of a particular type of it, how that tribalism plays a part in the way the art is created and what it means to criticize music as a whole.  It's also an incredible book about how seven different genres of music have evolved over the past 50 years.     I'm actually at a bit of a loss for words in terms of how to describe and review this book.  So much of its quality is self-evident.  Sanneh is a seasoned pro with an extensive background in music writing that he calls on frequently as he discusses various trends.  This could be an extremely boring book, but Sanneh fills his writing with an appropriate amount of vivaciousness, allowing his anecdotes and stories to really come to life.  I find that this book is at its best when it strays away from talking about music itself but rather the cultures and identities that music creates just by existing.  Sanneh himself seems to know this, as there isn't a ton of music theory discussion throughout.  What he does instead is focuses on the people surrounding the songs and albums that are ostensibly the centerpiece of the book.  It's a smart choice and makes the book not only informative, but remarkably enjoyable as well.     I learned a lot by reading this book but the main thing I'll take away from it is the joy in the writing.  Sanneh clearly has a passion for music and writing about it, and that love elevates this book from good to truly great.  Whether he's describing how heavy metal became commercialized or how Luther Vandross couldn't quite get a #1 hit or how puns were made based off of George Strait's name or talking about his own childhood punk experiences or extolling the virtues of dumber rap or celebrating the diversity that made disco special or questioning whether criticism as a whole is dying, Sanneh seems to have a gift for finding the right words to elicit a certain level of emotion.  I'm genuinely in awe of this book and think it's a great achievement.