On the eve of the Second World War, dictators had manipulated popular resentment and media spectacle to take control of half of Europe. Quoting: “The period from the mid-thirties onward marked the onset of the most warped and tragic phase in twentieth-century music: the total politicizing of the art by totalitarian means. How innocent could I be? I know “he who pays the piper calls the tune” – but who would have suspected the piper was the government and politics hiding behind benevolent foundations? I stumbled across this amazing 2008 book in my search for understanding the relationship between a contemporary culture and its corresponding art, never suspecting the role government and politics have played in directing the course of change. Perfect for any music fan, or even just someone interested in learning about history through music, this book is a great read. Sharing his thoughts and ideas about modern music, Ross discusses political movements, the rise of mass markets, and revolutions that used music to build morale. Using music as his lens to view history, Ross does a wonderful job of sharing the portions of modern music we don't often think about and discusses them from a music critic's perspective. It shows how music has broken away from its traditional past and brings to light how classical music is still pervasive in modern music. Using history as a guide, Ross reveals the effect the minimalist movement has had on pop music and rock music. Alex Ross now brings readers through the history of modern music and traces the path through the labyrinth of rock and pop and avant-garde to help the reader better understand where contemporary styles have come from and where they are going.

Modern music has caused a scandal for decades.

The rest is noise book