Follow Us
"Tellingly, Sullivan paints with condensed strokes, documenting in succinct sections how the music segued with powerful protest movements to smash disfranchisement and rouse sometimes fleeting victories, daring 'to question the new freedoms and the quality of life ‘freedom’ brought in the face of liberty’s inconsistencies and...costs.'”
Read the full review on PopMatters.com.
"Sullivan (The White Stripes: Sweethearts of the Blues) combines impressive research and wide-ranging interviews in a multilayered narrative about the power of music within black liberation, civil rights, antiwar, and gender-related movements. Folk, blues, rock, hip-hop, punk, and other styles helped to define sweeping social issues while stirring listeners from the age of Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Panthers, and Woodstock to that of women's issues and gay rights...She is candid about the cultural complexities of each era and discusses how the music was powerful enough to draw strong reactions from political, social, and corporate sectors. This is for anyone interested in a thorough analysis of music as a commanding force in change as well as a continually evolving artistic presence. The book is packed with informative details and commentary, and those who are willing to give it the thoughtful reading it deserves (perhaps along with listening to a sampling of recordings) will be rewarded." —Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ
"A pleasing survey of soul music, from Lead Belly to Johnny Otis to Michael Franti to Louis Farrakhan." Read the full review at www.kirkusreviews.com