Swag: Rock Posters of the '90s

Rating:
Summary: I guess it was a nice try?
Review: Alot of people have been waiting for this book to come out. I am one. The book "looks" great, high quality design, printing, etc. The Chantry essay in the begining is excellent (but that is to be expected). But after that, it's all down hill. First glaring problem here. "Rock Posters of the 90's" is the title. Then why are half the artists in this book little known artists who never even MADE posters in the 90's? It's like putting out an album of "60's Rock Classics" and half of it is Leo Sayer and Doobie Bros. Another big problem with this book is it seems like there was absolutely NO RESEARCH done in it's making. Old Artrock catalogs are more informative. There are LOTS of artists who are not in here, and should. As there are lots of artists who are in here, that maybe shouldn't. And then big important artists like Mark Arminski, who is truely a pioneer of the poster world only gets one page??? Judging by the reviews of the "45 Cover" book by the same author, you can probably get them both for $5 after the holidays on the "cheapy" table, I now wish I waited to buy this. It is interesting that all of the probelms with the "45 cover" book, are evident in this book too. Sorry. Big let down. Save your money for the Electric Frankenstein book of all of their posters/cover art, and the Art of Modern Rock, which I think will rule!

Rating:
Summary: Visual overload - in a good way!
Review: I just got this book and love it. There is so much great art in this thing that I can't stop looking at it. Tons of big, colorfull images and artists. I had no idea how huge the world of rock posters had gotten in the last decade or so. Now I want to start collecting them and see them for real. All the poster artist's represented are excellent, but I especially liked Ames Design, Chantry, Coop, Dean, Emek, Ewing, Gink, Hampton, Scrojo, and Sutton. The forward by Art Chantry is a really interesting short history of rock poster art. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes rock posters. Or even art or music in general.

The only reason I didn't go with 5 stars is that I wish it had just a few more pages. But it was definitely worth the price. Buy it - you won't regret it!