Rating: 
Summary: Respectful, investigative, informative, and reflective...
Review: A look back into the origins of a movement that I have connected with so strongly for the last 10 years, this book was a fascinating read. At the same time, it leaves one feeling melancholy as so many of the influential participants in the scene have moved on and look back with a cynical eye. Constructed mainly of interviews, the book accurateely describes a time and place through the eyes of those that were there and involved. The tone is respectful of the movement, but not afriad to point out its flaws. Overall a job well done
Rating: 
Summary: Good book but could have gone much more in depth
Review: All Ages--Reflection on Straight Edge is a great resource for anyone having questions or looking for insight on the hardcore and straight edge scene. Excellent interviews including my personal favorite with Civ and his days with Gorilla Biscuits. However, spotted earlier, the book seems to only cover the time period between 1985-89 when it is today the hardcore scene has exploded out even more. Otherwise, well worth buying
Rating: 
Summary: interesting, yet lacking in detail and depth of interviews
Review: as a follower of the staright edge movement for several years now, it's always good to see the issue gain public notice in a positive light. however, the interviews here seem to deal only with the state of the scene during nearly ten years ago. also, it's a bit of a dissappointment considering that the majority of those interviewed here no longer have any ties to the scene, and choose to portray it in a fairly negative way. this book, although slightly informative, is merely a collection of words and thoughts from a group of aging, jaded, bitter individuals who have long sense sold out their ideas and beliefs. i think the only reassuring words came from Mike Hartsfield who stated clearly he is still involved and always plans to be. everyone grows up, but that doesn't neccessarily mean you have to grow "out" of any aspect of life. growing up is merely learning. this book had wonderful potential in gaining wide coverage of a scene so sequestered from the media and society, but failed to touch on any topics of current action or up to date information. overall it serves as a collector's item to anyone involved with straight edge, past or present, as well as an up date to what has happened with individual's heroes from the last decade of hardcore music.
Rating:
Summary: Indepth look at the original sXe movement
Review: Beth did a fantastic job of capturing every aspect of the original hardcore/sXe movement.She interviews band members, club owners, and even some non-edgers to get every detail concerning hardcore. Contains pictures and flyers aswell. A great read for anyone interested in the scene.
Rating:
Summary: A Look Back At the Old Times
Review: Having been heavily into the straight-edge scene from 1987-91 or so, and having more or lest kept abreast of it since (while remaining SE), it was with some trepidation that I started reading this compilation of interviews with former band members and scenesters of that era. While I wasn't surprised at all to find a lot of revisionist history about what so-and-so "really" believed at the time, there was actually quite a bit more honesty and self-awareness than I expected. Even though most of the interviewees aren't SE any more, there was a general consensus that it had played a positive role in their lives, despite the wretched excesses that some in the scene were--and are--prone to. There are a few females (friends of the compiler) who have some semi-interesting things to say about how straight-edge is fairly exclusionary of women, but the best interview in the book is with Ian Mackaye. Far from dissing SE, he lauds its passability as a positive influence and force while recognizing its limitations and unexpected mutations. For people who were there, this book is an interesting look back, but as a work of anthropology it's kind of useless. One wishes Lahickey had pursued some of the obvious contradictions and obfuscations in some of her interviewees statements. The book is chock-a-block with live pictures and reproductions of flyers, which make up somewhat for the crappy typography and typos.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible, well-balanced account of a time and culture
Review: I heard about this book while the author was still gathering the interviews. I eagerly awaited it's printing, and it was well worth it. "All Ages" tells the story from the ppl who lived it, not by someone who just watched it. It's the ppl from both sides of the stage (and behind it), giving their opinion about the time, place, and scene that was Straight Edge. If you were there, this book confirms it all.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible, well-balanced account of a time and culture
Review: I heard about this book while the author was still gathering the interviews. I eagerly awaited it's printing, and it was well worth it. "All Ages" tells the story from the ppl who lived it, not by someone who just watched it. It's the ppl from both sides of the stage (and behind it), giving their opinion about the time, place, and scene that was Straight Edge. If you were there, this book confirms it all.
Rating:
Summary: A great source for those interested in Straight Edge.
Review: I've lived a drug-free lifestyle for most of my life...I've never really had a desire for drugs. One day, someone asked me, "Are you Straight Edge?" And it got me thinking, "What is Straight Edge?" If you ever wondered, this is the book to read. It is a great source of experiences. It's not a bible. It's here to make you think and let you come up with your own conclusions.
Rating: 
Summary: I wish I could rate it ZERO stars!
Review: If you really want this book email me and I will mail it to you, however if you care one iota about THE IDEAS behind straight edge, then you will find this book offensive, insulting and annoying. To start with, the book goes on and interviews nothing but sell outs, people who proffessed to be dedicated to the movement and then go on to turn their backs on their beliefs and to the truth. These cowards go on record only to excuse their forays into the world of drugs and drink and only serve as a painful reminder that even the most intelligent people can suffer terrible lapses of judgement and then go on to live in denial of it, instead continuing to make excuses for and celebrating their debauchery.I know for a fact that Jordan Cooper and those at revelation COULD have contacted people STILL involved with the SxE movement that where more than willing to be interviewed. Mike Hartsfield was suprisingly included, Issac Gollub was not, neither where the ex members of Insted and/ or many more people STILL dedicated to being positive, aware, clean living individuals. The most insulting thing about this book, besides the ideas presented within, is the way that this book is being marketed, as a "straight edge book" with an objective stance.Nothing could be further from the truth.Revelation records, in their deluded thinking, believe that they can prostitute our scene by selling their version of it back to us. I say , we are not as stupid as you think we are and that I will work to counter this excuse for a documentary with one that shows a TRUE reflection of the SxE as it emerges a viable and powerful force into the new millenium. Thanks for reading , True Till Death Jose
Rating:
Summary: ca tait bien des rumeurs
Review: Pour tous les straight edge francophones, ce livre, bien qu'en anglais, nous permet, au travers de plusieurs entrevues, de repondre a tous ses rumeurs que l'on entend comme quoi que tel personne n'est plus straight, que tel autre nie la scene, etc... ca nous permet de comprendre comment la scene de 88 a vecu au travers des entrevue de ceux qui etaient la. les reponses que l'on veut savoir par les personnes directement concernee. Proud to be poison FREE
|
