Rating: 
Summary: A good collection of interviews, but needed more commentary.
Review: Since so little literature outside of fanzines exist on this sub-culture, it is great that someone went to these lengths to interview key members of bands involved in making straight edge so big in the mid-late 80's. The book is OK for capturing the straight interviews, but could have done so much more with commentary and perspective from the author, who seems to have some very well-thought and well-phrased words to put on paper when she opts to (limited to the intro). For those who know nothing about the subjects, the book will mean very little, and does not aim to educate. But for those interested in the music (both old and young), this book should be of interest, though it may depress you to find out how limited the subjects' approach to music and life was. I'm just glad to see something like this in print.
Rating: 
Summary: Insightful
Review: Sociologists and anthropologists might find this book a useful peek into the minds of socially dysfunctional, middle/upper middle class white kids prone to gang/crowd-mentality and testosterone charged music. Straight Edge is definitely one of the more bizarre underground cultures to emerge in America over the last 20 years. It has little or no political agenda; a bizarre lifestyle code and its followers seem to operate in cultural vacuum. It's circular philosophy places emphasis on all the things you would expect from bored teens desperately seeking an identity. Straight Edge hoists all the familiar flags: alienation, persecution, unity, etc. The strange part is that the participants in this scene insist on championing values and ethics that are already espoused by the economic-bracket and social class they come from. This book does a good job examining the straight edge/anti-drug hardcore scene.
Rating: 
Summary: way to go beth
Review: This book is a sociologist's dream as well as a hardcore music fan's dream come true. While Beth could have taken a more sociopolitical look at the straight edge movement, she decided to interview the icons of the movement and let them do the talking. Those unfamiliar with the hardcore music scene will find it difficult to read, but if you are interested in learning about youth counter culture then by all means check it out. If you are personally (or polically) straight edge yourself, you have no excuse not to read this book.
Rating:
Summary: way to go beth
Review: This book is a sociologist's dream as well as a hardcore music fan's dream come true. While Beth could have taken a more sociopolitical look at the straight edge movement, she decided to interview the icons of the movement and let them do the talking. Those unfamiliar with the hardcore music scene will find it difficult to read, but if you are interested in learning about youth counter culture then by all means check it out. If you are personally (or polically) straight edge yourself, you have no excuse not to read this book.
Rating:
Summary: go!
Review: this book is an excellent source of information on what the late 1980's/early 1990's hardcore scene was like and the growth of the straight-x-edge movement. this book is a must have for anyone who is interested in hc or sxe.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is terrible
Review: This person did a terrible job of picking who got interviewed for this book. Does the drummer of Youth of today, Sammy, really warrant an interview? To include Arthur from Gorilla Biscuits is ridiculous. Not including Ryan Hoffman from Justice League/Chain of Strength is even more ridiculous. Ryan has been around longer than any of these new school kids. How do I know? I grew up with Ryan and we were there in 1979 buying records before half those interviewed even knew what to rebel against (do they now?). The interviews contain easy softball questions with no follow up. Awful!
| 
