The end-of-the-century party: Youth, pop and the rise of Madchester

Description

Madchester may have been born at the Haçienda in the summer of 1988, but the city had been in creative ferment for almost a decade prior to the rise of acid house. The end-of-the-century party is the definitive account of a generational shift in popular music and youth culture, what it meant and what it led to. First published right after the Second Summer of Love, it tells the story of the transition from new pop to the political pop of the mid-1980s and its deviant offspring, post-political pop. Resisting contemporary proclamations about the end of youth culture and the rise of a new, right-leaning conformism, the book draws on interviews with DJs, record company bosses, musicians, producers and fans to outline a clear transition in pop thinking, a move from an obsession with style, packaging and synthetic sounds to content, socially conscious lyrics and a new authenticity. This edition is framed by a prologue by Tara Brabazon, asking how we can reclaim the spirit, energy and authenticity of Madchester for a post-youth, post-pop generation. It is illustrated with iconic photographs by Kevin Cummins. Front matter Contents List of figures Memories of the future: (post) Steve Redhead, Cultural Studies and theories for a still-born century From my generation to regeneration: a ‘post’-script Counter-cultures: the cultural politics.of pop It all comes round again? Post-Subcultural.Pop Soundtracks from the global hypermarket: post-pop politics One nation under a hoof: whatever happened to the new bohemia? Don’t go back to rockville: Post-Political.Pop The absolute non-end Notes, references and select discography Guide to further reading