Rock Music, Authority and Western Culture by James A. Cosby: A different look at classic rock

Spoiler-free Plot

The history of rock and roll music can be seen in a long arc of Western civilization’s struggle for both greater individual expression and societal stability. In the 1960s, the West’s relationship with authority ruptured, in part due to the rock revolution. The lessons and implications of this era have yet to be fully grasped.

This book examines the key artists, music, and events of the classic rock era–defined here as 1964 to 1980–through a virtual psychoanalysis of the West. Over these years, important truths unfold in the stories of British Invaders, hippies, proto-punks, and more, as well as topics to include drugs, primal scream therapy, the occult, spirituality, and disco and its detractors, to name just a few. Through a narrative that is equal parts entertaining, scholarly, and even spiritual, readers will gain a greater appreciation for rock music, better understand the confusing world we live in today, and see how greater individuality and social stability may be better reconciled moving forward.

My take on Rock Music, Authority and Western Culture

I’m a Rock and Metal fan. I have loved the genre since I could remember and I have consumed a lot of books and documentaries regarding its history. This book addresses a lot of the most memorable rock artists of all time but does so in a very specific manner.

Author James A. Cosby focuses on covering all the Rock and Roll greats while offering how their influence impacted several sociopolitical issues. The book can go from Elvis Presley in the 50s to Led Zeppelin in the 70s and many more significant individuals, often relying on his own knowledge but also offering clear insights and data that make things a lot more interesting.

Rock music was arguably the most influential genre when it comes to sociopolitical topics and Cosby seems to agree with that, which is reflected in this book. While a person who perhaps doesn’t listen to these groups and artists or is not aware of their long history is not going to enjoy a lot of different points in the book, I personally don’t take it as a deal-breaker to consume it.

On the other hand, it is fair to say that this is aimed at long-time fans of the genre and, specifically, those who enjoy finding out more about their favorite bands. This is something worth pointing out because it can give a lot of different perspectives and reactions from the public. The 60s, 70s, and 80s were the prime years of Rock music, so it makes a lot of sense that Cosby is focusing on those eras.

As one can imagine from reading the synopsis and what has been written in this review thus far, the book has a strong political focus and that can be a divisive point to a lot of people. If the potential Reader is not interested in discussing politics, this book is not going to be for them, which is all well and good but people need to know this before considering making the investment.

In terms of writing, Cosby is clearly a capable wordsmith and knows his Rock and Roll, which is constantly reflected on the pages of this book. It shows that this project was a labor of love and one that can be enjoyed by people who always want to know more about this type of music and their favorite bands.

It can be a very fun book for those who are looking for something different when it comes to documentation regarding Rock and Roll and its history. Furthermore, it also has to be pointed out that this book, due to its political focus, might be divisive to a lot of potential readers.

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