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ralowe's review
5.0
this book consistently blew me away. i don't think i've ever have a book rock me quite like this. i got so many new ideas going around in my head afterward. it seriously electrified my sense of urgency around the culture war! we go from sonic bombs dropped by the idf on gaza to the sound of the maroon's abeng striking terror into the british army to sonic lasers to jeep beats to muzak and beyond. if you're needing to get your eschatology fix steve goodman doesn't disappoint. i've never read anything this far into the conspiracy theory vein, but i don't know if that's what he was going for. i use "conspiracy theory" not as an epithet, since i know all these things are happening and probably far worse, i just often try not to think about it-- it's kind of like watching one's stool, never quite sure what you're expect to see happens. okay that's an awful analogy. this is actually a very well-written and researched book with a scope that i've never seen. it gives terms like "interdisciplinary" a run for its money. and this is perhaps what's selling me on the massumi approach to affect. this is written with a stake, apt for a conspiracy theorist, and treats the subject matter very seriously showing nearly every conceivable scenario where affect and sound and vibration merge. regardless of what your interest is you'll find something here; each chapter is short and works often like a self-contained vignette. the sheer variety is mindboggling. this is a good resource for artists and activists who want to think creatively about the various deployments of the "military entertainment complex" (yes! what a fucking amazing term!) whether its the atf blasting pop songs or the low volume predatory commercial ambiance of your local mall.
alexmjjohnson's review
5.0
Excellent book. Thought I'm not in-the-know about modern afro-futurist music movements, but the analysis of sound as weapon (both literal and political) was fascinating.
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