"[The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic is] a rallying cry for anyone who's ever loved music and anyone who's ever wanted to change the world." –Marianela D'Aprile, Jacobin
"Prolific and inimitable writer Hopper lays bare a storied career and a true gift for music journalism . . . Hopper's writing spans generations and genres . . . [She] is an artist whose curiosity about creativity has produced a stunning body of work, both in breadth and skill, and this is her lyrical, observant magnum opus." –
Booklist (starred review) "[A] revised and expanded edition that hits just as hard . . . This fiery work is the literary equivalent of a maxed-out Marshall stack." –
Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Essential reading . . . A canny blend of punkish attitude and discographical smarts that blasts boys-club assumptions about pop music." –
Kirkus (starred review) "This revised and expanded edition adds several new dimensions . . .
The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic enters the turbulence of 2021 as furiously edifying as ever. It ends on a breathtaking afterword that proves, while this might not actually be the first collection of its type, for a generation of punks and radicals - especially those of marginalised genders fighting for their place in the world - it remains the most essential." –
Kristy Diaz, The Skinny Praise for the first edition: "[
The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic] is by turns loose and warm and finicky and outraged, and its best pieces are more observant than 94 percent of the first novels that have come my way this year." –
Dwight Garner, The New York Times "An airtight case for why the professional critic still matters, and why it is a thrill to spend time in the presence of someone whose job it is to care so much and so intelligently."
–Kathleen Rooney, Chicago Tribune "The First Collection is a game-changer, a godsend, and a Holy Grail for those who have been forced to reside on the fringe of the notoriously 'male-dominated sphere' of rock criticism and fandom [...] Hopper's work, influence, and unwavering support for the diversification of voice and perspective within music journalism have altered the landscape of rock criticism for the better. It may be the first collection of criticism written by a female rock critic, but it's definitely not the last."
–Dianca Potts, The Village Voice "A game-changing collection of writing . . . Hopper has created a bible for aspiring writers, not just music critics."
–Jessica Goodman, Huffington Post
"Hopper is one of the most vital and prolific music critics around . . . the book brims with Hopper's lean prose and mic-dropping one-liners."
–Paula Mejia, Newsweek "Jessica Hopper has become a mandatory name in the world of music criticism, and this latest collection is the icing on the cake. At the book's heart, you'll find a funny, thoughtful writer whose extensive journalism career cements her as a lasting voice in the genre."
–Mack Hayden, Paste "I read Hopper's work with a sense of bewildered gratitude. She concedes nothing to the idea that it is dumb to care so much. The excitement in her work comes from her faith that these things are worth scrapping about."
–Rob Sheffield, author of Love is a Mixtape