Vivien
Goldman has put together the perfect book for the streaming generation. Using
identity, money, love, and protest as chapter headings, Goldman makes
interesting and sophisticated connections as she discusses dozens of
woman-fronted punk acts. Some of these, like Crass and Patti Smith and the
Raincoats, will be familiar to Razorcake readers. The newer ones—like Pragaash and Big Joanie and Skinny Girl Diet—might
not be as familiar, but are no less vital.
Goldman has been around since punk’s inception, and effectively merges her own
experiences with interviews and research throughout. I think her intention here
was to tantalize: as I read, the aforementioned stories—and especially the
connecting thread of framework—made me dive back into bands I already knew, and
dig to find out more about those I didn’t. Goldman puts the ball in the
reader’s court to tremendous effect throughout. Awesome! –Michael T. Fournier (University of Texas Press, utexaspress.com)