Rockin' the Boat: Mass Music & Mass Movements

Garofalo (coauthor of Rock and Roll is Here to Pay ) has compiled a wildly uneven anthology ``about the relationship between mass-mediated popular musics . . . and political struggles around the world.'' When the book strives to be theoretical, it founders badly. Neal Ullestad's review of key ``charity-rock'' events moves from oversimplifications of the aesthetic theories of Adorno, Brecht and Benjamin to no less fatuous evaluations of the music itself (``Cole Porter was a true wordsmith . . . ''). Garofalo's introduction clumsily evaluates Paul Simon's Graceland against a yardstick of progressive politics. She is on surer ground in the opening chapter, detailing how rapidly changing recording technology has altered the web of relationships between artist, corporation and consumer. However, the book is an invaluable guide to specific manifestations of rock-as-politics outside the U.S. A review of the punk movement in Britain by Simon Frith and John Street, Marcus Breen's superb effort on Australian aboriginal music and Ann Szemere's offering on Hungarian protest rock are solidly grounded. (One wishes these chapters came equipped with discographies.) (Aug.)