LibraryNinja Book Reviews

5/14/26

This review is biased because I’ve been a fan of the Violent Femmes since the ’80s. When I got the opportunity to read a book about their debut album, everything else in my life went on hold. While most of us know the lyrics, we don’t know the stories behind them, and Nic Brown takes us there. He captures every little detail about the band and their odd rise to fame, which took a decade. Most of us who were familiar with the underground punk/anti-punk scene fell in love with them long ago. It’s also the story of a band who, by all accounts, shouldn’t have made it. They struggled to survive, yet their lyrics remain iconic and true to this day.

Thank you Bloomsbury Academic for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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