Tanya Pearson is only seven years my senior, so I can certainly relate to her perspective and narrative voice here. The introduction is a bit lengthy, but it effectively explains the significance of this particular era in rock music, and highlights how the music and culture influenced Pearson personally and creatively. Each chapter begins with a short explanation of what was occurring in the industry as a whole. Then related excerpts from interviews follow. Pearson interviewed several artists for this project, including Melissa Auf Der Mar, Donita Sparks, Louise Post, Patty Schemel, Shirley Manson and more. The result is eye-opening! As a longtime fan of many of these bands, I found this fascinating and well-constructed.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this book that offers a history of the 90's music scene from the women artists who the charts, and how much of their contributions have been erased and ignored, but not from the ears and hearts of fans.

At one time Goddesses strode the earth, sharing air time with male bands, adorning covers of various magazines, with MTV showing videos and record labels fighting to find the next female band. The big thing about women in rock was that they did this mainly by themselves. Starting small, gaining a following, working their songs, and working together. And the music was great, and eclectic in ways that following the nineties was astonishing. These women rock stars had a mix of styles, a mix of tastes, even a mix or professionalism. Some were trained musicians, and some had picked up instruments the day of their first show. Their was an honesty to their music, again something that is rare today, and to their sound. A mix of again professional, and in some cases directly into a tape recorder. Working in a music store I was amazed by the different people who came in looking for these bands, people we hadn't seen before, buying singles, buying imports and bootlegs. And then suddenly the music didn't die, it just faded away, as America went through some stuff, and suddenly Disney princesses became the music of choice, along with bro rock and nu metal. Even the way to get music changed, and the challenge of finding a band could begin and end with a few types of a keyboard. Women in rock went from shouting out loud, to an echoing silence, one that still confuses those involved in music at the time. Into this silence comes Pretend We're Dead: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Women in Rock in the ’90s by Tanya Pearson, who offers an oral history told by the people who played, of music in the 90's what it was like, what the music industry made of it, and what was taken away.

The book begins with a little personal history about the author, describing her bona fides as a lover of music. Pearson discusses growing up in the era, how Pearson found music, and how in many ways this kind of music made changed Pearson's life. After a long time of being lost, Pearson founded the Women of Rock Oral History Project, starting as just discussions but becoming a repository of knowledge about the music of the 90's and the people involved in it. Starting slowly the project has grown, and by discussing the musical careers of different key players Pearson has come to a lot of interesting theories about why these musicians have been both maligned, and ignored. Pearson has interviewed many famous names, Liz Phair, Shirley Manson, Tanya Donelly, Kristen Hersch, and others and found that while their music was different in many ways, their stories all seemed to share a common theme. Journalists who were angry that girls were rocking. That various media groups made more money on feuding girl rockers that female bands sharing tours. Record label indifference, even when albums were selling out of the stores. And of course stories that only seem to happen in the world of rock n roll.

A book that is a bit memoir, musical history and study of feminism. The book was set up well, following almost the rise and fall, and the nostalgia wave that seems to be the music industry now. I loved hearing about and from bands that I used to love, and even more loved sharing when I worked in the music store. Many happy memories of listening to these bands, though i wish they had more happy memories. The entertainment industry is a savage place, and some of their stories can be disturbing. I have long given up on rock journalists, and I have to say the way the media covered these bands was just awful. However anyone who read Rolling Stone in the 90's would know this.

Pearson has done a really good job in brining this all together. The stories are all interesting, and the mix of Pearson's life with what was going on a music gives the narrative a nice personal feel. One can understand how this music changed lives, maybe even saved them. A book fans will like, something music historians can argue about on their podcasts, with a lot of good memories tossed in.

Thank you Tanya Pearson for writing the book about so many of the women who have influenced my life.

So many books have been written about the men of the 90s music era but so little about the women. Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, PJ Harvey, my queen--Liz Phair. It's about the rise of women against men in power. it's political, it's musical, it's excellent.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Engaging, accessible, and nostalgic. A recommended purchase for collections where music and pop culture titles are popular.

This was a fun trip down memory lane and an interesting look behind the scenes of the record industry in the 90s. I know the book focuses on “rock” bands, but it could have used a few more voices, especially from solo women in alternative music like Tori Amos, DiFranco, PJ Harvey, etc. it also felt like the drug use and and infighting that was so prevalent at the time was largely pushed aside as a reason that a lot of these bands aren’t around. Small criticisms though for a book that remains an interesting read throughout and offers up lots of discussions for fans. Slightly scholarly, Pearson does a really good job of never being too dry and keeps the pace going and pages flying.

Thanks to he publisher and Netgalley for an early peek.