53 Quotes by Michael Azerrad

In eras past, mainstream culture was blandly, blindly complacent, so underground music was angry and dissatisfied. But now, mainstream culture isn’t complacent, it’s stupid and angry; underground culture reacts by becoming smarter, more serene. That’s not wimpy—it’s powerful and productive.

You didn't have to be a huge rock star; you just had to do well enough to continue doing what you wanted to do. It wasn't about hitting the jackpot, it was about sustainability.

The online musical universe has become Balkanized, with many sites focusing on minute niches. That works well for reaching very specific demographics, which is wonderful for advertising, but it flies in the face of the common wisdom that people's tastes have become more diverse as music of any description has become a mouse-click away.

As a journalist, I'm not supposed to be the subject, but as an author, I'm fair game - another ingredient in the media soup.

I have this theory, bands with enigmatic lyrics attract crazies.

I'll leave it to other people to evaluate the legacy of my book, but I'm very moved when musicians tell me that they've been inspired by my book.

I really believe in the power of music - and I mean literally the power of musical tones - to rearrange the way you can think.

Nine Inch Nails' sound is dominated by clanging synths and sardonic, shrieking vocals.

There's a whole apparatus for indie bands now, but back in the eighties it was just getting built. The early people really took it on the chin.