Hole in Our Soul The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music

Martha Bayles explores the evolution of American popular music, from its jazz and blues origins to rock, punk, and rap. She argues that despite its rich history, a 'perverse modernism' has led to a decline in beauty and meaning, fostering a cult of brutality and obscenity. Bayles contends that culture, not commerce, shapes the market, and suggests that an informed shift in public tastes is the only way to restore music's affirmative spirit.