Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise and Fall of SST Records, Jim Ruland; Hachette Press, 2022

 

Attention all SST personnel, former and current: Jim Ruland, in his excellent, newly published book about the history of your incredible record (and other media) label, Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise and Fall of SST Records has put forth a proposition that could very likely right a slew of wrongs that occurred as it grew (and grew and grew and grew....and then began to shrink)! Let's be real, most of you dudes and dudettes, you survivors of a very specific culture war (would that society could go back to that particular one, as opposed to the one we are currently embroiled in), are now reaching retirement or even, sadly, end of life stages. Wouldn't it be wonderful to set some problems right? Wouldn't it be great to shift some negative karma towards the positive? For you, noble and righteous staff of the greatest record label of all time, that have not read the book, as well as anyone else that has not, Disaster Amnesiac will say: find it, read it to the end, and then consider Ruland's proposed solution. I'm telling you, it could work! 

Dear Jim Ruland: Corporate Rock Sucks is a great book! As Disaster Amnesiac delved into its pages, I was fondly reminded of the many interactions I've had over the years with SST. Having my musical perceptions permanently changed upon hearing Damaged. Discovering the strangely intense bands on The Blasting Concept, both I and II ("we don't need freedom!"). Delving into the highly creative worlds of so many of the late 1980's bands.  Saint Vitus and Chandler's buzzsaw soloing,  Meat Puppets cosmic Country, SWA, early and late. Everything Ginn does, to this day (yes, I know.....) Jim, you have written the definitive document of SST, and I thank you for the minutes spent marveling at the complete discography and newly published photos that you've provided. Truly excellent work! 

SST Record's story strikes Disaster Amnesiac as a music-based drama the likes of which the world hadn't seen since the Wagner/Nietsche flap. As Jim Ruland shows in Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise and Fall of SST Records, it's a messy, oftentimes ugly story, but one that is highly compelling for any interested party. Ruland nails it. Seriously, though: I hope that all the injured parties (i.e. everyone involved in any way with SST) would consider the author's proposition. It's time to let bygones by bygones, it's time to get it happening, and it's time to fucking rock.