-"In this encyclopedia, music journalists Kerry Smith surveys the history of this movement from the Velvet Underground, Talking Heads and Black Flag to Arcade Fire, Cat Power and the Decemberists. Most of the 189 entries feature bands and individual artists who have jealously guarded creative control of their own music and consequently led the independent rock movement. Other articles highlight music festivals and publications that have brought attention to the work of independent artists. . . . This entertaining guide will find avid readers of obscure musical tastes in high school, public, and academic libraries." —Lawrence Looks at Books

-"The only field-defining encyclopedia to date, this guide defines indie rock practioners not as a group of unsigned musical artists but as tenacious do-it-yourselfers whose defiant resourcefulness sparked other independent creative movements. . . . Alphabetized entries run several pages and include band photographs whenever possible. Included are indie rock's subgenres, like shoegazing and sadcore. A time line designates 1952 as indie rock's spiritual inception. . . . Recommended for all musical history collections." —Library Journal