Angrier and less pretentious than the drug-addled punk and new wave music genres, hardcore was an underground American invention. Here's the first chronicle, composed of oral histories interwoven through the author's own informed commentary. Black Flag, Minor Threat, Beastie Boys, et al. American Hardcore, heavily illustrated throughout with photographs, also includes a reasonable discography. "This book brings it back better than anything. If it wasn't for hardcore, where would we be?" —Ian MacKaye