ess - once billed as "America's Only British Rock Magazine" but later called by some "the bible of alternative rock" - provided enthusiastic coverage of independently made and released music as well as artists from many genres: glam, punk, new wave, reggae, techno-pop, many of them early in their now-legendary careers.

This anthology, edited and newly annotated by one of the magazine's co-founders, is an immersion in rock journalism of a form that is no longer widely practiced: features that go deep into artists' history and interviews that ask the impertinent questions, all written with wit, intelligence and a willful expression of opinions and values.

In 446 pages, this large-format paperback collects more than 90 of the best articles - profiles, interviews and histories - that appeared in the magazine.

Artists featured include Adam Ant, Syd Barrett, Black Flag, Ritchie Blackmore, Blondie, Kate Bush, Cheap Trick, Clash, Elvis Costello, the Cure, Devo,

Brian Eno, Eurythmics, Bryan Ferry, Robert Fripp, Gang of Four, Genesis, the Go-Go's, Human League, Joan Jett, Joy Division, Kinks, Kiss, Nick Lowe, Malcolm McLaren, New York Dolls, Andrew Loog Oldham, Jimmy Page, Iggy Pop, Public Image Ltd., Ramones, Lou Reed, R.E.M., Residents, Todd Rundgren, Sex Pistols, Small Faces, Sparks, Television, Peter Tosh, T. Rex, U2, the Who, X, X-Ray Spex and Frank Zappa.