"In this eloquently written book Edward P. Comentale accomplishes what he sets out to do--'to disentangle vernacular music from certain romantic myths of origin and identity and explore its inherent modernism.' Highly personal, erudite, and informed, Sweet Air: Modernism, Regionalism, and American Popular Song is an original and important contribution."--The Journal of Southern History "With the potential to be enormously influential, Sweet Air addresses American popular song as a whole while offering a compelling reinterpretation of the rise of pop music as an expansion of vernacular modernism. This book will be warmly received by a wide variety of scholars in American studies, southern studies, musicology, and popular music."--Diane Pecknold, author of The Selling Sound: The Rise of the Country Music Industry"Sweet Air is brilliant in its way of tracing the commercial genres of popular music from their purported regionalism to a deterritorialization made possible by modern technology. An original and engaging argument about regionalism and modernity."--Barbara Ching, author of Wrong's What I Do Best: Hard Country Music and Contemporary Culture"In his second book, Edward Comentale revisits and reconceptualizes some obscure portions of American popular music. . . .It aptly highlights the dynamics opposing mainstream culture and regional cultures in the US. . . . No one can deny this author is passionate about early American music from the South."--Journal of American Culture "An impressive treatment of modern American popular song, marking a definite advance on celebrations of blues primitivism and inventions of a mythical musical past."--European Journal of Communication"This profound intervention expands the appreciation of modernism and cuts through the layers of mythology and romanticization that still cloud broader understandings of American vernacular music. . . . A significant and engaging achievement."--Rock Music Studies"Aptly highlights the dynamics opposing mainstream culture and regional cultures in the US. It is clear Comentale knows very well the American music he comments and loves."--Journal of American Culture
