Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion by Chris DeVille
Calling all indie rock fans! This is the music history book we didn’t know we needed, and for many millennials, it’s about the soundtrack to our teenage years and young adulthoods. With sharp descriptions, thorough research, personal narratives, and self-deprecating humor, Chris DeVille explores the definition of “indie”; the role The OC and other early 2000s media played in popularizing the genre; its intersections with EDM, folk, hip hop, and pop; and much more. Each chapter opens with a playlist on which you’ll find old favorites and maybe also discover some songs you missed when they were first released. Reading this brought back lots of memories and was the most fun I’ve had with a book in a long time!
Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion by Chris DeVille, (List Price: $29, St. Martin’s Press, 9781250363381, August 2025)
Reviewed by Sarah Rhu, Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, North Carolina