Tom Moon guides readers through 1000 Recordings

In August, Workman Publishing released 1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die, a guided tour of the best songs, selected and reviewed by NPR music critic Tom Moon. This collection prides itself on being free of genre prejudice; it's a compilation that seeks to "break down genre bias and broaden listeners' horizons—it makes every listener a seeker, actively pursuing new artists and new sounds, and reconfirming the greatness of the classics."

Tom Moon has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, GQ, Esquire and the Philadelphia Inquirer, amongst other publications. He is now a music commentator for NPR.

According to the book's official blog, 1000 Recordings is the result of the last three and a half years of Moon's life, spent searching far and wide for the pinnacle of the recorded music experience. Each song is reviewed and linked to other entries. The recordings are arranged alphabetically, unbound by genre categories.

When asked about the process, Moon responded that his picks were mainly gut decisions. "I didn't want to have a standard criteria. Within any given artist, you could go 10 different directions." Artists like Bob Dylan and Miles Davis pop up several times throughout the book, while other selections feature virtual unknowns.

The book is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle edition. You can find out more about Moon's anointed artists and song choices here.

Related links:
1000Recordings.com
NPR's review and excerpts
1000 Recordings on Amazon

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