Shiny And New

★★★★ Dylan Jones WHITE RABBIT. £20

Essays on 10 singles “of pop genius that defined the ’80s”.

GQ editor Dylan Jones has already explored the 1980s in two previous books centred on Live Aid and the new romantics, but his fascination for the era clearly remains undiminished and here he further sets out to harness the musical and cultural ambitions of the decade. Rapper’s Delight and Fight The Power bookend the tales of Ghost Town, Blue Monday and Theme From S’Express, as the action generally flits between London and New York. Jones manages to inject interesting analysis into oft familiar stories – viewing The Smiths circa Bigmouth Strikes Again as “the antithesis of the decade, which meant they became forever associated with it”. Best though are his autobiographical narratives – experiencing the Brixton riots; being razored by thugs in Islington in ’81 while dressed like a cut-price Martin Fry – and, overall, it’s a wholly successful endeavour carried along by his waves of infectious enthusiasm.