Pushing the limits of static, hiss, and high-pitched whines, noise music seeks to find expression just beyond the boundaries of general listener comfort and demonstrate how anyone can
learn to love noise.

But it’s frequently one of the most misunderstood genres of music, often dismissed by unacquainted passersby as too inaccessible or abrasive for their liking, or too formless to have meaning. Contrary to this misconception, noise music was birthed by experimenting on the traditions of some of the most formative music in history—namely rock, pop, and classical music—and possesses an immense variety, inclusivity, and capacity for purging the rawest emotions, ranging from the harshest crunches of distortion to the eroded samples littering outside rap.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the many concurrent forms noise music can possibly take, from Lou Reed’s derided Metal Machine Music to the switchblade cheerleader pop of Sleigh Bells’ Treats, and the appeal that the genre holds for enthusiasts and curious listeners alike.