J.M.K.E.'s to the Cold Land - (33 1/3 Europe) by Brigitta Davidjants (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book explores the album Kèulmale maale ("To The Cold Land") by J.M.K.E. - the most legendary punk rock band in Estonia - concentrating on the meaning of the album in different sociocultural contexts from its release to today. In 35 years, the album has not lost its relevance: It was nominated for best pop music album of Estonia in 2014 and is listened to by all generations of punks. The story of J.M.K.E. illustrates the subcultural organization not only in Estonia but in the Soviet Union broadly, where pop music and the existence of subculture was censored for 50 years"--

Book Synopsis

This book explores the album 'Külmale maale' (To The Cold Land, 1989) by J.M.K.E. - the most legendary punk rock band in Estonia - concentrating on the meaning of the album in different sociocultural contexts from its release until today. In 35 years, the album has not lost its relevance: It was selected by 102 music critics as the best Estonian album of all time in 2014 and is listened to by all generations of punks.

The story of J.M.K.E. illustrates the subcultural organization not only in Estonia but in the Soviet Union in general, where pop music and the existence of subculture was more or less censored for 50 years. Broadly, it presents the influential role of pop culture in the transition from a totalitarian society to early capitalism and from subcultural to post-subcultural society.

About the Author

Brigitta Davidjants is a journalist and researcher at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Estonia. She has published countless articles in various Estonian media outlets. In her academic research, she looks at Armenian national identity constructions but now focuses on the marginalities of subcultures. Davidjants has also written fiction and worked for human rights organizations (such as Estonian LGBT Association, Estonian Refugee Council).