Venerable cultural critic Simon Reynolds' latest effort to understand worthwhile music, Totally Wired: Postpunk Interviews and Overviews (Soft Skull Press, $16.95). Glancing through the interviews reads like any given K-TEL commercial, a Freedom Rock for a more discerning and fractured age: Joy Division, The Slits' Ari Up, Siouxsie and Her Banshees, Gang of Four, The Fall, Devo, PIL's Jah Wobble, David Byrne and Lydia Lunch, as well as more accessible alternative theorists like Brian Eno and Malcolm McLaren. Reynolds' book is the perfect primer for a loved one who's just emerged from a coma, is primarily from the U.S. or Europe, and really wants to catch up on what's been going on lately. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., W. Hlywd Thurs., Sept. 16, 7 p.m., free(310) 659-3110, booksoup.com –D.C.

Thu., Sept. 16, 7 p.m., 2010

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.