Columbus author's new book charts indie music history

What's inside: Out Tuesday, the book dives deep into more than 20 years of the music scene.

• From The Strokes and MGMT to Grimes and Phoebe Bridgers, it's likely that most indie fans' entry point is covered here.

Zoom in: Readers may recognize author Chris DeVille from his writing in Columbus and beyond.

• He was a longtime Columbus Alive reporter with credits in Rolling Stone, The Ringer and The Atlantic.
• Now, he's managing editor of popular music blog Stereogum.

Zoom out: The book's scope is global, but the story is told partially through the experiences of its local author.

• DeVille went to Westerville North High School before Ohio University, and he admits there's "definitely a personal twist" to a story that begins in his formative Central Ohio years.
• "Even people who weren't big Arcade Fire or Sufjan Stevens listeners might see their own life reflected in the story," he tells Axios.

The intrigue: From the peak impact of Pitchfork reviews to the Arctic Monkeys exploding on Myspace, "Such Great Heights" is a time capsule of not just the music, but the culture that surrounded it.

• When was the last time you thought about LimeWire?

Between the lines: In Columbus, DeVille has watched our musical impact ebb and flow. And although we've "always had a presence," he wonders if we're one of the many cities that suffered from global scope.

• "The internet sort of allowed for a deprioritization of local media and coverage, and everyone fixated on New York and LA."

State of play: The days of fledgling acts getting huge record deals and audiences flocking to music reviews are long gone.

Yes, but: In the wake of that drastically shifting cultural space, there might be a silver lining.

• "Maybe it's better for it to just be a side hustle," DeVille says. "I don't love that conclusion; I want people to be able to make a living. But anyone who is really making a go of it now is doing it for the love of the game, and that's a positive."

Stop by: Used Kids Records is hosting a book release party at 7pm Wednesday.

• DeVille will talk music with Rob Harvilla, fellow Columbus writer and host of The Ringer's popular "60 Songs That Explain the '90s" podcast.

Picks from the Columbus music scene

DeVille is still keeping an eye on local bands who are persevering and finding success in Columbus and beyond.

Four of DeVille's favorites today, in his own words:

Golomb: "The Beat Goes On" is one of the best straight-ahead rock albums in recent memory — not just from Columbus, from anywhere.

• Spouses Mickey and Xenia Shuman's harmonies are mesmerizing, Xenia's brother Hawken bangs the drums like John Bonham, and their simple, elemental songs evoke indie greats from Pixies to Sonic Youth to Spacemen 3.

DANA: These art-punk mainstays are a revelation on "Clean Living."

• Song titles like "Blueteeth" and "One Weird Trick" reveal a fascination with the role of technology in societal decay, while the off-kilter rhythms and wild vocals show affinity for unhinged Ohio forebears like Brainiac.

Hello Emerson: Librarian Sam Bodary's plaintive roots-rock ballads are thoughtfully constructed and emotionally charged, with or without his magnetic stage presence.

• "To Keep Him Here," last year's album about the death of Bodary's father, might raise the hair on your neck and leave you bawling.

Saintseneca: Zac Little's oft-morphing folk-rock band returns this Halloween with the ambitious "Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs" — one album plus two shorter "moons" of related music.

• It pushes his high-minded, big-hearted sound in exciting new directions and reminds me why I've loved Saintseneca since they were pounding on trash cans at basement shows.