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Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011 Paperback – November 13, 2018

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,984 ratings

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Joining the ranks of the classics Please Kill Me, Our Band Could Be Your Life, and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, an intriguing oral history of the post-9/11 decline of the old-guard music industry and rebirth of the New York rock scene, led by a group of iconoclastic rock bands.

In the second half of the twentieth-century New York was the source of new sounds, including the Greenwich Village folk scene, punk and new wave, and hip-hop. But as the end of the millennium neared, cutting-edge bands began emerging from Seattle, Austin, and London, pushing New York further from the epicenter. The behemoth music industry, too, found itself in free fall, under siege from technology. Then 9/11/2001 plunged the country into a state of uncertainty and war—and a dozen New York City bands that had been honing their sound and style in relative obscurity suddenly became symbols of glamour for a young, web-savvy, forward-looking generation in need of an anthem.

Meet Me in the Bathroom charts the transformation of the New York music scene in the first decade of the 2000s, the bands behind it—including The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, and Vampire Weekend—and the cultural forces that shaped it, from the Internet to a booming real estate market that forced artists out of the Lower East Side to Williamsburg. Drawing on 200 original interviews with James Murphy, Julian Casablancas, Karen O, Ezra Koenig, and many others musicians, artists, journalists, bloggers, photographers, managers, music executives, groupies, models, movie stars, and DJs who lived through this explosive time, journalist Lizzy Goodman offers a fascinating portrait of a time and a place that gave birth to a new era in modern rock-and-roll.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Lizzy Goodman’s deliciously over-reported oral history of early-aughts New York rock, was a monument to the scuzzy magic that occurs when youth, hedonism, ambition, and talent coincide.” — New Yorker

“An evocative and gossipy oral history…Not only was Ms. Goodman there…but as our revelatory tour guide, she shrewdly jogged the memories of her protagonists…The result is an affectionate, idiosyncratic narrative of the rock scene’s erratic evolution.” — New York Times

“beautifully paced, vivid, informative and compelling… a book primarily built on passion, love and homage – a drawled rock’n’roll sonnet to the music, the bands, the city, the scene, the triumphs, the screw-ups, and, of course, ‘the moment’.” — The Guardian

“Lizzy Goodman has produced an instant classic...All the Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Ryan Adams gossip you’ve ever wanted to know is right here in this epic, loving look at a very different New York City.”  — Rolling Stone

“Meet Me in the Bathroom is the juiciest book on rock’n’roll in years…a thrilling, hilarious, gossip-fueled account”  — Pitchfork

“Spectacular.” — Playboy

“The first great history of new york’s 21st century rock scene...thoroughly entertaining…engrossing…Meet Me in the Bathroom is a wonderful reminder that the next big thing can be right around the corner.” — Spin

“I devoured Meet Me in the Bathroom . . .That’s what it feels like to read this oral history, as if you’re in a bar or living room with all these people reminiscing and eavesdropping on all the juicy details. A perfect beach read, if there ever was one.” — Laia Garcia, Lenny Letter

“[A] gossip-fueled, engaging oral history” — Publishers Weekly

“As far as I’m concerned this book is one of the truly great New York stories.” — Rob Sheffield, The Village Voice

“In her terrific new book, Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City, 2001-2011, author Lizzy Goodman has meticulously traced the story of that revival” — Paste Magazine

“A vivid, kaleidoscopic, extremely fun ode to a moment in time that only just became the past.” — The Cut

“Sharp, funny and dishy oral history...Goodman does a wonderful job of sketching out and filling in this singular time and place...It is a blast...” — Austin American-Statesman

“In the page-turning tradition of Please Kill Me and I Want My MTV, Lizzy Goodman’s new oral history, Meet Me in the Bathroom is a post-mortem of rock’s last gasp...You don’t read a book like this. You demolish it whole, like a bag of Funyuns.” — Las Vegas Weekly

Meet Me in the Bathroom is an impressive document of the time . . . she’s managed to extract admissions and reflections that are genuinely poignant . . . distilled into a tome that captures the messy, glorious chaos of New York.” — Noisey

“Lizzy Goodman’s extremely comprehensive oral history of the 00s NYC rock scene is hilarious, sordid, fascinating, and infuriating—all at once....Meet Me in the Bathroom is more than a success.” — VICE

“There’s warmth and kindness…and great stories about people taking too many drugs...A wonderful book.” — Seth Meyers, Late Night with Seth Meyers

“[Meet Me in the Bathroom] will make any rock ‘n’ roll fan who came of age or lived in New York in the aughts...feel all sorts of warm and cozy nostalgic feelings.”  — BuzzFeed

“full of fantastic gossip and dreamy anecdotes about the city’s last mythological guitar boys” — The Verge

“a compelling non-stop wealth of information that will be inspiring to those familiar with New York and not...this read is a can’t-miss.”  — Uproxx

From the Back Cover

In the early 2000s New York City served as the unlikely stage for a radical renaissance where bands like the Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, the Moldy Peaches, LCD Soundsystem, and others, who had been honing their craft in obscurity, suddenly became reflections of a newly flush, newly booming town determined to recover from the devastation of September 11.

Meet Me in the Bathroom explores how during this era the music industry was dismantled and then reborn via technology—first by Napster and later iTunes—and by evangelist bloggers and edgier journalistic upstarts like Vice and Pitchfork. As the reshaping of the city—technological, aesthetic, cultural, and physical—spread from downtown Manhattan to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, bands like MGMT, Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, Grizzly Bear, and Dirty Projectors became the new stars, remaking the idea of New York in their own nerdy image, and establishing “I heart Brooklyn” as the mantra of a new generation.

Crafted from nearly two hundred original interviews and curated by a writer who remembers the hangovers herself, Meet Me in the Bathroom charts the first decade of the 2000s in all its epic and reckless glory. It is a brilliant portrait of a city, an industry, and a generation on the verge of seismic change.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dey Street Books; Reprint edition (November 13, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 640 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062233106
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062233103
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1.8 x 5.3 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,984 ratings

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4.5 out of 5 stars
1,984 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a fantastic read about rock and roll, with a thought-provoking oral history that provides a good account of a time and place. The book is jam-packed with anecdotes and gives great insight into the NYC music scene. They appreciate the interview format, with one customer noting how the participants are being honest.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

59 customers mention "Readability"54 positive5 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and entertaining, particularly for those who love rock and roll, with one customer noting it's worth every page.

"...need to love some of this music to really dig the book, but it’s a great read if you love reading about egos, ambition, what defines “culture” as..." Read more

"...That's all you can ask for in a book; along with being very entertaining. JD" Read more

"...Definitely a long read but worth every page if you’re a music bio fan, Highly recommend. It’s a love story to that time in New York as well." Read more

"...be objective when I love most the bands represented here, but I devoured this book...." Read more

31 customers mention "Oral history"28 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's oral history approach, describing it as a thought-provoking account of a specific time and place in rock history.

"Can’t recommend “meet me in the bathroom” enough. It’s the story of nyc indie rock (basically 90% of all indie music during the early 2000s) from..." Read more

"...Very interesting for an outsider who grew up during that time and observed from a distance, but loved the music...." Read more

"...fact that it starts a little slow put you off the book—It is a fantastic oral history and the participants are being HONEST..." Read more

"...Sure the parties are a hook, but read for the inspirations which fueled each band, the 60+ characters represented, and the book-long tribute to a..." Read more

20 customers mention "Storytelling quality"17 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling in the book, which is jam-packed with anecdotes, with one customer highlighting the riveting firsthand accounts.

"...Really well done and comprised of satisfying arcs, only the DFA breakup leaves you wondering “what really happened”...." Read more

"...It feels very authentic, due to the format and personal stories. The book paints a picture of NY for those who have never visited...." Read more

"...Cool on the road tales and the requisite sex drugs and rock and roll. Also much about the music and how it was made...." Read more

"Good story of the Strokes, Interpol, TVOR, LCD Soundsystem, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for the years mentioned (2001 to 2011)...." Read more

11 customers mention "Music content"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the music content of the book, which provides insight into the New York City music scene, with one customer noting it perfectly captures the era's vibe.

"...who grew up during that time and observed from a distance, but loved the music. It feels very authentic, due to the format and personal stories...." Read more

"...The author Lizzy Goodman did a great job exciting us about music we might not all know, and she took up 600 pages doing so, which was not always..." Read more

"A beautiful/funny/n-depth portrait of this music scene, ever-changing NYC and even humanity in general...." Read more

"...Jam packed with anecdotes (and LOTS of drugs), the book chronicles both the rise of NY music but the changes the city itself underwent during the..." Read more

9 customers mention "Interview quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the interview format of the book, with one review noting the extensive hours of interviews conducted, and another highlighting the honesty of the participants.

"...of a variety of different rockstars, art rockers, and NYC celebs in a compelling way, it really does read like fiction...." Read more

"...(the key to a great biography!j great stories about the rise of the Strokes, LCD, Interpol,..." Read more

"...on the NYC crew as the saviors of "rock," but the tapestry of voices (even those the average person will never recognize) make this a really..." Read more

"It really feels like the bands and artists profiled are really speaking to you...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2021
    Can’t recommend “meet me in the bathroom” enough. It’s the story of nyc indie rock (basically 90% of all indie music during the early 2000s) from late 1990s to 2011.

    But it also includes non-NYC bands who made it via the NYC/London route, like kings of Leon and the Killers. Really well done and comprised of satisfying arcs, only the DFA breakup leaves you wondering “what really happened”. Using only interviews, it covers the overlapping careers of a variety of different rockstars, art rockers, and NYC celebs in a compelling way, it really does read like fiction. You probably need to love some of this music to really dig the book, but it’s a great read if you love reading about egos, ambition, what defines “culture” as well as addiction, depression, and human frailty. And of course, similar to “please kill me” about the punk movement, there’s a ton of great tangential history (living through tech and real estate booms, as well as 9/11, as a bohemian) and and era-defining debauchery that seem to occur in pop culture every 20 years or so.

    Most importantly, it answers life’s deepest questions, like “what did the strokes think when they first heard mr brightside?”
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2018
    An insider's peak behind the curtain of a burgeoning rock scene w/ eventual Rock Stars!(at least for a few years). Very interesting for an outsider who grew up during that time and observed from a distance, but loved the music. It feels very authentic, due to the format and personal stories. The book paints a picture of NY for those who have never visited.

    This book has inspired me to go back and listen to the music I loved at the time(Yeah Yeah Yeahs), along with introducing me to new bands(Interpol) that I missed. That's all you can ask for in a book; along with being very entertaining.
    JD
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2017
    Don’t let the fact that it starts a little slow put you off the book—It is a fantastic oral history and the participants are being HONEST(the key to a great biography!j great stories about the rise of the Strokes, LCD, Interpol, Vampire Weekend. Cool on the road tales and the requisite sex drugs and rock and roll. Also much about the music and how it was made. Loved the stories about Karen O and the Yeah,Yeah,Yeahs! Definitely a long read but worth every page if you’re a music bio fan, Highly recommend. It’s a love story to that time in New York as well.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2025
    Excelente libro, se lee muy rápido y con mucha información sobre la escena de nueva York de los 2000
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2017
    Hard to be objective when I love most the bands represented here, but I devoured this book. All the players are at the table--you can read the description--and somehow Lizzy Goodman's got them talking. Sure the parties are a hook, but read for the inspirations which fueled each band, the 60+ characters represented, and the book-long tribute to a city that seems to give each generation its own little present to keep for themselves (and of course later declare better than anyone else's). Bravo to Lizzy Goodman for obtaining an unfathomable participation rate when a half-count would still have made a good book and, in contrast to one reviewer below in need of an author's presence, I say further kudos to Ms. Goodman for having the wherewithal and total lack of ego to let the voices speak for themselves. Her presence is the book. Brilliant work.
    14 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2019
    Good story of the Strokes, Interpol, TVOR, LCD Soundsystem, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for the years mentioned (2001 to 2011). So much in here that I didn't know, and some that I did. Of course, I would have liked them to continue the story with these bands (i.e., Interpol's 2018 album got pretty good reviews...and the band is showing they can make some good music as a three-piece.) But I understand that she had to stop the story somewhere. Pre-2001 NYC scene also gets some coverage so we know the "pre-history."

    For some reason, the Killers, Kings of Leon, and other non-NYC acts are also discussed...apparently because they either borrowed some of the sounds of these bands and/or got popular around the same time. But it's not really clear to me why they're in the book. And if you're going to discuss them, then give the England scene more play, especially Bloc Party circa 2005.

    And although the book has some on the Brooklyn bands, the coverage is minimal. Given the National became the most critically acclaimted NYC indie rock act of the second half of the 00s, I was surprised by how little they were covered, except in their experiences with the "big 5" bands in the first pgh. And what about mid-decade darlings the Hold Steady? Craig Finn is quoted once or twice, but somehow ignoring their 3-album pinnacle (staring with Separation Sunday) seemed like a big miss. Is Brazilian Girls in there? If they are, I missed it.

    Anyway, it's worth a read. But we all have our own version of the NYC scene in those days. I'm pointing out the bands that were important to me; others would probably disagree.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Andrew
    1.0 out of 5 stars Very different format
    Reviewed in Australia on January 6, 2020
    Was not what I expected
  • Fernando A V
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gran reseña del revival en NYC…
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 22, 2023
    Este libro es una gran crónica de la escena musical neoyorquina del revival que hubo a finales de los 90’s y principios de los 2mil, lectura obligada para los fans de The Strokes, Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tv On The Radio, Ultragrrrl y un gran etcétera, recomendado al 100!!!
    Report
  • Gideon P.
    4.0 out of 5 stars amazing content
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 12, 2020
    written structure makes it hard to read
  • Beatriz Souza
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amei!
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 9, 2024
    "Meet Me In The Bathroom" é uma leitura obrigatória para qualquer entusiasta da música que deseja mergulhar fundo na vibrante cena musical de Nova York dos anos 2000. Este livro oferece uma narrativa envolvente que captura a essência da época, repleta de histórias fascinantes e reveladoras sobre as bandas mais influentes da era indie e rock alternativo. As páginas transbordam de momentos autênticos e emocionantes, proporcionando insights valiosos sobre os desafios enfrentados pelos músicos, os altos e baixos da fama e os relacionamentos tumultuados dentro da indústria. Uma leitura cativante que irá transportar você diretamente para os bastidores de uma das épocas mais marcantes da história do rock. Altamente recomendado!
  • Benji F Greenberg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute must read for anyone who came of age as ...
    Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2018
    Absolute must read for anyone who came of age as a music fan in the ‘00s. I laughed and cried and couldn’t put it down.