Overall, a really great book. The two complaints I always read are: 1. the English grammar and 2. the selection of bands.
#1. There is some creative English used in the book, but it is easy to see through the mistakes and the point always gets across (ie. "they won first price" = "they won first prize"). People who speak English as a second language might have more trouble. Maybe a book about Swedish punk should be written in Swedish anyway.... There are some vague references to events and compilation albums (ie. about Terror - "check out Magnus' black eye on the Vänd oss inte i ryggen LP" - with no picture shown). Luckily one can visit Punktipset ([...]) and see for himself. Also, songs on compilations that didn't come from singles/lp's are not listed, such as the tracks on the "Baverk 80" lp. Again, visit Punktipset. The author sometimes strays from the straight facts into personal opion (ie. calling Mental istid by Ebba Grön a "lame ballad"). Nej nej nej....
#2. The selection of bands is a valid complaint. I first noticed when I started the 'G' section and Garbochock wasn't there. I am straying into personal opinion here myself, but maybe the book should have been called the Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk, New Wave and Power Pop... I would much rather read about Docent Död, Garbochock, Heartbreak, Imperiet, The Information, Moderns, Noise, Strindbergs, Tant Strul, etc... than a bunch of hardcore bands that released one single and broke up..... (especially since Pink Champagne is deemed "punk" enough to make the cut.) In all fairness, the author gives warning right from the start that no one will be happy with band selection.
That all being said, it is a beautful book, in hardcover with glossy pages and high quality production. The bands are listed in alphabetical order, with album art, tracklists, and a write-up on their history (long or short depending on how much they accomplished). As far as I know, it's a one of a kind. Highly recommended for fans of Swedish punk!!! (Keith - coldturkeyblues@hotmail.com)