Tales full of sound, signifying something

A review essay on books by (1) Steve J. Wurtzler, Electric Sounds: Technological Change and the Rise of the Corporate Mass Media(New York: Columbia University Press, 2007); (2) Lars Nyre, Sound Media: From Live Journalism to Music Recording(New York: Routledge, 2008); (3) Guillermo Mastrini (ed.), Mucho ruido, pocas leyes: Economia y politicas de connnnicacion en la Argentina, 1920-2007 2ed ) (Buenos Aires: La Crujia, 2009); (3) Alexander Weheliye, Phonographies: Grooves in Sonic Afro-Modernity (Durham:Duke University Press, 2005); (4) Kevin Birth, Bacchanalian Sentiments: Musical Experiences and Political Counterpoints in Trinidad(Durham:Duke University Press, 2008); (5) Alejandro L. Madrid, Nor-tec Rifa! Electronic Dance Music from Tijuana to the World (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008); (6) Michael Veal, Dub: Soundscapes and Shattered Songs in Jamaican Reggae (Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2007).