There are two types of people in this world; those who define their lives by the music they listen to and those who don't. For those that obsess, everything from waking up to showering to driving to walking through a city to eating to mating is defined on boldface font by the music that invades our bodies and senses. Courtney E. Smith is no different and being a bit younger than many others whom have published personal love letters to this art form, she has a refreshing perspective. Her prose is charming, earnest and easily readable. Most music lovers of the 21st century and blogosphere tend to get hyperactive with their writing leading one to admire the writing but not necessarily feeling any of it. Smith spells her feelings about music (and life) in a well written manner that won't win her any awards from the likes of Spin, Pitchfork or Rolling Stone but more people will "get" her book than those who read the aforementioned.

Even at 226-pages, it's a speedy and charming read. I have slight reservations about her mentioning being at certain MTV events and part of the organization as a whole. Ultimately, when one writes, it's to offer a one-of-a-kind fly-on-the-wall perspective no one else could offer from the other side of the television screen. However, I'm sure her publisher urged her to play this role up to potentially lure readers to the book (she was a programming director for almost a decade). To her credit, there's no blatant name dropping while weighs down far too many music books. There is one personal story of heartbreak involving her deep affection for a certain member of a band who received significant airplay on MTV only to lead her on and lie to her. This artist and band is never mentioned within the pages of this book. This makes Smith a truly honorable and good human being but it hurt the chapter as I found my interest waning with no real payoff. While I'm never one for gossip, revealing the artist/person behind the heart smashing would have allowed the reader to outside the realm of the book and make their own judgment of the music (and potentially to look for hidden meanings in the lyrics). Then again, I haven't walked in her shoes so there's a Catholic guilt running from within for even writing the previous few sentences.

A central theme of the book evolves around the woman as a consumer/fan of music. She's quick to point out how women experience music in a different perspective and despite the male dominated music industry around fifty percent of all music purchases are made by women. Smith is a champion for the female music fan and she showcases the women of the world as more than mere groupies but highly intelligent and skilled professionals equal (and in some cases surpass) their male contemporaries when it comes to their devotion and explanation of the art form. Amongst the highlights is a chapter devoted to the Smiths and how one should never date a boy too obsessed with the band. "Top Five Lists" has a great little section on Elvis Costello and while I own (yes, actual CD's) each of his records (the Rhino 2CD reissues), I still found much to love about him in her explanation as to why he will forever be number one on her very own top five list. There's a whole section on soundtracks and if you grew up in the 1990's, you will fully understand why this chapter exists specifically in regards to Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet and the Twilight soundtrack. Before you roll your eyes, give it a chance, this was a much more engaging chapter than even I could have imagined. There's also a superb section devoted to all female bands and their histories including their glory days and their falls from grace which is essential reading.

Two chapters that were far too short are "The Next Madonna" and "Beatles vs. Stones". In the latter chapter, she puts the two greatest rock n' roll bands head-to-head and makes a clear argument crowning the Beatles as the more popular and enduring of the two. However, this argument won't be what people remember, they're likely to discuss how a woman's preference to one band or the other will immediately place them in the friend zone or someone with the potential for a fleshy romp. I heartily disagree with her proclamation that the Stones have been neutered post Some Girls. I'll argue with Smith offline about this but more importantly she may have inspired me to come up with twenty five great Stones songs from 1983 onward. "The Next Madonna" is a chapter that simply was not long enough. Reading this all too brief chapter leads you to believe that Smith has an entire book in her on this very subject, let's hope she revisits this chapter and expands on it. She mentions how male writers never give Madonna's music the credit or reflection it deserves yet she doesn't go deep enough (for me) into Madge's catalog as I had hoped, all the more reason to do a full book on the subject. Despite this minor quibble on my part (simply because I wanted to read more on this subject), "The Next Madonna" is the best chapter in the book as she highlights those who have attempted to steal her crown and how it was Madonna herself and not a competitor who ultimately dethroned her.

One of the keys to writing about music is to make the reader feel like you and they are the same. Whereas the Rolling Stone writers of the 1970's and 1980's would never dare writing about guilty pleasures, it's now a prerequisite in all books. Smith, like her contemporaries, isn't afraid to show off her eclectic tastes. Smith gets huge props in my book for mentioning Sambassadeur (my number-one record of 2010 on antiMUSIC) and even if I puked a little bit in my mouth over her adoration for the Pussycat Dolls, it's commendable for her to admit it. Who am I to sneer? I've devoted a few hundred thousand words to Bon Jovi in the last decade, so maybe it's time I reassess the merits of "Stickwitu". Ultimately, is one is passionate about music (and Courtney E. Smith is) you can't deny this book. Record Collecting for Girls is a feisty, humorous and provoking read about the female music experience. If you are a woman who has been scorned and are seeking the ideal music to channel your rage, heartbreak and frustration with relationships Recording Collecting for Girls is an alternative penicillin to a great break-up record.