Byron Coley

Byron Coleyis an Americanmusic criticwho wrote prominently forForced Exposuremagazine in the 1980s,from the fifth issue until the magazine ceased publication in 1993. Prior toForced Exposure,he wrote forNew York Rocker,Boston Rock,andTake It!Coley is one of the first writers to have extensively documentedindie rockfrom its inception to the present day. Coley was a contributing writer and the Underground Editor atSpinin the 1980s and '90s, and currently writes forWireandArthurwithThurston Moore.He has also runEcstatic Yod,a record label and shop based inFlorence, Massachusetts.

Coley has contributed liner notes to albums bythe Flesh Eaters,Borbetomagus,Sonic Youth,Dinosaur Jr.,The Dream Syndicate,Big Boys,Yo La Tengo,John Fahey,Steffen Basho-Junghans,Flaherty/Corsanoduo,Urinals,and numerous others. He has also appeared in documentaries about musical artistsHalf Japanese,Minutemen,Jandek,The Holy Modal RoundersandBorbetomagus,in each extolling the genius of the subject matter. When he wrotethe Flesh Eaters' entry in theSpin Alternative Record Guide,Coley stated that he considersA Minute to Pray, A Second to Diethe best rock album ever recorded. For the 2007 Deluxe Edition ofSonic Youth'sDaydream Nation,he contributed to the liner notes with a reflective essay on the album.

Coley is a publishedpoetand occasionally gives public readings of his (and others') works. He also wrote a biography ofChuck Norristhat was published in 1986.

In 2010, Coley became involved with Feeding Tube Records in Northampton, Massachusetts, a record store where he sells rare items from his personal collection.

In 2011, Coley published the first collection of his reviews,C'est la guerre: Early writings 1978-1983,in a bilingual edition put out by Montreal publisherL'Oie de Cravan.