This book is not so much a blow-by-blolw account of what Rick Rubin does 'in the studio’ so much as the environment he creates.

From his days as founder of Def Jam records with Russell Simmons to discovering and producing the Beastie Boys, to his work with LL Cool J, Red Hot Chili Peppers and countless others, Rubin has remained steadfastly enigmatic. Rubiin is not a hands-on producer in the mould of Phil Spector or Arif Mardin, but more of an alchemist, with the uncanny ability to create magic in the studio across all musical genres and personality types.

Brown’s book is not a deeply and independently researched examination of exactly what Rubin does to create this magic but is both a highly entertaining and valuable look at Rubin’s style of production. It’s a story of application, stickability and not only ope being win the right place at the right time but having the smarts to know what to do with it.

An important read for all students of production.