Byron Coley

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Byron Coley is an American music critic who wrote prominently for Forced Exposure magazine in the 1980s starting with their 5th issue until the magazine ceased publication in 1993. Prior to Forced Exposure, he wrote for NY Rocker, Boston Rock, and Take It! magazine. Coley is one of the first writers to have extensively documented indie rock from its inception to the present day.

He was a contributing writer to Spin in the 1990's and currently writes for the Wire and Arthur magazine with Thurston Moore.

He currently runs Ecstatic Yod, a record label and shop based in Florence, MA.

He has contributed liner notes to albums by The Flesh Eaters, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Big Boys, Yo La Tengo, John Fahey, Steffen Basho-Junghans, Flaherty/Corsano duo, and numerous others.

Coley has also appeared in documentaries about musical artists Half Japanese, Minutemen and Jandek, in each extolling the genius of the subject matter.

In writing for the band's entry in the Spin Alternative Record Guide, Coley stated that he considers "A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die" by The Flesh Eaters to the best rock album ever recorded.

He is also a published poet and occasionally gives public readings of his (and others') works. Coley also wrote a biography of Chuck Norris that was published in 1986. ISBN 978-0312900988.

For the 2007 Deluxe Edition of Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation, Coley contributed to the liner notes with a reflective essay on the legendary album.