Sonic Cool: The Life and Death of Rock'N'Roll (Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)The basic premise of this book (that rock n roll has died several times and that the next great wave of music arises from the ashes from a totally unexpected direction) is solid and well explained.The problems with the book are two-fold.1.This guy needed an editor and fact-checker in the worst way.DO NOT use any "facts" from this book as facts until you check them against another source.2. He gets too bogged down in being comprehensive, and spends too little time on his interesting and well put forward premise.A must read for the music fanatic, but not a good place for a beginner to start.One of the vital points of the book is that most critics take it for granted that certain bands were important and great, when they haven't actually LISTENED to them.They take the word of the critics that they've read.Mr. Harrington, does not repeat the mistake, and his "discoveries" of obscure and forgotten musicians and bands are one of the joys of this book.

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Unknown Legends of Rock 'n' Roll Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book yesterday and haven't been able to put it down since. My jury is not all the way in on this (I have to give it four stars to makeroom for Greil Marcus' MYSTERY TRAIN and, perhaps, Lester Bangs' PSYCHOTICREACTIONS AND CARBURETOR DUNG), but I'm clearly hooked on it for the shorthaul.I'm not sure I've read a book like this before.There is plenty ofsex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll here (especially the latter two), interestingtales of quirky, sometimes insane, behavior, as well as some strongarguments for why these people deserve more attention.It's easy to praisethe merits of, say, the Beatles or the Clash, but Unterberger successfullyengages me in (what is for most of us) musical terra incognito. I've onlyheard of about 1/3 of the artists Unterberger covers (I wouldn't say thatNick Drake, Syd Barrett, and Sandy Denny are exactly "unknowns"),but he makes me want to try and track down the records of some of thesepeople (e.g., Skip Spence, Aisha Kandisha's Jarring Effects, etc.).Thisbook reminds me--a little--of Nash's BLOOD LETTERS AND BAD MEN (for somereason--I guess I'm thinking of the Joe Meek piece) as well as KennethAnger's HOLLYWOOD BABYLON (b/c so many of the artists discussed come to badends via alcohol, drugs, insanity, etc.).The CD (45 minutes long) isinteresting, but my jury is nowhere near decided on IT.At around $20,this book is a very good deal.It's not for everyone, but if you think youMIGHT be interested in it, you probably will.Here in a few days I mightkick myself for not giving it five stars.

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I hate New Music the Classic Rock Manifesto (Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a hilarious quick read. And, some of the sections provide useful information that will make you run to your iPod or MP3 player to update songs or listen to some of the classics.

This is not a serious read, but rather the author's opinion regarding the heyday of is favorite music, rock n roll. (Note no use of the ampersand or and). One of my issues with the book, though is that it's very anglophone and male focused. It's a veritable sausage party without any analysis.

That said, he is critical of the over-commercialization of rock music or new music of today. Anyone interested in music and pop culture will enjoy this book.

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Product Description:
Uproariously funny and relentlessly thought-provoking, I Hate New Music is one man's crusade against everything that isn't what rock ought to be. Author Dave Thompson examines the sacred cows of the past 30 years - from U2 to Days of the New, from Radiohead to The White Stripes - and then slaughters them for their sins against our souls in this un-put-downable compendium of outrageous opinion, hilarious anecdote, and wild accusations.

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