book reviews
Book reviews on music, artists, and pop culture related literature.
The 10 Commandments - The Rockstar’s Guide To Life
I picked this book up at HMV today. The title bought me in, along with the rockstars on the cover. The discount sticker helped too. For those who don’t know the Q magazine is a prestigious music magazine in the UK. I remember it had it‘s own music channel at one point, don’t know if it’s still airing, as I don’t watch much telly nowadays. Editor, Ted calls Q the greatest music magazine in the UK. I have a feeling that he really wanted to write Q is the best music magazine in the world.
By Chloe Gilholy5 years ago in Beat
Book Review: "Essays on Dylan" by John Hyldgaard
Since receiving it this morning, I have been immersed in a fan’s perspective of Dylan in the essays published by John Hyldgaard. Since then, as an avid Bob Dylan fan, I have been looking deep into my own knowledge and I think I might have just accidentally reignited my love affair with books written about Bob Dylan by fans of Bob Dylan. Thanks a lot, John, now I can get back to spending god knows how much money on this stuff.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Beat
Book Review: “Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces” by Laura Tunbridge
Many may just call this a great biography about Beethoven, but that really isn’t it at all. This book is more like a celebration of his life whilst also filling in the gaps that had previously been marred by popular culture. The latter presents us with a scowling image of a man toiling over a masterpiece in a famous piece of artwork, but Tunbridge argues that this isn’t actually it at all. Beethoven was far more than just a discontent who worked day and night on his music - he was a three dimensional personality and a man who was way ahead of his time whilst also being a product of it. Tunbridge seeks to let us explore into the world of Beethoven and how he really went about his pieces and his masterpieces in the contexts of the social, cultural and political realms. It is a wonderful book that I’m sure that Beethoven himself would be very proud to have written about him.
By Annie Kapur6 years ago in Beat
What Would Dolly Do?
Taking a much deserved break from Greek mythology, I decided to dive into another passion of mine--Dolly Parton. The embodiment of southern charm, Dolly Parton has a career that has not only spanned decades, but she has also managed to seamlessly weave her name throughout all different genres of entertainment and popular culture: music, film, television, cooking, real estate, philanthropy, education, and so much more.
By Kurt Mason6 years ago in Beat
Review: 'In Tune: Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers, and the Roots of American Music'
I started reading this book and found it was increasingly interesting because initially, I thought it would just be about Charley Patton and Jimmie Rodgers' music—but it isn't. It's actually about the musical and cultural history of where they came from and why they did what they did. Many claim that they weren't the first—and they probably weren't—but they were definitely important according to the cultural climate regarding race, music and the blues at the time.
By Annie Kapur7 years ago in Beat
Book Review: 'Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson'
There are many, many books about Robert Johnson and many that I have read, but this one has to be one of my favourites and a great book to read for any level of fan. Whether you are just on your route to discovering the blues king who sold his soul to the devil—or whether you've been listening to him for a few years now and have come to see many different aspects of his life, this is probably the ultimate book on everything Robert Johnson and every bit of possible research that you could want.
By Annie Kapur7 years ago in Beat
10 Fascinating Books About Rock Stars
Three things that are certain in the lives of rock stars: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It is through these three things that make each one of their individual lives unique, fascinating, and worth reading about. If you are a fan of any rock star, then you may as well already know the consistent patterns of early drug use, quick rises to fame, and rags to riches stories. Rock stars live a life that we can only dream of, which makes these stories about their lives so fascinating to read about.
By Riley Bates7 years ago in Beat
Best Musician Memoirs Every Fan Must Read
Fans of music always want to know more about the rock and roll lifestyle, or what the music scene was truly like at that time. There is no better conduit than some of best memoirs from some of the most respected artists in history.
By Joseph Farley8 years ago in Beat
Review of Rob Sheffield's Dreaming The Beatles: 7 of X
Been a bit since I posted a review of Rob Sheffield's Dreaming the Beatles, mostly because this is not a book to be rush-read or even normally read (whatever pace that might be), but savored, and also because I've been writing some science fiction, and there's also the lure of the cool water and soft beach of Cape Cod Bay. But I wanted to record a few words about Sheffield's chapter on "Ticket to Ride", about as rich and satisfying an extended analysis you can find of a Beatles or any worthy song.
By Paul Levinson9 years ago in Beat
Review of Rob Sheffield's Dreaming The Beatles: 6 of X
Rob Sheffield makes the case for Ringo in the next chapter of his stellar Dreaming the Beatles, putting the question regarding Ringo as whether he was an all-time genius drummer who made the Beatles possible, or "a clod who got lucky, the biggest fool who ever hit the big time". Sheffield puts his chips on the genius.
By Paul Levinson9 years ago in Beat
