RFI: books i should nay MUST read about modern music and/or pop culture

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you can assume i have read none despite being fascinated by it all - what springs to mind immediately are the KLF's 'The Manual' and Paul Morley's 'Nothing' - what else? and could any fiction be included?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 March 2003 19:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"Please Kill Me" by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain, "Our Band Could Be Your Life" by Michael Azzerad, "Fargo Rock City" by Chuck Klosterman, "Needs Must" by Kris Needs, "Rock `Til You Drop" by John Strausbaugh, "England's Dreaming" by John Savage,.....

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 March 2003 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

that Strausbaugh book is a piece of shit!

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks for the suggestions, shit or not keep em coming

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

This isn't "modern" per se, but they are novels which will give you a very good history on what happened on each side of the Atlantic during certain periods... "Head On/Reposessed" by Saint Julian Cope, and "Live Through This" by E.True. Both mad as hatters, opinionated as hell, think of themselves as the centre of the known universe, yet they manage to talk a good yarn and give you that "You Were There" sensation as you read...

― kate (suzy), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Simon Reynolds, Generation Ecstasy (in the US)/Energy Flash (in the UK)
Rob Young, editor, Undercurrents: The Hidden Wiring of Modern Music
Cintra Wilson, A Massive Swelling
Anthony Haden-Guest, The Last Party
Matthew Collin, Altered State
Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential (very roughly but still a great read)

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

and I'll reiterate Alex's choices of England's Dreaming, Please Kill Me, Our Band Could Be Your Life, Fargo Rock City, and add Motley Crue's The Dirt, which I just started.

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Toby Young, How To Lose Friends and Alienate People This may be a little outside the scope, but blame Anthony Haden-Guest.

The Cintra Wilson book is great.

Kodwo Eshun's Brighter Than The Sun is a great book about modern black music, but dificult to read at a sitting. He invents new words to talk about new music, and his approach is to treat the lyrics of Kool Keith/Lee Perry as insights into a new cosmogony, which is clearly madness. But very entertaining madness.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

David Toop - Ocean of Sound

― Jan Geerinck (jahsonic), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i bought 'Psychotic Reactions & Carburettor Dung' ages ago but still havent read it - i've just become a horrendous non-reader and have to do something about it. getting a job that involves a single lengthy train journey would be a good start.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Rock `Til You Drop" by John Strausbaugh

Does he still have some chapters of this up on his Web page? I agree with this book's basic thesis, but Strausbaugh's persistent vendetta against Mick Jagger suggests that the whole book would be a tedious read.

― j.lu (j.lu), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Not read Kodwo's book but chatting to him about music was great.

I recommend Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King -- Lloyd Bradley. Good up until dancehall then it tails off.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

45 by Bill Drummond is fun.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

stevem - i too have tried to trawl through "psychotic reaction..." but it is too difficult a task but i do recommend englands dreaming (savage), revolt in to style (george melly), last night a dj saved my life (god knows off hand) and Reggae explosion (chris salz....something)

do not touch anything by jonny rogan, i say again DO NOT

― james (james), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

s.c.u.m. manifesto - Valerie Solanis; The Most of A.J. Libeling; "Up In The Old Hotel" by Joseph Mitchell; "Off The Wall: Robert Rauschenberg and The Art of Our Times" by Calvin Tomkins; "Neon Angel: the Cherie Curie Story" by Cherie Curie; "I'm With The Band" by Pamela des Barres.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

(first 4 don't have much to w/ music)

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

The Faber Book Of Pop is a good compendium of this stuff.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

that Haden-Guest book is a piece of shit!

Well, ok maybe not that bad, but it was very ehhhh. Read the Warhol Diaries instead.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

is "bliss out" even findable or should i pay hella cash on amazon for a used copy?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd echo Kodwo's book and Ocean of Sound plus these:

Joseph Lanza - Elevator Music
William Upski Wimsatt - Bomb The Suburbs
Ego Trip's Book Of Rap Lists/Big Book Of Racism

Looser threads:

Iain Sinclair - Lights Out For The Territory/London Orbital
JG Ballard - A User's Guide To The Millennium
Erik Davis - TechGnosis

― Nathan Webb (Nathan Webb), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i second 45 and energy flash,both excellent books...

― robin (robin), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Sue Steward and Sheryl Garratt's Signed, Sealed and Delivered and Gillian Gaar's She's A Rebel for 'wymmnyz in rock' books. Lucy O'Brien's She Bop II is rather similar to Gaar's while Gerri Hirshey's We Gotta Get Out of This Place is soooooo boring.

On Record edited by Simon Frith and Andrew Goodwin has some classic pieces in it.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Given that Mark S got some new bookshelves a few days ago, you'll only have to wait until the weekend to be able to buy one or two by him.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

'more brilliant than the sun', yo

― zemko (bob), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 01:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"good vibrations" is a competant book about the nature of record production. its a bit rockist, but thats ok i guess. author, mark cunningham.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 01:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthony Haden-Guest, The Last Party

I liked it. Or maybe I liked the cover. And the Cope stuff and Drummond and McNeil and etc. etc. I don't see Dave Cavanagh's Creation Records book listed yet but that's a definite keeper, and Marc Almond's autobiography beats out Motley Crue's for decadence and intelligence (in that there is some, as opposed to none).

Also, Great Pop Things. Sez more than the collected works of Dave Marsh and Greil Marcus. And the Babes in Toyland book for a view of the Status of a Rock Band in the Early 1990s Trying to Get Somewhere (I figure Klosterman would hate it, but that's just me. ;-))

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I was disappointed by Dave Cavanagh's book at the end. I felt after Oasis, he got bored of writing the book and tried to end it as swiftly as possible. Too little MBV and (as everyone else has said) too fucking much House of Love.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:21 (twenty-two years ago)

There wasn't enough HoL for my tastes! That story could have made a book of its own!

And there was more MBV in there than I've seen of anything outside a couple of interview from Mr. Shields, so hey.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:23 (twenty-two years ago)

true. but i could have read about the making of Loveless all day and all night for weeks on end and not gotten bored.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:25 (twenty-two years ago)

there was no mention of the Icerink label (unforgiveable),and no mention of One Lady Owner either (not a problem at all)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Much as I would have adored that, the summation in the book of said process would make me think that a typical day's entry would run like this.

"On this day, Shields came and rerecorded a guitar part approximately ninety-six times with no discernible variation. He then asked if the hum from the laundromat six blocks away could be quieted down, then watched Colm O'Coisoig rerecord some drums for the rest of day. Eventually engineer Anjali Dutt despaired."

As for Icerink, never actually heard anything from 'em, therefore no opinion.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

heheh you make that book sound fantastic! maybe *that's* what Kevin's been doing all this time!

Icerink was Bob Stanley's vanity label financed by Creation. They released the last World of Twist single! and a whole stack of manufactured acts written by St Etienne and produced by Ian Catt

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

maybe *that's* what Kevin's been doing all this time!

writing that very book i mean

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

No, I remember what Icerink was, there was some Melody Maker article on them all. Apparently one of the 'bands' covered "Photograph" by Def Leppard, which I would like to hear.

That putative book alas is not fantastic. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm listening to the band that covered "Photograph" right now - ovaL they were called - and it's a fantastic version.. plus i had a crush on one of the female members

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

the Warhol Diaries suck! boooo-ring!

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the Warhol Diaries. What's 45 again?

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

and now, to press the self-destruct button on my ilxor cred:

- didn't like 'generation ecstasy' so much, but i readily admit i need to reread as my outlook has changed since i gave it a go the first time.

- second 'last night a dj saved my life', not the greatest prose but very informative.

- i'm a big fan of 'lipstick trac *thump* OWWW!! Who threw that?

― Dave M. (rotten03), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:37 (twenty-two years ago)

s.c.u.m. manifesto - Valerie Solanis;
o yes!

accidental evolution - chuck eddy

starlust - fred and judy vermorel (er...maybe thats not how you spell that)

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:30 (twenty-two years ago)

is that the same people who recorded a single for Factory? if so that's the right spelling

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:41 (twenty-two years ago)

The b0i looked at Johnny! Tom Robinson forever!

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Also see: Pikachu's Vacation.

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Not read Kodwo's book but chatting to him about music was great.

Showoff.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

is "bliss out" even findable or should i pay hella cash on amazon for a used copy?

it was certainly findable in the uk a year ago - i've picked up quite a few copies for friends over the years, and i don't think i've ever paid more than £2, usually £1.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:56 (twenty-two years ago)

2nd hand shops have bliss out.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Steven Blush's "American Hardcore" is mighty fine, if a bit biased.
Dave Marsh's "The Heart of Rock'n'Roll" is alright, but only just.
Gene Simmons' "Kiss & Make-Up" is *SUCH* a let-down.
Nick Kent's "The Dark Stuff" (re-printed for the umpteenth time "with updates") is quite amusing.
Chuck Eddy's "Stairway to Hell" is both informative and entertaining, despite his inexplicable fondness for Kix And Tina Marie and his feverish neglect to recognize the Misfits.
Roni Sarig's "The Secret History of Rock" is brilliant.
Bernard Gendron's "Between Montmartre & the Mudd Club" is fascinating, but a bit too textbooky. I pretty much skipped massive portions of it.
I just picked up Nick Hornby's "Songbook," but so far it's crap.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

45 is Bill Drummond's memoirs, kind of. You know, Bill Drummond. KLF.
The Manual is also wonderful, deranged, honest, sad.
But his best book is Bad Wisdom, with Mark Manning (Zodiac Mindwarp). Insane bad trip gonzo travelogue/apocalyptic vision/history of pop/manifesto for the creative mission. Essential!

― pete b. (pete b.), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

speaking of warhol,i really enjoyed his biography by victor bockris,although i don't remember much about it at this stage

― robin (robin), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

is "bliss out" even findable or should i pay hella cash on amazon for a used copy?
it was certainly findable in the uk a year ago - i've picked up quite a few copies for friends over the years, and i don't think i've ever paid more than £2, usually £1.

2nd hand shops have bliss out.

Yet another reason to expatriate! But, until then...

mah fella amerikuns, whehr du aaah getta a cawpee uvv "blisssed aauht"?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Aaron, is Blissed Out the one that has the swirly orangey-pinky cover? If it is, I have a copy of it somewhere, and I can bring it to the DC FAP to lend to you, if you promise to mail it back when you're done. I'll have to check and see if it's with my stuff or at my parent's house though. Be forewarned, I might be thinking of a different book.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

wow thanks! i would really appreciate this. on the other hand, if you dont have it, or dont have it available, then that is cool, as I like to own and scribble! (though i wont do that in yr book, of course!)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

'Gene Simmons' "Kiss & Make-Up" is *SUCH* a let-down'

Yep, which is why you should buy or steal a copy of 'Kiss and Tell' by Gordon Gebert ASAP! It's mainly about Ace Frehley, which should indicate immediately how much fucked-up shit goes on here, although it's not sadistic fucked-up shit like in 'The Dirt', cuz Ace usually falls flat on his face (LITERALLY) before anything really sinister can happen. (A recurring theme in the book is Ace's inability to compete for favors from groupies with even the lowliest assistant lighting technicians) Peter Criss is revealed as a surprisingly mean-spirited megalomaniac in that Mafia-type way unique to NYC (cf Spector), while there is a surprising amount of sympathy for Simmons, or perhaps incredulity that somebody of his somewhat authoritarian nature would put up with the antics of idiots like Criss and Frehley for eight years. In one encouter Ace is bested by his tour keyboard player's Dad. TKPD: 'Ace what's your solo album called?' AF: ''Trouble Walkin'. You know, as in 'James Dean', y'know?' TKPD: 'Oh, I thought it meant 'Trouble Walkin'' as in you had too much beer'

― dave q, Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)

No, please, scribble away. It will make entertaining reading when you send it back.
I'll check for it tonight in my bookshelves and let you know.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

your faith in the legibility of my handwriting may soon be undermined!

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex in NYC, Songbook will remain a letdown to the last page. (And if you think the book's boring, wait'll you hear the CD)

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Yep, which is why you should buy or steal a copy of 'Kiss and Tell' by Gordon Gebert ASAP!

And Kiss and Sell by Chris Lendt. VERY entertaining.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

How are we defining "modern" here?

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 12 March 2003 01:12 (twenty-two years ago)

i was thinking from 1975 onwards really i.e. post-Pistols

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 01:48 (twenty-two years ago)

No Beatles. No Oum Kalthoum. No Varese. :`(

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 12 March 2003 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Not mentioned here yet -

The Accidental Evolution Of Rock'n'Roll by Chuck Eddy - covers pre-75 stuff too but is philosophically applicable to post.
The Nation's Favourite by Simon Garfield - why UK pop is the shape it is (partly)
Ask by Paul Morley - how to talk to pop stars / how to talk about pop.

Pre-75 but a MUST READ!

Rock Dreams by Nik Cohn and Guy Peelaert

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Bad news Aaron - I don't have Blissed Out. I am an idiot and got it confused with another book. Sorry. :(

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

no need to aplogize... thanks very much for looking! :-)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

altered state by matthew collin (i think) is a fairly interesting account of pill culture in britain

― robin (robin), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

orbitz
garden decor

― Snand, Thursday, 27 April 2006 00:11 (nineteen years ago)

Loan
public record

― Andtil, Sunday, 30 April 2006 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

six years pass...

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life takes readers behind the velvet rope and inside A-list nightlife. At thirty-five, Destiny Day is at the top of her game. Having escaped her hardscrabble beginnings in the small Midwestern town she calls “East Boogie, Illinois,” she is the savviest sister walking around in a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. As New York’s premiere party promoter, she has glitz, riches, and steers clear of any man who threatens to cramp her style. Her parties, held at the hippest clubs, are packed with hip-hop royalty; top celebs from the worlds of sports, film, and fashion; and New York’s most successful power brokers. Destiny’s personal life takes a backseat to her career, but she’s got two best friends and a string of men to keep her satisfied. However, when she meets Taye Crawford, an independent financial advisor, at one of her own fantastic parties, Destiny finds herself moving in a direction she never anticipated.

― how's life, Sunday, 13 January 2013 23:24 (thirteen years ago)

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