pious?

Our Band Could Be Your Life

The story of the American indie underground in the eighties as told through short biographies of some of the leading lights of the scene.
I really enjoyed at least half of these short bios, as some of the bands had fascinating interpersonal struggles, financial problems and made great music.
However, the author made some odd decisions. Your band is only indie if your records are recorded for an indie label who used only indie distribution? A pointless distinction if you ask me. If, as I suspect, he only did this to avoid covering REM for the millionth time, then why not just say that?
Why, also, decide to not cover the major label careers of the bands that he does write about beyond a brief sneery paragraph or two about how none of their records were as good once they took money from the big boys?
Why spend countless pages wittering on about the idealism of certain bands? Sure they had admirable politics, that’s great, I want to read about the music too at some point though.
Maybe I’m too comfortably cynical about the music business as a whole but the whole concept of indie purity just seems silly to me nowadays. So I’m docking points for his pious devotion to his precious hardcore band’s purity.
Otherwise highly recommended for those with an interest in 80’s underground indie music.

Rating: A-

A-, Biography, Books, Music, Music Criticism, Non-Fiction, Rated

A-, Biography, Books, Music, Music Criticism, Non-Fiction, Rated
22:50, January 15th 2007

other half?

Earth, Air, Fire and Custard

The last book of the Paul Carpenter trilogy further illustrates the law of diminishing returns, so much so that the last third of the book struck me as utterly incoherent.
I can only say that it was a reasonably enjoyable ride for all it’s incoherence, but that I’m very glad that he’s stopped writing about Carpenter now and I don’t have to buy any more books in the series. (Being a completist is a bitch).
If you like Tom Holt, have read the first two, and don’t mind the random pointless, incoherent plot twists too much then you’ll probably feel like you haven’t wasted your time reading this.

Rating: B-

B-, Books, Humour, Rated, fantasy

B-, Books, Humour, Rated, fantasy
20:56, January 12th 2007

21?

Top 20 Albums of 2006

King Creosote – KC Rules OK
Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther
Thom Yorke – The Eraser
Saint Jude’s Infirmary – Happy Healthy Lucky Month
Youth Group – Skeleton Jar
Cat Power – The Greatest
Joanna Newsom – Ys
The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
M Ward – Post-War
My Latest Novel – Wolves
Scott Walker – The Drift
Stuart A Staples – Leaving Songs
Secret Machines – Ten Silver Drops
Espers – II
Califone – Roots & Crowns
TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
Joan As Policewoman – Real Life
Citay – Citay
Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Grant-Lee Phillips – NineteenEighties

Music, Year End Round-up

Music, Year End Round-up
15:54, January 4th 2007

32?

Books Read in 2006

1. Steel Beach – John Varley – B-
2. The Truth – Terry Pratchett – B+
3. Black and Blue – Ian Rankin – A+
4. The Star Fraction – Ken MacLeod A-
5. The Chronoliths – Robert Charles Wilson – A
6. Spin – Robert Charles Wilson – A+
7. Singularity Sky – Charles Stross – B
8. Double Vision – Tricia Sullivan – A-
9. Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds – A
10. Maul – Tricia Sullivan – A-
11. Iron Sunrise – Charles Stross – A
12. Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days – Alastair Reynolds – C
13. Futebol – Alex Bellos – A
14. Under Old Earth and Other Explorations – Cordwainer Smith – C+
15. Microserfs – Douglas Coupland – A
16. The Big Over Easy – Jasper Fforde – C
17. JPod – Douglas Coupland – C+
18. All Fun And Games Until Somebody Loses An Eye – Christopher Brookmyre – A
19. Margrave Of The Marshes – John Peel & Sheila Ravenscroft – B
20. Watchmen – Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons – A
21. The Wrestling – Simon Garfield – B+
22. Miss Wyoming – Douglas Coupland – B+
23. The Salmon Of Doubt – Douglas Adams – C
24. Wintersmith – Terry Pratchett – A-
25. Time Enough For Love – Robert A Heinlein – B+
26. Newton’s Wake – Ken MacLeod – A-
27. M*A*S*H – Richard Hooker – B+
28. The Final Reflection – John M. Ford – B
29. Fargo Rock City – Chuck Klosterman –
30. Espedair Street – Iain Banks B-
31. The Dragon Waiting – John M. Ford – A
32. Hogfather – Terry Pratchett – B

Books, Year End Round-up

Books, Year End Round-up
15:53, January 4th 2007