DevO Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 I just came across this on CBC.ca - interesting to read through the comments as well. A log-in is needed to contribute to the discussion there, so I'll just add my favourites here, in order:1) Coming Through Slaughter - Michael Ondaatje2) On A Cold Road - David Bidini3) This Wheel's On Fire - Levon Helm4) Gimme An R! - Brian VollmerThe article:http://www.cbc.ca/books/MT/2010/04/help-create-our-list-of-top-10-books-about-music.htmlHelp create our list of Top 10 Books About MusicIf music be the food of love, play on!Welcome to Music Month with the CBC Book Club. This month is dedicated to all those obsessed with music and books and the ways these two can combine. Fiction, non-fiction, memoir, biographies — we're open to hearing from you about anything you have read that has moved you to think differently about music, your rock idol, your ideas of how music shapes our culture and collective experience, you name it.So here we go with our Top 10 Books About Music list. Write in to tell other readers what is at the top of your list!I'll start by mentioning that I am currently reading The Angel Riots by Ibi Kaslik, a finalist for Ontario's Trillium Book Award last year. It's a compelling story of several young musicians in Montreal who struggle to get their music heard, then struggle amongst themselves as their dream seems within reach. It's raw, it's beautiful and it keeps me flipping pages long past my bedtime. I'm going to track down the author and get her on our site this month.I've also pored over Stuart Berman's This Book Is Broken, which is a fantastic book not only for Broken Social Scene fans but for anyone interested in an oral history of Toronto music and culture of the late '90s and early '00s. As a Torontonian, and a BSS fan, I was impressed by the scope of this book and the intimate details of the musicians' lives. If you're a BSS fan yourself, you'll be glad to know that I plan on getting book recommendations from Jason Collett and Amy Millan, solo musicians who orbit within the BSS universe (and are personal faves).What else can I say? There are so many books that could make it onto this Top 10 Books About Music list. I have high standards, though — do you? Let us know your pick and why you love it and at the end of the month we will have our definitive list of Top 10 Books About Music, as chosen by you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Coming Through Slaughter is a fascinating novella based on the life of turn of the century jazz pioneer, Buddy Bolden. I love the structure and style of the prose, which intentionally resembles improv and free-form. A must-read for all music fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Wish Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 If the skank who "borrowed" my Levon Helm book reads this thread- I'd love to have my book back....please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevO Posted April 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Jaimoe - Agreed, and thanks for the description and picking up the slack where I left off. It's one of my favourite books out there and I often give out copies as gifts. It'd be a great read to go along with the show Treme for those who are just getting into it!NW - That wasn't me, right? Just making sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 I thought Coming Through Slaughter was a bit self indulgentLook what I can do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Im going home Donny Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 I got Friendly, JOHN LENNON - In My Life by Pete Shotton and Nicholas Schaffner. Have only glanced at it up till now. At a glance it appears to be an interesting read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Huxtable Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 I've really enjoyed rock bios as of late and am in search of my next one. So far I've read (in order from my favorite to least favorite)Motley Crue's - DirtSlashI am OzzyOn A Cold Road (not knowing the band affected my enjoyment, not the writing).Kiss and Make Up - Gene Simmons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatpatguy Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records by Canada's own Rob Bowmanthat's my recommendation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Bach, Beethoven and the Boys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Wish Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 If you like that type of book Mrs. Hux (well the first three certainly fit the bill) then the next logical progression is Scar Tissue- Anthony Kiedis or Long Time Gone- David Crosby.The first book that came to mind when I read the first post is "Love is a Mix Tape" by Rob Sheffield. Wonderful little read....."I Slept with Joey Ramone" By Mickey Leigh with Legs McNeil is the most recent music lit piece I've read that has been really great. Go get it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Huxtable Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Yes NW, Scar Tissue is definitely one of the next three. Great suggestion.I loved "Love is a Mixed Tape" as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 I thought Coming Through Slaughter was a bit self indulgentLook what I can do!I agree. I like Ondaatje, but that's not one of my favourite books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevO Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 I thought Coming Through Slaughter was a bit self indulgentLook what I can do! I agree. I like Ondaatje' date=' but that's not one of my favourite books.[/quote'] Really, I didn't see it like that at all. (Or, your favourite Ondaatji book sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 I thought Coming Through Slaughter was a bit self indulgentLook what I can do! I agree. I like Ondaatje' date=' but that's not one of my favourite books.[/quote'] Really, I didn't see it like that at all. (Or, your favourite Ondaatji book sucks. I think of Coming Through Slaughter the same way I think of On The Road and Infinite Jest: a case of style over substance, important and influential in the big picture but not really all that enjoyable on its own merits. Redefining the parameters in which a novel can be written is important and necessary for the furthering of the art, but the novels that break that new ground don't always make for the best reads. A similar example in film would be Easy Rider. One of the most important films of its decade? Absolutely. Largely responsible for redefining what a film could be, do and say? Fer sure. Do I want to suffer through watching it again? No thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Huxtable Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 This thread inspired me to boost up my collection. I just ordered:Memoirs of a Super Freak - Rick JamesHeroin Diaries - Nicky SixxScar Tissue - Anthony KiedisShakey - Neil YoungLife - Keith Richards (pre-order comes out in October)Should get me through the summer. I'm so excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchoulia Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Has anyone else ever read Neil & Me?I read it about 10 years ago and loved it...really interesting perspective on Mr. Young (and Mr. Young Sr., too) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 i read it about 18 yrs ago, remember liking it but not much more than thatWhat Would Keith Richards Do is amusing, but not exactly poignant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Wish Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Ms Hux you and I should swap books, we'd both save alot of money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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