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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I literally don't understand a word. Read the first chapter but none of the words made any story or had any meaning? So confused
Outstanding. A must read for fans of music in general and rock and roll in particular. Bangs is brilliant, a rambling genius in the vein of Kerouac and Hunter S Thompson. An honest, gripping, hilarious page turner.
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I read a lot of film criticism and immensely enjoy it. This is due to my familiarity with the subject matter. Although, I've yet to see literally hundreds of great works, I'm familiar enough with the subject that I can read essays that reference them without batting an eye. Sadly, Lester Bangs references music that I know absolutely nothing about. This is probably due to his focus on American music, since the few essays I did breeze through were on John Lennon and David Bowie, but I was worn down by the need to stop and look up every artist mentioned to follow. So, this book just was not for me and I gave up after a few essays.
This is a wild and deep ride through the music scene of the 60s and 70s. I wondered how music journalism can be literature but Mr Bangs shows us how. I'm only sorry he accidentally OD'd and didn't survive to "appreciate" the efforts of later artists.
(My favourite bit is his continual effort to start a fight with Lou Reed. Hilarious!)
(My favourite bit is his continual effort to start a fight with Lou Reed. Hilarious!)
It was interesting to see how Bangs's prose could be so prescient and dated at the same time. His narrative energy is palpable, and it's obvious his legacy pervades most music journalism today.
Tried to read this after seeing Almost Famous. Quickly realized that I don't like Lester Bangs.
I picked this up again just to read Bangs' piece on Kraftwerk (RIP Florian) and of course wound up reading the whole thing in one long sleepless night. I feel Lester would have preferred being read that way, somehow XD Anyway, he was a real one. These are still insanely readable and entertaining, if occasionally weirdly libidinous.
