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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I probably should give this four stars instead of five -- it's as inconsistent as the subjects he writes about, it reads like it was slapped together by Greil Marcus in an afternoon (which it probably was), the feud with Lou Reed that occupies the middle third of the book is not nearly as interesting as the two principals would like to have thought, and for a compendium of his greatest work, it doesn't give an image of the man or even the man's career arc ferfucksake, but by god the best parts of this cook with broken-line gas so hot you'll feel like you're being blinded by science, kicked in the heart, slapped in the bunghole and stomped by the sheer awesome ass-kickin-finger-lickin rage of his prose. The opening piece on how the Yardbirds were the beginning of the next great wave of rock and roll that rose with his own social awakenings through the MC5, Iggy Pop, the Godz, Slade, Uncle Lou and (yes) the Count Five sets the tone for all the sowhatwhocares that follows about the Guess Who, Coltrane, James Taylor and the Clash. But maybe the best piece of all is his amazing first-person short story spun from the lyrics of Rod Stewart's greatest hit. Sweet creamery elvis costello in a bucket, but give that boy a bottle of cough syrup and a typewriter and he could give you the friggin' moon and stars.
After seeing Almost Famous three times I knew that I had to actually read Lester Bangs’ work instead of admiringly absorbing it from the mouth of Philip Seymour Hoffman. He writes with clarity and humor (and yes, a great big heaping spoonful of misogyny, but.) Highlights include the Clash piece, the Lou Reed section, and the Stooges piece.
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.
Excellent collection of articles from LB. It made me want to listen more intently to music and really look at what the artists are doing. Bangs had a gonzo style of writing and it is easy to get caught up in his enthusiasm or criticisms. Great for a view of Detroit and New York music scenes in the 70's A voice of a generation that left us to early.
Basically just not my cup of tea? I wanted to learn about the great Lester Bangs. But it was probably folly for a devoted lover of shameless pop to try to care about lengthy ravings about the quality of music from the 60's that is now obscure or like, so well-known that it is a joke (The Troggs). Also, MY GOD SHUT UP
I had never heard of Lester Bangs prior to having this book recommended to me. By the time I finished it, I found myself mourning the loss of what could have been a great author. His reviews are highly entertaining, although they do require a bit of knowledge on the background of the music scene at the time and the bands he wrote about. The piece that grabbed me however, was his fictional story inspired by the song "Maggie May." It really demonstrates what a talented writer he could have become had he not died. The writing in this piece is like a more vulgar Salinger mixed with Kerouac stream of consciousness and Hunter Thompson drugginess.
Thrilled me at 18, makes me sad at 28. Talented and deeply flawed. Has the honor of being nearly perfectly portrayed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, which would have made Bangs super-pissed for no good reason.
Also, I'm forever in his debt for turning me on to Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks." AKA greatest album ever.
Also, I'm forever in his debt for turning me on to Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks." AKA greatest album ever.
Bangs hypnotized me into purchasing, with real cash money, Metal Machine Music.
Rock writing with insight. Unheard of!
I especially enjoyed the piece on The Clash.
I especially enjoyed the piece on The Clash.
Really difficult to read. There is a lack of punctuation, tons of old school slang, and a messy stream-of-conscious writing style. I skipped over a few chapters dedicated to Iggy Pop, the Stooges, and the general punk scene, but music reviews about Van Morrison and David Bowie were magnificent. Also includes random hilarious/poignant anecdotes about life/racism/culture, which are certainly worth a read.