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Guida ragionevole al frastuono più atroce by Wu Ming 1, Greil Marcus, Lester Bangs, Anna Mioni
zacharyfoote's review against another edition
4.0
i mean yeah there're a few misfires but bangs at his best knew what r'n'r was, or what it was supposed to be.
cnadeau's review against another edition
5.0
One of my all time favorite books, so my review will be undoubtedly filled with gushing bias and admiration...
Record reviews and cultural criticism in the hands of a burroughs fanatic. I'm not saying doc benway makes any appearances or anything, but... oh wait, he does. The amazing quality of Bangs' writing hinged on his ability to believe one hundred percent in the opinions he strove to prove, question himself in the process (while still believing in himself without question) and completely flip flop his opinion to something different a month later.
His early appreciation for iconoclastic underground rock/punk figures like Iggy Pop/ Lou Reed and screaming about forgotten heroes of the mid 60s like the Troggs or the Count Five... his voice howled the truth by way of the underground of the counterculture in the wilderness of the bloviating mainstream 70s.
Record reviews and cultural criticism in the hands of a burroughs fanatic. I'm not saying doc benway makes any appearances or anything, but... oh wait, he does. The amazing quality of Bangs' writing hinged on his ability to believe one hundred percent in the opinions he strove to prove, question himself in the process (while still believing in himself without question) and completely flip flop his opinion to something different a month later.
His early appreciation for iconoclastic underground rock/punk figures like Iggy Pop/ Lou Reed and screaming about forgotten heroes of the mid 60s like the Troggs or the Count Five... his voice howled the truth by way of the underground of the counterculture in the wilderness of the bloviating mainstream 70s.
allie8973's review against another edition
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
mmelibertine's review against another edition
5.0
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.
kaitlinmcnabb's review against another edition
5.0
Some quintessential Bangs here.
I have read these essays so many time just for the pure enjoyment because I'm pretty sure I still don't understand what he is writing about, but many can he write.
I have read these essays so many time just for the pure enjoyment because I'm pretty sure I still don't understand what he is writing about, but many can he write.
floralinsanity's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
kalyx's review against another edition
2.0
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.
juvation's review against another edition
5.0
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!)