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ursineultra's review against another edition
2.0
Repetitive, dull and overly long, much like most of Mogwai's output for the past twenty years. The final chapter is very sweet, at least.
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug abuse
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
fjh's review
3.0
A mixed review. This is my second attempt to review, it seems to duplicate my reads?
Anyway, not enough focus on the creative process for me overall. Clue in the title I guess, but I would have wanted more on this aspect and less on the hedonism. A very Scottish thing, downplay the positives and focus on the negatives! The book ends in 2011 sadly with the passing of Stuart’s father, so I hope there may be more of the latter (mature) Mogwai to follow, where their best music occurs.
Anyway, not enough focus on the creative process for me overall. Clue in the title I guess, but I would have wanted more on this aspect and less on the hedonism. A very Scottish thing, downplay the positives and focus on the negatives! The book ends in 2011 sadly with the passing of Stuart’s father, so I hope there may be more of the latter (mature) Mogwai to follow, where their best music occurs.
jm85's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed Stuart's autobiography, which probably isn't a huge surprise given I've been following Mogwai for years.
I like how this book introduced me to new bands and their music, has given me some insight into some of Mogwai's ostensibly random song titles, and just look me along for the wild ride for part of their musical career(s).
Lots of funny rock n roll anecdotes, many tour hijinks, but also some poignant family moments and reflections.
What more can the heart of a Mogwai fan desire?
(A follow-up autobiography that picks up after Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will - please and thank you!)
I like how this book introduced me to new bands and their music, has given me some insight into some of Mogwai's ostensibly random song titles, and just look me along for the wild ride for part of their musical career(s).
Lots of funny rock n roll anecdotes, many tour hijinks, but also some poignant family moments and reflections.
What more can the heart of a Mogwai fan desire?
(A follow-up autobiography that picks up after Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will - please and thank you!)
nearit's review
funny
fast-paced
2.5
I do love to blaze through a music bio but here as in so many other cases I found myself wishing that a slower and more methodical edit had been carried out before I got started. The usual pet peeve is that the author will repeat anecdotes or bits of information like a nervous conversational gambit, and there's plenty of that here, e.g. the repeated mentions of having dinner with John Peele when he was in town to film Sound of the Suburbs, most of which are framed as though this is the first time we have presented with this information.
Another funny thing about books like this is that the balance of detail tells you a lot about what parts of a musician's career are considered commercially interesting. Again, Spaceships Over Glasgow is typical in this regard, in that we spend most of our time on Mogwai's earlier, messier days, where bad decisions and audience nostalgia mix most freely in the page. I'm not quite as sad to have missed Braithwaite's reflections on life as a label boss and member of a workingband as I was to not spend more time in Bob Mould's sexy bear era, but I would have been up for more recent history all the same.
Regardless of these gripes, Braithwaite is a funny guy with a healthy amount of perspective on his gobshite years, and his commitment to art that tries to draw moments out to eternity is contagious and commendable. As someone a few years younger than Braithwaite who also grew up dreaming of New York and Metropolis while living just outside of Glasgow, the early chapters made old feelings vivid again, but I couldn't help but feel that there was a better version of the book trying to get out of this draft, one that wound a couple of threads from those early days through the late 90s headonism with a bit more clarity.
Another funny thing about books like this is that the balance of detail tells you a lot about what parts of a musician's career are considered commercially interesting. Again, Spaceships Over Glasgow is typical in this regard, in that we spend most of our time on Mogwai's earlier, messier days, where bad decisions and audience nostalgia mix most freely in the page. I'm not quite as sad to have missed Braithwaite's reflections on life as a label boss and member of a workingband as I was to not spend more time in Bob Mould's sexy bear era, but I would have been up for more recent history all the same.
Regardless of these gripes, Braithwaite is a funny guy with a healthy amount of perspective on his gobshite years, and his commitment to art that tries to draw moments out to eternity is contagious and commendable. As someone a few years younger than Braithwaite who also grew up dreaming of New York and Metropolis while living just outside of Glasgow, the early chapters made old feelings vivid again, but I couldn't help but feel that there was a better version of the book trying to get out of this draft, one that wound a couple of threads from those early days through the late 90s headonism with a bit more clarity.
fionnquigleycrossan's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
Great for fans of mogwai and very informative about Glasgow as a musical city. not particularly well written though
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