Scan barcode
_thenoiselandarcade's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
charlottereadshistory's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
My rule of thumb, based on what I've observed over my long career is that [pop songs] are either about death or love. The difference with Goth music? They're usually about death and love in the same song
'A memoir of a subculture' is how Tolhurst sets out his history of Goth, and makes no apologies for concentrating on the bands, events, places and influences he has direct experience with.
What he sets out is a look at some of the literary, musical and religious influences of Goth, set against the late 1970s depression. A truncated history of the creation of and his time in the Cure, and the emergency of post-punk and new wave in the UK and the US. Tolhurst recounts interesting stories from his time with Siouxie and the Banshees, Depeche Mode and Bauhaus and reflects on the inspirations behind musical and lyrical choices and the thoughts and feelings behind them.
As a '90s kid who grew up with a home life soundtracked by many of the bands mentioned, it was thought-provoking to look at the genre from the inside out, rather than passively experiencing it.
I will be lending it to my dad 😂
ursineultra's review against another edition
1.0
This isnt a history of goth, it's a collection of poorly written essays about things that Tolhurst likes. When it isn't reading like rewritten Wikipedia entries, it's a memoir in which the author mythologises his own life and tries his hardest to make your eyes roll so hard your pupils retreat into your skull and never return. At one point we are treated to a bit of talk about the construction of the Humber Bridge, so Tolhurst can say 'I, on the other hand, was busy burning my bridges'. It's all a bit Alan Partridge.
The Joy Division chapter is particularly terrible. After describing every minute interaction the author had with the band (and even a boring story about buying their record) and telling us repeatedly that something wasn't quite right with Ian Curtis (mindblowing, I know) there is an inexplicable track by track runthrough of their albums, with analysis running as deep as describing what the songs sound like in 20 words or less. What's the point of this? Who is this for?
Also, I'm pretty sure there are more pictures in this book of Tolhurst than there are of the band's he's supposedly talking about. The author definitely puts the lol in Lol Tolhurst, at least.
Again, this book is supposed to be a history of goth, and it really, really isn't that. In the afterword, Tolhurst even admits this, but by then it's too late and I've already read all this useless, self-aggrandizing shite. Truly awful.
The Joy Division chapter is particularly terrible. After describing every minute interaction the author had with the band (and even a boring story about buying their record) and telling us repeatedly that something wasn't quite right with Ian Curtis (mindblowing, I know) there is an inexplicable track by track runthrough of their albums, with analysis running as deep as describing what the songs sound like in 20 words or less. What's the point of this? Who is this for?
Also, I'm pretty sure there are more pictures in this book of Tolhurst than there are of the band's he's supposedly talking about. The author definitely puts the lol in Lol Tolhurst, at least.
Again, this book is supposed to be a history of goth, and it really, really isn't that. In the afterword, Tolhurst even admits this, but by then it's too late and I've already read all this useless, self-aggrandizing shite. Truly awful.
wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
🦇 The vibe: The darkness in me finds kinship in the darkness in you.
I have been a fan of The Cure for a very long time. Their darkly emotional, witty, and intelligent lyrics paired with melodic and carefully crafted musical arrangements have always resonated with me. So, as one of the formative bands of the musical and cultural subgenre known as Goth, what inspired and called to their darkness? Goth: A History is part musical memoir and part personal exploration of the art, music, and literature that inspired The Cure. Tolhurst goes into some depth on specific literary influences, namely TS Eliot, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Sylvia Plath, and Anne Sexton. I found the section on musical influences quite illuminating. I never would have thought that bands like The Doors or Nico would have had such a profound impact on The Cure's music, but Tolhurst explains the why and how with succinctness and clarity. However, my favorite section of Goth was "Part Two: Eternals," wherein Tolhurst goes into detailed discussion of bands Joy Division, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Cure's own music from the late 70s to 80s (all of my favorites!). This section in particular transported me to the dark dingy and loud clubs of Manchester and London, listening to these bands as if I was there.
While the book is billed as a "deep-dive" into the origins of Goth music, I would have appreciated even more historical musical and literary exploration. However, in comparison to what is available, Goth is impressively comprehensive in it's scope. The audiobook is read by Tolhurst, and the only downside is that his voice does not impart much inflection and can come across as monotone. I'd suggest taking breaks between chapters, maybe to listen to some Joy Division or Bauhaus, in order to maintain attention and not lose interest in the audio narration. Would absolutely recommend for those interested in this particular post-punk subculture or fans of The Cure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Drug use, and Drug abuse
wildgurl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Boring Boring Boring, sadly. The short bio/history of bands Tolhurst considered Goth was fun to read, and I learned some things I did not know before reading this. But it felt so dry and flat......