33 1/3 Series of books

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i've given up halfway through the daydream nation book. really obviously padded with waffle, hardly any insight whatsoever, entirely pedestrian interview segments and written in the most annoying authorial 'voice' this side of pitchfork.

― stevie, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 09:32 (nineteen years ago)

there s an AJA one coming out isn't there? can't wait.

how's the ABBA GOLD one?

― pisces, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 10:52 (nineteen years ago)

Tom should have written it.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 10:54 (nineteen years ago)

I thought the Abba Gold one was good.

― the next grozart, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 11:01 (nineteen years ago)

It was kind of weird in that it *didn't* assume the readers were already converted and spent a bit too much time semi-apologetically establishing ABBA as a great band. I guess there were quite a few people who bought ABBA Gold itself as a kind-of ironic joke but they're unlikely to buy a book about it! So it was slightly frustrating, though if you want a beginners guide to ABBA it's pretty good.

I also think it missed an opportunity to talk about compilations, especially as it now looks like it's the only 33 1/3 book that will be about one.

― Groke, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 11:04 (nineteen years ago)

right yeah that's what i feared. the LAST thing i want a beginner's guide to is abba.

― pisces, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 11:14 (nineteen years ago)

What else would you want, in this series?

Yeah, mostly true. Though the Murmur book is about half interpretation and analysis and the author pulls it off really well.

Oh, Aja book sounds great. Although I don't know what they could add to it that the Aja film didn't cover.

― Bill in Chicago, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 12:50 (nineteen years ago)

Can we start some kind of master list on the GREAT books of the series? They're too expensive for me to just do trial-and-error with, even though some of them are about some of my favorite albums.

― Reatards Unite, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

I thoroughly enjoyed the 'Bee Thousand' GBV entry - can't recall the author's name, but he made the book engaging and interesting at all times. I especially liked his touch of incorporating several 'listener accounts' of fave songs, gut reactions, reminiscing, etc.

Just picked up the 'Daydream Nation' SY entry - about a quarter of the way through and it's just not grabbing me so far. Maybe I want it to put me in a magic state of mind for the ATM/Pfork performance coming up in July. So stoked for that!

― BlackIronPrison, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:26 (nineteen years ago)

Or more specifically, can someone let me know how these are (some of them may not be out yet, I'm just looking at a list of all titles):

Prince - Sign O the Times
The Replacements - Let It Be
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street (!!)
REM - Murmur
David Bowie - Low
The Byrds - Notorious Byrd Brothers
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Pixies - Doolittle
Stone Roses - Stone Roses
Nirvana - In Utero
Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Going On
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica (!!)
Guns N Roses - Use Your Illusion

― Reatards Unite, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

the sly stone one is amazing.

― stevie, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, which ones are about the record itself? I was very tempted to get the Replacements one until I read the reviews that it was a "coming-of'age" memoir about the author who listened to the record.

― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:46 (nineteen years ago)

even worse: it's written by the Decemberists guy

― Mr. Que, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:48 (nineteen years ago)

the sly stone one has only the slightest bit of autobiog, and it actually helps illuminate the album. and it is very well written too - can't reccommend it enough.

― stevie, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

there's a whole thread about MATOS's book on 'sign o the times' somewhere i think. it got raves in the press and its brilliant. the IN UTERO is also ace.

― pisces, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

Trout Mask book is a little disappointing, but I still read it in a day.
The author has written a book on Zappa, so there's a lot of that. At least one factual error about Steve Reich's "Come Out" that is really glaring, but I think it's attributable to one of the ladies in the GTO's.
A good read, nonetheless.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

I also think it missed an opportunity to talk about compilations

it actually talked a lot about compilations, specifically how Gold was put together etc. it's a terrific book.

― Matos W.K., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 17:20 (nineteen years ago)

Well, it should have talked about them even more then. I did read it on an overnight flight back from the EMP though, so I will re-read and own up if I was wrong.

― Groke, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 17:23 (nineteen years ago)

Has anyone read the Guns 'n' Roses book? I wasn't sure if I'd like this one (I'm not a huge GNR fan at all) but the author had an interesting take on the GNR phenomenon of the early 90s.

― Nik, Sunday, 6 May 2007 21:18 (nineteen years ago)

especially as it now looks like it's the only 33 1/3 book that will be about one.

I enjoyed what I read of it in that sampler book (which, for whatever reason, I thought would be a collection of FULL books, buyer beware and/or actually know what you're purchasing first -- but this is a good idea since buying lots of individual books can be daunting, and doesn't let me read about albums I'm not already interested in). But it was frustrating that 33 1/3 chose a compilation when ABBA has several excellent albums to choose from (it's not like they aren't covering other artists whose catalogue makes picking one album almost impossible). That in itself seemed somewhat apologetic, though the history/song selection process (that I've read about so far anyway) was interesting. I'd like to see a history of ABBA that refuses to engage with them only as a "singles band" (especially in a format devoted to albums).

― dabug, Sunday, 6 May 2007 22:55 (nineteen years ago)

*releasing compilations with several full books, I mean. Although it would probably be fairly expensive.

― dabug, Sunday, 6 May 2007 22:56 (nineteen years ago)

GOLD IS AN ALBUM

― Dimension 5ive, Sunday, 6 May 2007 23:19 (nineteen years ago)

So what was the GNR book like, Nik? Was there much about the making of the actual albums? I AM a big GNR fan, but I could see how an author could easily mess up a book about the Illusion albums.

― Reatards Unite, Sunday, 6 May 2007 23:46 (nineteen years ago)

I read Eric's Use Your Illusion book not long ago: not bad at all; a nicely ambivalent book. The track-by-track analysis is quite useful.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 6 May 2007 23:53 (nineteen years ago)

I read the Music From Big Pink book last week. Definitely a page-turner. The author wrote his appreciation in the form of a novella from the perspective of a young man who dealt drugs to The Band. The parts about the music were worthwhile, but what really struck me was how vividly it depicted the tragic consequences of the disconnect between the Greatest Generation and their Baby Boomer offspring.

― Fitzcarraldo, Sunday, 6 May 2007 23:56 (nineteen years ago)

OTM, stevie, the Daydream Nation one was bad--i've read six or so of the titles and 1/2 are good, 1/2 bad

― iago g., Monday, 7 May 2007 00:30 (nineteen years ago)

Prince - Sign O the Times
If you are looking for a making-of book, then get Posessed. This is a pretty personal book, and while I like Matos' writing elsewhere, I think I wanted something different than what this book offered. I didn't really find Matos' critical analysis of the album itself to be illuminating but that wasn't (to me) what the book was about.

The Replacements - Let It Be
I was so disappointed in this one even though I really related to Meloy's experience a lot. The problem--which Jim Walsh will rectify shortly, I hope-- is that the book doesn't touch on the making of the album or even the band.

The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street (!!)
I LOVED this book but I'm kind of a homer because I like Bill Janovitz so much. I loved reading about this book from not only a huge fan, but from a musician's perspective. It's a solid combination of musical authority, historical context, and recording overview.

REM - Murmur
This is probably my favorite. Niimi does a killer job of combining critical analysis, the recording process, and mystification/demystification of the album

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Enjoyable, historical thingie.

Pixies - Doolittle
This one is also good, if nothing else because it's kind of a dream assignment: the writer gets in the car with Frank Black for a few days and they drive around talking about the album. It's well done.

Nirvana - In Utero
I really thought this one started out awkwardly but got better as it progressed. It's a pretty straight forward making-of.

Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Going On
I'm reading this one right now and like it.

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
I think this book could have been better, writing-wise. But it's an album so near and dear to my heart, and I'm thankful a big fan like Mike could write it. The bulk of it is very good.

Don't buy the Radiohead album.

― Dandy Don Weiner, Monday, 7 May 2007 00:33 (nineteen years ago)

The GNR book definitely includes a making of, but a lot of it is also kind of an ode to the lost potential of GNR - he definitely calls 'em on their numerous missteps. It kind of examines the notion of popular success in general and I think at one point he calls Use Your Illusion kind of the lack "mega" blockbuster album (forgive the paraphrase, he definitely had a better label for it but I'm full of decongestants and can't get to my book right now). Anyway, it's definitely a decent read if you ever liked GNR.

― Nik, Monday, 7 May 2007 03:58 (nineteen years ago)

Don, I agree the Mats book isn't a fine one if you're looking for info on the band, but I still really liked Colin Meloy's melancholy evocation of his boyhood. He certainly evokes what the mid-80s felt like if you were a young artsy-fartsy outkast kind of fella in a small town. It's one of my favorites of the series (although I'd still like a more straightforward Replacements book too)

― Nik, Monday, 7 May 2007 03:59 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

I just finished the GNR book and I'm sorry, I gotta call bullshit. The chapters where Weisbard chronicles his own ascent to Critic Valhalla are boring, and the track-by-track is pretty much just him going "haha I never should have written this book because these records mostly suck." I hear he is a top guy -- and he comes around here sometimes too, so probably just shooting myself in the foot here if I ever thought about presenting at the conference or whatever -- but he had an opportunity to do something cool and I think he mailed it in.

Is this bitterness because the fat dead Hawaiian ukulele dude book was greenlighted but my Cheap Trick proposal never had a chance? OF COURSE. But all the stuff about "oh here's what Jon Pareles said" and "I worked for Bob Guccione Jr. and he was nice to me so Axl is a dickbag"...I ain't buyin' it.

― Dimension 5ive, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 15:05 (eighteen years ago)

That's a shame to hear, because I could totally see a great book being written about the Use Your Illusions (obviously, since I started this thread, and should probably re-do it as a poll).

I came the conclusion a while back that the best possible 33 1/3 book I could write would probably be about Pearl Jam's Vitalogy, although I don't think I could ever bring myself to pitch it and possibly go through with re-living my grunge adolescence like that and be the guy who wrote a book about Pearl Jam. But it would be awesome.

― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 15:41 (eighteen years ago)

SOMEONE among our generation needs to do this

― strongohulkington, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 15:50 (eighteen years ago)

the grunge book will be a big success when it finally drops

― strongohulkington, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 15:50 (eighteen years ago)

never forget

― Jordan, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 15:51 (eighteen years ago)

Seriously. I just hope that when someone does do a Pearl Jam book, it's about one of crazy pretentious albums like Vitalogy or No Code and not boring old Ten, my whole theory being that a band's weirdest or most indulgent album would make a way better book than their biggest or best. (xpost)

― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 15:53 (eighteen years ago)

Did Geeta's Eno book come out?

― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 15:54 (eighteen years ago)

I'm pretty sure Perpetua pitched Vitalogy this go-round.

― jaymc, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:27 (eighteen years ago)

(And suffice it to say didn't get in.)

― jaymc, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:28 (eighteen years ago)

so, anybody read aja?

― original bgm, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:33 (eighteen years ago)

I think next time I'll pitch The Weirdness.

― da croupier, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:34 (eighteen years ago)

oh wait, they already did a stooges book. fuck!

― da croupier, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:35 (eighteen years ago)

I thought about pitching August and Everything After.

― fukasaku tollbooth, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:36 (eighteen years ago)

jess you should pitch flipper.

― da croupier, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:36 (eighteen years ago)

DEAD MILKMEN BIG LIZARD IN MY BACKYARD WOULD SELL 15 COPIES GUARANTEED

― Dimension 5ive, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

I liked the Aja book. It delves very heavily into music theory which I thought was very interesting (how the fuck did they make those crazy chord progressions?) but not enough to turn people off.

My favorite so far is the Low book. Best written also. Stories of Bowie surviving solely on milk, coke and cigarettes == priceless.

― Bill in Chicago, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:42 (eighteen years ago)

haha Perpetua, dammit! actually I'm generally cool with him when he's writing about cheesy 90's alt-rock, so I'd probably read that. same reason I'd probably read a Counting Crows book. in theory, at least, the only 33 1/3 I've actually read so far was SOTT, but I might have to get that Aja one.

― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

im kind of addicted to these things but i'm reaching the diminishing returns point now that i've moved outside of the writers i know already enjoy

― strongohulkington, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

ooh when did the AJA book come out? is it available in UK?

― pisces, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

wow, I really don't think I can finish the Daydream Nation book.

― Dandy Don Weiner, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 19:27 (eighteen years ago)

The guy who is writing the Master of Reality book posts here, and I am really looking forward to that. If he's reading this, could you provide the ETA?

Thanks.

― Bill Magill, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 20:04 (eighteen years ago)

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