4 comments about Signifying Rappers: Rap and Race in the Urban Present.

1. costello and wallace examine rap culture and rappers as they influence our society. although at times it seems like they are being narrow minded, this book examines what shapes society and how society can react to these things. the book goes well beyond merely rap music and examines how society is influenced and how it influences. anyone who reads this and sees it as simply a look at rap music is missing the entire point of the book.



2. David Foster Wallace and Mark Costello are too cute by half in this book, and it is horribly out of date. (Just to give an idea, A Tribe Called Quest, who were considered an elder statesman group when they broke up two years ago, had not yet released an album when this book was published.) But most of the analysis of rap's place within popular culture remains somehow applicable to the current scene if you are willing to do a bunch of critical work along the same lines and ignore the dumber flights of fancy. Still a fun book to read and a fun book to debate. Not to be missed if you remember when LL Cool J was good and you have read anything by a master of postmodern philosophy.



3. i am actually doing a report on rap and selected this book expecting some insight...i was surprised. it seems like some of this was even just put here to take up space; i was dissapointed, expecting something better from costello. a point of view not needed in most situations. of course, ten years ago it might have been close to adequate--now it seems totally inadequate to use in my report.



4. Yes this book is outdated, and yes this book is wordy, but thats what makes it so great. This is an exploration of two nerdy white guys resting on the cusp of what we now know was an cultural explosion, and one which they seem to have known, though at the time it had nothing to do with them that it soon would have eveything to do with them and us too. Furthermore some of the forecasting that they do is so right on its scary..
   These guys are taliking agbout NWA like its current because it was current! Take this book as an opportunity to view one of those rare historical accounts that happens before the storm and seems to have something good to say about why it started raining in the first place..

5 comments about The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart.

1. This book is wonderful. It's entertaining, but so much more than that. Willie's wisdom is priceless. I learned some valuable things from reading this book, such as taking the time to appreciate the present moment and accepting things the way they are.
   I originally borrowed this book from the library, but I had to buy it because it's the kind of book that you want to read again and again.



2. Easy read, Simple words from a simple man, Willie Nelson. Lots of good advice for taking life easy. Makes a good gift.



3. I've enjoyed reading The Tao of Willie very much. It's full of wisdom and humor and gives you the feeling that you know Willie personal.



4. Just another fun, creative, heart-warming piece from Willie. He takes all the wisdom for happiness to fill the heart, and from his creative music, and from his personal life/s (he's had more than his share), and turns out a nice, relaxing philosophical tome for pleasurable, meaningful, comfortable reading. It's not academic, just some guidelines for living a good life and information about how Willie turned out to be Willie. I liked it and glad that I bought it. As the sign sez in Luck, Texas: "If you're not here, you're out of luck..."



5. Gotta love Willie. He is just down to earth-real and very compassionate. I loaned the book to a friend, so I havent gotten all the way through, but I liked what I read so far.

1 comments about Country Living Pumpkin Chic: Decorating with Pumpkins & Gourds (Country Living).

1. If you like pumpkins, squash, gourds, etc., this book has lovely photography and interesting ideas on different displays.
   
   I would compare the high quality of style and photography to a level with the type of work you see from Martha Stewart.
   
   Nice little book.

No comments about Behind the Grand Ole Opry Curtain: Tales of Romance and Tragedy.

5 comments about Bound for Glory (Plume).

1. This was a really great book. It's hard to believe one man would be so talented as both songwriter and autobiographer. It all had a very Beat feel to it, but I might actually like it better than On The Road because it's got all the fantastic enthusiasm for living, but it's so completely devoid of pretense. It immediately jumped into my top 5.



2. Essential reading for those that need a deeper understanding. There are many poetic passages, sad stories and a great reference to what America is like for those who were poor and often at odds with their country. This is a book that holds up so well today and will make you want more. Dylan probably brought you here in the first place. You won't be disappointed. Everybody should read this book.



3. if you area woody guthrie fan you will love this book. well done. it would be a good book for anyone who is interested in music or our country when it was younger.



4. This book written by Woody Guthrie was also made into a movie. The movie starred David Carradine and Randy Quaid among others. I have never seen the movie and I had little idea what this book was about until I opened it up and started reading.
   I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not simply the story of a famous County singer and songwriter's life, but a "Hobo-ing America" adventure story. It was written in the Mark Twain tradition - with all the down home and backwoods country dialect included.
   I enjoyed this story - it is a "real" story about real people. Woody did a fine job in telling this story.
   The book has great drama and pathos and would be enjoyable reading even if you didn't know who the heck Woody Guthrie was or what he turned into. I read it as a history novel and place it in the category with the "Grapes of Wrath" or "Gone with the Wind".



5. Singer, songwriter and more importantly a voice from the past depicting our nation as it were from the 1920's through the dust bowl and depression 30's to the early years of World War II.
   Woody Guthrie's autobiographical Bound for Glory should be considered a classic, if not already. A literary work of art.
   
   The first half of his biography enlightens the reader as to Woody's many adventures, tragedies and general life as a youth during the 20's and 30's. Some sad, some spirited and above all told with vehemence.
   The remainder of his book is a get-down and travel throughout America by thumb and boxcar, witnessing the poverty, mistreatment and overall life on the rails, farms, "jungle" camps, skid row and waterfronts. A soulful perspective of what existence was really like from one who lived it so long ago.
   
   His songs reflecting this era will live on for many years to come. A gem.

5 comments about A Deeper Blue: The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt (North Texas Lives of Musicians).

1. Hardy's long-awaited biography of Townes Van Zandt pretty much gets everything right. This is an excellent work. Hardy's treatment of Van Zandt's life is appropriately thorough, but it isn't at all tedious. I know that this book was exhaustively researched (and in the interest of disclosure I should say that I contributed some research). It is also clearly a labor of love - Hardy is a fan - but he has not succumbed to the tendencies of so many biographers to gush or to simply list everything he learned over the years about his subject's life.
   What Hardy says about Van Zandt's song "Waitin' Around To Die" is also true about this book: The archetypical story is well-told. To the extent that Van Zandt's story is a sad one, this book, "bears the weight of its seriousness almost effortlessly. . . it is handled so deftly that there is no sense of it being maudlin." But the details of Van Zandt's drinking and drug use are not glossed over or glamorized. Hardy is objective; he doesn't vilify anyone, and he lets the narrative speak for itself.
   This book is well-written, well-organized, insightful and quite moving too. It's the one to read if you're seriously interested in Townes Van Zandt. And you should be.



2. If I had 10 or more years to do the research Hardy has done (and I could write) I would not have done better myself. I could not detect one false note or major factual error in the covering of Townes 52 years. This book is a joy to read and gives a very close account and filling in of many "missing years" that had never been shared before now. The album and song reviews are well done, and the adherence to chronology is most rewarding. Highest recommendation.



3. This is an excellent biography. Townes' story is assuredly a sad one but he left a legacy of unparalleled songs. I actually put off finishing the book for almost a month just because I didn't want to read the end...I already knew what happened but it didn't make reading a detailed account of his last days any easier.
   
   I've also read the other biography out there, To Live's To Fly, and there's simply no comparison. TLTF was largely anecdotal and the author broke a key rule of biography writing by attempting to project his own importance into the story; Hardy has simply done an exhaustive amount of research and cites all of his sources. He presents the story and then steps aside, so this is the one to go with if you want a more factual recounting of Townes' life. 100% worth the price and read if you're a fan, and if you aren't it just might convert you.



4. Hardy has written a meticulous and incisive book on TVZ that is sure to please TVZ fans. I have not read John Kruth's bio on TVZ so I cannot compare the two. Nevertheless, I was quite pleased with the ethos of this bio and am sure other TVZ fans will appreciate it in kind. Despite Hardy's obvious awe of Townes, "A Deeper Blue" does not come off unctuous. It never approaches hagiography, and comes fairly close to being quite objective. Moreover, the narrative methodically unravels, yet is consistently interesting. It is well-written and overall, offers a thorough and compelling portrait of TVZ. I'm glad I bought it.



5. Townes Van Zandt was a cult musician with a lot of demons like mental illness and alcoholism and drug abuse. It's all catalogued here for those who care. He left a lot of recordings, but never quite achieved the kind of fame he may have deserved. I'm not sure how thoroughly this book was researched, because I know of at least one manager of Van Zandt's who is not even mentioned. Still, it's unlikely that anything better will be done for a long time.

5 comments about Guitar Chord Bible: Over 500 Illustrated Chords for Rock, Blues, Soul, Country, Jazz, and Classical.

1. Without going into a lot of detail...this is THE guitar chord book. Loaded with chords, explanations, fretting pictures, styles.
   
   ...if you looking for a thorough chord listing, this is definately it!



2. This was purchased as a gift and was appreciated by its content and quality. I am pleased with the service and response from the recipient.



3. This was a Christmas present for our son and he loves it! All the cords at his fingertips. Great for a self-taught guitarist.



4. This book is worth its weight in gold... It is an awesome resource for those who think they know it all and those who harly know anything at all, like myself.



5. This has a huge variety of chords, and lives up to its name well. If you are in the market for a good book of guitar chords, check this one out. You won't be disappointed.

5 comments about The Facts of Life: and Other Dirty Jokes.

1. Willie Nelson Should stick with singing and thats that. I Did not find this book enjoable at all I do not recomend it at all.
   
   
   If you liked this book check out all of Willie Nelson's, Books, Music & Movies.



2. This is an easy summer read that offers some unique insights into the mind of the legendary Willie Nelson. It has a lot of song lyrics, a few jokes and lots of personal anecdotes from his life on the road. It's not great literature, but it's fun and, what the heck, Willie needs the money!



3. My son asked for this for Christmas. He really knows country music and is no fan of pop. He only wants the true country and the real soul of country music and stories. If this were not the real thing he would not have asked for it. If he recommends it, you can take it to the bank.



4. Got this for my dad who is a huge Willie fan and I thought he had everything of Willie's - but this one he didn't and was very impressed to see we had found something he hadn't seen before. He enjoyed reading it and found it funny.



5. Willie is able to give the reader insight into his personality in a funny and entertaining way making the reader want to keep reading! The book is full of information about the singer/songwriter and has some truly great lines and jokes!

3 comments about Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited (33 1/3).

1. Good read. This was the type of book I expected when I bought "A Season in Hell: THe making of 'Exile on Main Street'". "Highway 61 ..." is really about the making of the album. Though the album does not compare, in my opinion with "Free Wheelin" and "The Times..", some of the songs are among my Favorite Dylan compositions". The book seems to answer the question as to which Fourth Street (Minneapolis or NYC) is referred to in "Positively ...". And I enjoyed the Al Kooper opinion that Desolation Row was the pre Guiliani 8th Avenue. Also didn't know that a Hanging of African Americans took place in Duluth, MN. Can't get too much further North than Duluth.
   If you are a Dylan Fan,Read this Book.



2. This is the best of the 331/3 series - I'm a dylan freak who's read all the books, yet this has new information (from interviews with Bob Johnston, Al Kooper and others) and insights galore into what was going on in dylan's private and public life and how that found it's way into the lyrics and music of Highway 61. I was sorry to reach the end and wish Mark would write a similar volume on Blonde on Blonde.



3. This is the best book ever written about Bob Dylan, and one of the best books I've ever read. Polizzotti writes beautifully; he also knows more and understands more than any other Dylanologist I know.
   
   Charles Kaiser

5 comments about The Elton John Keyboard Book.

1. This book has revolutionized the way I play the keyboard. Often times, printed sheet music is only a loose guide for what is actually played on a recorded track. This book is almost verbatim what Elton is playing on the original recored versions of the tracks. This book is a definite for any serious musician and or Elton fan. It is very accurate and wonderful for an average player and for a seasoned player to expound upon and improvise. I agree with another reviewer that they should publish volume 2 for sure!!! and 3 and 4!!!



2. I am interested in getting the original EJ piano music as I had a similar inclusive book years ago- and I HATE the silly chord melody arrangements-
   BUT AMAZON NEEDS TO LIST WHAT ALL THE SONGS ARE SOMEWHERE just like they do in a CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get with it Amazon- it is hard to buy when you do not know what is in there!



3. These songs are the real thing-written by SEJ himself! The level is intermediate to advanced but I am going to enjoy the challenge.



4. This book has exactly what Elton John plays on the piano, for pretty much all of his best songs. It even includes some of the other instrumental parts if you want to incorporate some of them into your playing. Awesome stuff for anyone who wants to learn to accompany these songs. Elton John was quite a good pianist though so some of the parts can be quite hard if you're not a competent piano player.



5. I just received the three books and they are great. As you progress reading and listening to what you play, you can recognize their notes (BJ, EJ, Beatles) as actually performed. Great to see how those songs come out from your hands and piano!!!
   But..Song for Guy is missing!!! May be in a next edition. They are worth your money.