5 comments about Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America.

1. Unlike some of the reviewers here I felt that this book's major strong points are when the author goes into a sociological and/or cultural analysis of The Beatles phenomena. For chapters like this, the book deserves five stars!
   It's when he becomes a music reviewer that he delves into troubled waters. A few of his insights are interesting, but so many others are way, way over the top analysis-wise, and when he turns negative, whoa!
   Music is something so personal for a lot of people. It's expected that one appreciate other's opinions. Still, no matter how open-minded one tries to be, it can be a bit psychologically unnerving to read such an obviously intelligent and learned individual put down one's favorite songs as either "a muddled-leaden mess" or "awkward-sounding rewrite... with... dreadful lyrics" or "an outright gaffe". It's as if someone is putting down the clothes you're wearing or the type of friends you keep.



2. So much more than a 'fan' book, Jonathan Gould's Can't Buy Me Love (2007) is an astute blending of personal, historical, cultural and musical interpretation. It follows the "Fab Four" from their very earliest days, without undue emphasis on extraneous details of their childhood, up through their coming together as The Bealtes, and then follows their career up to the end of their life together as Beatles . What really strikes me about this book is the amount of insightful commentary on the making of the music, the meaning of lyrics and the context in which each of the albums was put together. Gould is not afraid to criticize certain of thre Beatles compositions or projects; neither is he trying to 'demyth' the Bealtes. This is perhaps the most balanced, engaging account of the Bealtes, their impact, their foibles and their successes I have ever read.
   
   I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about the Beatles; I have listened to them since I was five years old--yet I learned a great deal about them in this excellent book!



3. I found this book completely satisfying and facinating from an historical as well as musical standpoint. Gould has taken the Beatles as a musical and cultural force and woven the last 60 years around them to create a complete understanding of the group's impact on 20th-21st century culture and music. This is one of the top 10 must reads for any serious scholar of the Beatles and it's a great read for people who just want to be well informed fans. He also manages to write in an interesting way that keeps you turning pages. One of the best books ever written about the fabs and well worth the 20 odd years he spent researching. A winner all the way.



4. The sentence structure is great and the narrative seamlessly flows. However, he is a music historian and hence goes into long detours when applying context. I would have greatly preferred if he had spent less time on these subjects and more on the actual Beatles themselves. A paragraph would suffice but I find myself skipping several pages. When I skip pages and scan for Beatles or Jon or McCartney, etc. I don't see anything on the Beatles for pages. I know that these long passages are unneeded because even after skipping pages I still understand the context just fine.
   
   Nonetheless, I still give it four stars because it ignores rumors, is rich with language, fills the holes of knowledge that I did not know as someone who grew up in the nineties, and the in depth analysis of songs. A glossary with vocabulary words would be great because he is a musician and as such thinks that all these words are common knowledge.



5. Gould's book sets a new standard for serious works on the Beatles. It is meticulously researched and documented, well-structured, and written with admirable clarity combined with the author's enjoyment of his subject. This is the most ambitious book about the Beatles and their cultural and historical context, and its success is attributable to Gould's determination, thoroughness, mature perspective, and accessible writing style. But perhaps I am biased. Darn it, this is the book that I have been meaning to write for the last 38 years.

4 comments about Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman (Pvg).

1. After the disappointing transcriptions for Rocking the Suburbs, with vocal lines written into the piano score, this Ben Folds edition is exactly what I was hoping for. Although it would be nice to have the other instruments represented here, as in the Ben Folds Five transcriptions, the piano part is here in it's entirety, including all of Ben's piano solos with LH comping voicings. Even the irritating, endless repeats and Codas are missing as the songs read straight though without having to turn back several pages at a time.
   
   It's nice to see a publisher like Hal Leonard listen to the fans and give them one they want. This book comes highly recommended.



2. This is a very well done book, especially considering the price here on Amazon. It's much better than the RTS transcription in that it's not plagued with the repeats that have you turning pages more than playing music. My only complaint is that it's piano only. I would have gladly paid more for a book like the old BFF books that contained the drums and bass transcriptions as well. Still, this is a must have for any Ben Folds wannabe.



3. This is a good book, with all the songs being very thorough, and long. It's just hard not being able to play the 'main' line, as well as the 'main' background notes, like the ones you hear in the songs. You'll need 3 hands if you want to play the song in its entirety. Still a good book, with all the songs being at least 5 pages long.



4. Ordered this item for a gift...it was just what I was looking for. Thank
   you for quick service.

5 comments about Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson.

1. My husband is love with this bass gautairist, and love this book and DVD combo.



2. I've always been a fan of Motown but of the singers, now I'm starting to realize I shouldn't give the singers all the credit, it was the producers, songwriters, and musicians who made the artists become hits. If it wasn't for the unique, special Funk Brothers who knows if the Motown artists would have become as successful as they did. It doesn't matter how good of a singer a singer is, if the music ain't right, the singer ain't gonna sound good. Its that something special about the Motown Sound that sparks something in our minds, hearts, and souls, the music complimented the singers excellently. James Jamerson was just a handsome, wonderful, real, interesting, talented person. Its sad he had to get recognition after he passed on. It seems the only way to become a legend is to die first then people appreciate you more, well this book taught me to love and praise people while their alive that's what keeps them going. All James wanted in his last days was recognition and to know he did make a difference in the world of music. This book taught me to appreciate the musicians, songwriters, and producers, the people behind the scenes, who made it possible for the music to become timeless, sometimes we give the singers too much credit.
   
   It was interesting for me to read most of the Funk Brothers didn't even like Rock N Roll or Soul music, they were really jazz fans and wanted to play jazz, so it shows how gifted they were to still play soul music effectively even though it wasn't their cup of tea. Another reason why Motown sound is so appealing and fresh is because the Funk Brothers laced different genres of music into the soul music and tried new things with the music creating the Motown Sound, a sound in its own class.



3. I'm one of those Bass Players who discovered James Jamerson late in my bass playing life. Any young (or old) aspiring bassist should have this book. The 2 cd's that come with it are worth the price alone. Some of the greatest bass players on earth (McCartney, Entwhistele, Pallidino,Bob Babbit,Chuck Rainey..) paying homage to Jamerson and playing some of his famous bass lines. The great thing about it is that when played through headphones you get the bass in one ear and the rest of the mix in the other. I have actually listened to just the bass mix multiple times and marvelled at the Bass Lines. A must for any young Bass Player.
   
   The book has some great stories and pictures and compliments the CD greatly.



4. Very good book if you don't have the DVD. Fills in many details not in the film. A must have for Bass Players.



5. James Jamerson is one of the top bassist of all time and this book will give bassist some insight to his genius. I never learned to read music, but I was born with an exception ear! I remember a long time ago, going for a job in a pit orchestra. The musical director was not all that impressed with my playing on the first day, because I didn't read music and I kind of fumbled through the rehearsal. I went home that night and learned the entire show from a tape. On the next rehearsal, when we started to play the opening number, the conductor stopped in the middle of the song, looked at me and said...."Turn up the bass!" ..this made me very happy, as I always felt a little inferior not being able to read :-)
   
   The book covers Jamerson's story and shows many of his classic bass lines for those of you who do read. It's no walk in the park, but it's time well spent and will take your playing to another level.
   
   The book comes with 2 CDs full of Jamerson's bass lines and many top bassist playing their favorite Jamerson tunes. It's all very interesting for musicians and non musicians alike and well worth the price! I never knew how much this guy influenced my playing until I really sat down and listened to him! What a great talent!

5 comments about American Hardcore: A Tribal History.

1. As one who was there in the L.A. scene, this was a fun, insightful look back in time. It was also interesting to hear points of view from many of the key people. As it has been a while, it helped solidify the memories and the evolution of how the scene came and went. I loved it. I enjoyed the photos, but would have loved to see more. It's like looking at an old yearbook or family album of sorts.



2. 
   For someone as young as me, who wasn't alive during the hardcore scene, this book comes in handy with good information. Steven Blush and others explain the hardcore scene in their own perspective. The entire book is made of interviews from people that were participants in the hardcore scene in the 80's. It includes people like Henry Rollins, Ian Mackaye, Jello Biafra, etc. In the beginning of the book the author and others sum up the roots of hardcore. Later on when they get started on HC (hardcore) they talk about things like straight-edge, Washington D.C., and others, where it gets really interesting to read. You don't have to know anything about HC to read this either.
   You can tell Steven Blush didn't want to be biased about the subjects so he tries to put everybody's opinion about everything which basically evens it out by being factual rather than biased. The many pictures including the cover I think are very necessary for the book and display the proper attitude and energy of the HC scene. This book was very easy to understand and even fun to read. I do not recommend this book for very young readers; there are images that can be inappropriate for some. For other mature readers I definitely recommend this book to you, and please...don't judge this book by its bloody cover, it's a great book.



3. American Hardcore chronicals and/or documents the history of the early 80's Hardcore(Punk)scene. Started by angry,fustrated,violent kids in the suburban seaside coastal middle class towns of Los Angeles, this movement spread from city to city and coast to coast. With each location holding thier own individuality, from L.A. to New York, to Chicago to San Francisco, to D.C. to Boston, Hardcore was more than music it was a social movement. Hardcore was a brand new fresh form of punk rock that was all it's own. While it branched off of the 70's Punk scene, it was it's own genre, who's participants constituted a tribe onto themselves. These kids were angry fustrated violent and fed up Regan-Era misfit kids. Becoming intertwined with Surfing and Skateboarding and becoming very close with it(As most of the bands were surfers and skateboarders), Hardcore redifined the status quoe of what was possibele when you did things your own way and you did it yourself(D.I.Y.). Hardcore's music was fast,with songs usually clocking in at around 2 minutes or less,energetic, and contained lyrics dealing with everything form political and social unjustice, to projecting anti-racist anti-war anti-conservative anti-reagan(Ronald Reagan) content and/or rants, with the lead singer usually screaming his or her head off in an angry manner that scared the crap off of (many) new wave fans,Hardcore was one of the most important musical movements in american history.While the mainstream refused then and refused now to give Hardcore the credit that it deserves(Although Hardcore was not looking at all for mainstream acceptance, in fact it was also a rebellion against the mainstream)Hardcore influenced countless things in the mainstream. From the pop-punk movement, to the crappy emo scene currently riding the charts rite now. Hardcore was a new form of radicalism,music,social outrage,political and socail commentary,and altogether one of the most important (musical)movements to ever take place in American History, and this book tells that story.



4. Although I have never listened to hardcore, I wanted to read this book becaus eit was recommended by "janitor-x" and I was copying his writings for a half-nephew of mine. I respect "janitor-x"'s view that Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could be Your Life was much too "soft" in tone and focused too much on bands whose aim was not integrity but success on the college radio that emerged in an effort to counter the lack of competition a stiflingly restrictive commercial radio network had in late 1970s America.
   
   The problem with "American Hardcore: A Tribal History" begines with its format, which consists of long series of dialogues involving the major players in the 1980s hardcore scene. There is so little structure or order to the book that a reader will feel he or she is jumping into something most people without knowledge of rock criticism are unlikely to comprehend. The actual writings, whilst they provide a very different and worthwhile perspective from Our Band Could be Your Life, are not the interviews that would provide - were the musicians willing to be at their most explicit about their experiences - very interesting stories for people who have never listened to hardcore. Rather, we have successions of speeches that appear not to be arranged with the slightest logic, with the result that the books does not convey a story as much as it does pieces of news from the time hardcore was popular.
   
   There are also a number of problematic omissions, for instance it is never mentioned that the Dead Kennedys, whilst like all other hardcore artists never able to dent the Billboard Top 200, had a Top 40 single and album in Britain. "American Hardcore: A Tribal History" is written, likewise, in a manner that suggests the evolution of hardcore where it did is self-explanatory when, as I know very well from living in Australia, there are definite social conditions associated with its rise that any thorough book on the subject would at least mention if not explain with some decent sociology. One might be left wondering why some cities had large hardcore scenes and others did not, when there are undoubtedly definite social explanations that a music history student ought to be informed about.
   
   The links of hardcore to other generes, such as rap and thrash metal, are in contrast useful but even they could be much more complete than they are. The actual origin and roots of hardcore, however, is not given any explanation - as I noted above and a problem shared with Our Band Could be Your Life.
   
   On the whole, this is a tough book to read for anybody but the most devoted hardcore fan and even they might be put off by the constant promotional posters and graffiti amongst which the conversations that make up the actual text are scattered. For all my respect for "janitor-x", I really cannot recommend this book to any music listener. It would be better to read some serious journalism on rock, like by Joe S. Harrington, even if very little of it is about hardcore.



5. This book is highly informative, and almost inspirational. Highly recommended for anyone who has ever used the phrase "F*ck You!"

5 comments about The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting: An Oral History.

1. I believe that this book is a wonderful companion to a chapter about Replacements from Michael Azerrad's book "Our Band Could Be Your Life". Indeed, some of peculiar facts/stories about Replacements told by Azerrad can be seen in this book, as well.
   
   Whereas Mr. Azerrad provided somewhat brief and compressed (albeit, vivid) biography of this explosive band, Jim Walsh did it a bit differently. The whole book is, basically, nothing but a number of questions and answers, yet he managed to keep it entertaining/interesting enough, which is not an easy task by any means.
   
   To me, much of success is based on anecdotes/stories like the one where Jon Bon Jovi sent a letter to an editor of Rolling Stones wondering why he never even heard of Replacements and how they ended up on top of their charts. Then there's naked Bob Stinson, sloppy song covers and general "we don't give a flying f" type of attitude.
   
   Yet, behind all of their drunker behavior/crude jokes and anything else, you can still see something real - in particular, a part about Bob Stinson and Peter Jesperson struggle with post-Replacements period (which, unfortunately, ended in tragedy for Bob) is particularly hitting hard.
   
   All in all, this is one well-deserved biography for one amazing band. Now ,Mr. Walsh, can we have few more books on the likes Big Black and/or Minutemen? Please? Please?



2. A great book.
   We needed it so much.
   Hope others will follow but, in the meantime, relax, take it easy and remember.
   
   It wasn't just a waste of time.



3. If you're as big a fan of this late, lamented band as I, then you know that you have to read this book. Paul Westerberg is one of the best songwriters to ever commit words to melody and this book filled in a lot of the blanks for me. I knew the basic story of the band but this gave me some insight into the formation of The Replacements that I wasn't aware of. It also provides a lot of information regarding Bob Stinson after he left the band that I hadn't heard before. Plus, it gives you a sense of the day to day pressures that bands/musicians face and a real idea of why so many bands fall apart. The Replacements should have been huge but weren't. Some of their problems were self-induced and some were the result of less than stellar management, music trends and just plain bad luck. But we still have the music and now we have a good portion of the story as well. Until the band members themselves write their own versions, this one will do just fine.



4. I was a huge 'Mats fan back in the day and they're still one of my top 5 bands of all time. I enjoyed the book and feel like I know a lot more about the band's rise and fall and all the major players along the way than I did before. I liked the oral-history approach pretty well, where it's just a series of running blurbs of people talking about semi-related topics that just sorta loosely flow from one era or subject to the next. It caused me to read the book a lot faster this way, (5 days, which is fast for me) as opposed to a more traditional biography approach. However, I feel like a lot of the finer points of information about the band members and other things may have slipped through the cracks a little. Walsh touches on the members' upbringing somewhat but I'd have liked to know a little more about that. But that's just me being nosey. This is a really great read and I would suggest it to any fan of the Replacements that wants to delve back into the 80's indie music scene for a while.



5. Any attempt to tell the story of the Replacements is going to be a bit chaotic, otherwise it wouldn't suit its subject. I found the oral history approach - little snippets of memories from the story's players and eye witnesses - to be a sort of meandering way to move from the band's beginnings to the band's end. You're not going to go in a very straight line, but it's a nicer trip that way. You get great little glimpses of people and personalities and clubs and record stores that can only really be captured through the eyes of the locals. I enjoyed the sidetrips that these remembrances took me on. The accounts given here are genuine. Sometimes they're funny and tender (Tommy Stinson on tour as a 14 year old)and sometimes they're depressing and tragic (Bob Stinson's steady decline). Jim Walsh's account has given us the pure, unvarnished Mats. On any given night they could give you the worst show of your life, but they were one of the greatest ever.

No comments about Grateful Dead 365.

5 comments about Take Another Little Piece of My Heart: A Groupie Grows Up.

1. The thing I like about Pamela's writing is she's so perky and positive but not in any kind of barf/tacky way. It's really impossible to not see her bright side of things; she just has an overall wonderful attitude and inspiring outlook on life. Having those feelings generated to me is what I enjoyed the most about this second memoir.
   
   My favorite bit is in the very beginning as she describes exactly what she can do to escape the blues: searching for signed Kerouac in used books stores, seeking "over looked treasures" in thrift stores, throwing on a Gram Parsons record... and other sweet, endearing little down-home happy things that I can very personally relate to. She sounds so simple sometimes and that's what I like about her.
   
   The opening quote is by Kerouac: "Love your life out."
   
   Now how can you go wrong with a book that so simply and beautifully sums itself up like that?



2. What a great read!! I loved every page of this book!! Pamela writes so honestly and shares so much personal stuff in a way that boggles my mind. I wouldn't have the courage to write and publish a book this personal. Her writing is insightful, strong and laugh out loud funny.



3. While thoroughly enjoying her first tale, Pamela's second offering was more insightful and at times, more than a little sad. One envies her exploits with various high-profile musicians until the reality of marrying one and trying to lead a normal life becomes apparent. As always, she writes with hard- earnt wisdom, humour and candour and one cannot help but adore her for it.



4. I strongly urge all women to buy this book, I couldnt put it down. Pamela is so bravely honest about her life and writes as if your talking to your best friend one on one. I found myself going on a journey with her in this book. For those who need to know how hot Mick Jagger was calm down its in there but theres so much more to this woman. Her positive vibrant spirit jumps out at you within these pages, a spirit that as you read the book your drawn to and you just want her to keep writing more. Pamela is so very creative in her writing she makes you feel every ounce of her experience. In this book you can really relate to her in so many ways and we can all gain by her positive strength and spirit. Pamela shines a white light, a light that will leave you wanting more. This is a must read, you'll enjoy every moment, every page every word and even though Pamela has led a limelight life you can still relate to her as a woman on a journey. I couldnt put it down and Im a hard cookie to crack. I cant wait for her write again.



5. This book is very entertaining. I wasn't sure what to expect, but Ms. Des Barres knows how to make it very interesting. I would recommend this book.

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 Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga.

1. I just have to comment on the stupid editorial review at the top. I was a VH fan at the age of 8 and savagely loved every tune til Sammy arrived. To call them "the best heavy metal band of all time" is a joke. Even they would agree. That honor MUST forever go to the Grandfathers of Metal: LED ZEPPELIN!! LZ eats Van Halen for breakfast. Zeppelin were monsters of metal that came bashing down out of the sky bringing earth to its knees.



2. Sadly, this is a book that any Van Halen fan with a library card could have written. In fact, they probably could have written it better. Not only is the book filled with old information from less than credible publications, it also features poor grammar, inaccurate (or just plain wrong) facts, and even misspellings! In the age of spell-check, there is simply no excuse for such an amateur effort. Van Halen fans deserve more, and like the Roth reunion, we're just going to have to be patient.



3. Like the masses, this book offers a decent overview of Van Halen especially those who are not too familiar with the band. It was a light and enjoyable read.
   
   However, there were several spelling and grammatical errors. Many quotes seem second hand and incomplete. One still is not completely sure if David Lee Roth was fired or quit. To me it seems like a mutual disolvement. In general there are a lack of details.
   
   The band members seem like your typical rock n rollers who are all about sex, drugs, and rock n roll. David Lee Roth showed me something by volunteering as a EMT specialist as well as being an adventurous soul. Eddie Van Halen certainly is a talented musician but seems like a terminal alcoholic. What has he learned from this experiences? The band members seem to constantly be quarreling with each other.
   
   A few interesting anecdotes kept my attention. However, a more first hand account with more exclusive details would have made this book more appealing.



4. How many more lackadaisical $$$ grabs from pseudo authors must we be made to endure before the group wakes up and gives us the real uncut story in their own words? Every last word here is old hat to us. The only people who would find this remotely informative or revealing would be those who know nothing about the group. Which renders this virtually useless when you consider a person who knows nothing about the group would not be inclined to purchase this to begin with. Its almost as if the author sat there and went 'Hey the group is back and touring so I'm going to quickly slap together a book using all past books and release it just in time for their big tour'. Thus the wretched stench of "cash grab" emanating from cover to cover.
   
   Numerous times throughout the course of the read I had to put this down and walk away due to my level of frustration and indignation. Seems the author believes the Van Halen fanbase is comprised entirely of unknowledgeable dimwitted newbies and he is schooling all of us.
   FYI Captain Obvious we don't need to be told the brothers came over from Europe.. or that they banned brown m&m's backstage.. or that David Lee quit the band.. or that Edward and Val had marital issues.. or that Edward battled cancer. Who the heck doesn't already know this stuff?
   
   What we as fans so direly want and need to know is how these people FELT during all of these endeavors. Like how did Edward react when he first learned he had cancer? Where was he when he got the news? How did his wife and child react? His brother? What did the doctors say? What toll did the chemo take physically and emotionally? How did the band react when David Lee quit? How did David Lee feel? How did management and label heads feel? How did other musicians feel about the shocking split? How did Sammy feel when he joined them? How did he feel when he left them a decade later? How did Gary Cherone feel about being recruited? How has Edward dealt with his infamous lifelong battle with alcohol?
   
   These questions and more don't come close to being answered because apparently Captain Obvious couldn't be bothered to acquire a single first-hand account/interview from anyone.
   
   They committed the cardinal sin: NO NEW COMMENTARY. This book is entirely devoid of interviews. They didn't interview the group, their wives or girlfriends, kids, roadies, other musicians, label heads, producers, engineers, guitar techs, groupies.. NOBODY. All we get is CO endlessly rambling on in their own words about the group's career with the occasional "Eddie told Guitar Player magazine this and that" or "David Lee said this to Creem back in 1982" thrown in. You can NOT be serious? Needless to say by page ten I was bored to tears and ticked off.
   
   What in the world would possess a person to write a book and call it 'DEFINITIVE' without making even the slightest effort to speak with anyone in or relative to this group? Some nerve.
   
   For Pete's Sake even the fan who wrote VanHalen101 interviewed hordes of musicians and managed to have Brian May write that book's intro. Inexcusable best describes this latest offering by Ian Christe. You get the sense this seasoned author, journalist and radio show host wanted nothing more than to make a quick buck off the group's recent well publicized reunion tour whilst desperately seeking to weasel his way into the ranks of legitimate biographers such as Stephen Davis, Anthony Bozza and other noteworthy authors who've penned classic bios.
   Instead Christe dropped the ball and ended up looking like a major tool.
   
   Had someone advised Christe to dedicate more time to actual research and conducting interviews rather than spending what appears to be every waking second calling in favors from all his music journalist pals in exchange for glowing reviews he and his publisher could quote and paste on here so they could fleece the fans for more $$$ maybe just maybe this book might've amounted to something halfway interesting rather than this pedestrian turd in the proverbial punch bowl. Any one of us could've written this. Don't bite. Don't bother. Don't be a sucker. Skip it and grab one of any number of other superior books such as The Encyclopedia, the brand spanking new Zlozower Van Halen: A Visual History photo book or the aforementioned cult fave VanHalen101.



5. Worst excuse for a biography ever. I've literally read blogs on random myspace pages with more depth, passion, guts and style. Where is the scandal? Where are the gripping tales? Where is the band? Aside from being a powerful force of nature Van Halen was also one of the rowdiest and hardest living acts in rock history. Led by guitarist wunderkind Eddie Van Halen they kicked tail and took names both onstage and off. Though you'd never know it reading this sorry thing. The blame rests solely on the shoulders of its creator who fails miserably to even break the surface. True biographies such as Heroin Diaries and the recent Slash bio to name but a few have certainly raised my expectations as a reader. I've grown accustomed to books written by authors in collaboration with their subject. Hence providing fans with a deeply personal read told in the first person by the artist in their own voice. Books like Heroin Diaries are brutally honest, gripping reads that are near impossible to put down. In this instance we get some clown who has nothing to do with Van Halen painfully dragging us through nothing more than a lackluster tired never ending rehash of everything that classifies as common knowledge to even the most average of fans. Plagiarizing old music magazines and previously released Van Halen books does not a bio make. Somebody please call me when the band or at least Eddie finally releases a proper bio.

No comments about The Gospel of Filth: A Bible of Decadence & Darkness.