Choose your country
Delivery choices and times vary depending on your location
Description:
About this item:
Review:
4.5 out of 5
90.00% of customers are satisfied
5.0 out of 5 stars out in the rain, while inside the hospital snoozed
smelling fluid got into the elevatorthe three-inch scar left by the makkata’s blademysterious machines, their coiled electrical flexes and rubbersplattering the floor. Where the water splashed the firethe harsh strip-lighting into its component coloursreached for it, only to have his hand detainedstrained yet authoritative air of hospital doctorsthe world overchoosing his words with tipsy circumspectioninformed explicator of the mind–world–body conundrumby ventilation ducts fell silent, repletepeering into the darkened interior of the roomthey had been set upon every available flat surface, and the room was thick with their sooty smoke.drawn in to breasts so resolute their nipples felt like probing digitsshe introduced her leg between his thighsthe dry matt of her beautiful black skinfunctional furnishings of the hospital roomthe bed leafing through a golfing magazineset at jaunty angles on their long, thin skullson the balcony was a fifth woman
3.0 out of 5 stars treading a thin line
Hmmm. Well, less a 'book' than a collection, and readers coming to this from the stunning 'Revolution in the Head' may be disappointed. That perhaps says more about my expectations than about the book itself, but it certainly seems to have been marketed as some kind of a successor.'Revolution in the Head' gave us something startlingly new on the Beatles. Where we might have thought there was little new to say, I.Mac pulled up the floorboards, tore down the walls and introduced us to the plumbing and wiring which supports the songs and the history which informs them. And taking the Beatles catalogue as its structure, it had real cohesion and momentum.The People's Music lacks this kind of structural unity - it's more of a ragbag of good pieces addressing a variety of artists. The approach is similar however - heavily musicological (why do I sense that Ian MacDonald wouldn't like this description?), applying the rigours of lit crit and music crit to the pop world. And why not ?Well only because after a while the style seems to become a little stultifying, the insights almost predictable. It's kind of heavy, man, and a number of the artists can't quite stand the approach. That isn't to say that they don't merit close analysis, but there's a certain joylessness in the approach which after a while becomes wearing. Reading the much-acclaimed Nick Drake piece at the end I was reminded of the classic Rees-Mogg quote 'Who Breaks a Butterfly on a Wheel'. If you're not a Drake fan already (and I am), perhaps dissuaded by the respectful hush which already attends his output, this full-force cultural and musical dissection won't send you rushing to HMV. Like... I know how clever and significant it is, but how about the tunes ?I suggest reading this alongside Giles Smith's 'Lost in Music', alternating between chapters, reminding yourself that in pop as in life, there's a thin line between clever and (joyfully) stoopid.
5.0 out of 5 stars One of THE writers...
Ian MacDonald was one of the triumvirate of NME writers (the Blessed Nick Kent and Charles Shaar Murray being the other two)who shaped and sustained my musical education after John Peel had started it off. MacDonald was a writer who THOUGHT about what he was listening to and then went on to persuade us how right he was. He did it with Revolution In The Head (every home should have a copy)and he's done it again with this collection of reviews and recollections. The writing is so persuasive he sent me scurrying off to get Chic's Greatest Hits and Miles' Filles de Kilimanjaro and to dig out my vinyl copy of Laura Nyro's Eli and The Thirteenth Confession. The only quibble I have is with the publishers: I would have liked to have known where all the articles were originally published. Recommended.
4.0 out of 5 stars Packed full of interesting facts and stories that you never knew you needed to know
A monster of a book, big enough to hold down a rug in a gale, and choc full of quirky, odd and nasty news reports, tales and biting biogs - from the 1700's to Jeffrey Archer and beyond - it's all here.A book to be dipped into - there's so much in it, I just pick a random page each time.It's sat next to our bed and brought many a chortle or grimace. Funny, at times arresting and thoroughly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars Equally Perceptive as that book
The only disappointing thing about this collection is that the articles were never expanded into their own books. This is simply a higher level of rock criticism. I cannot understand the negative reviews as this is exactly what one would expect from the author of Revolution in the Head, insightful essays on Bowie, Dylan, Beatles, Stones. Even the shorter pieces are spot on.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for students
This came just in time. Trying to study from home and no access to library. Perfect 👌🏾
3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed bag
I bought this because of Revolution in the Head, and to read what this intelligent writer had to say about other musicians. McDonald's long essay on Dylan is a mishmash of ideas that added little to my understanding or appreciation of the artist. In trying to decode everything and strip away the layers, he just adds to to the muddle. He's more eloquent when he keeps it simple and just says, 'this is a beautiful song'.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Absolutely fabulous.
Excelente libro
Excelente libro, con articulos muy completos.
Will change the way you listen to music
MacDonald's book will change the way you listen to music, even the music you know inside-out. He has an incredibly sharp ear and draws on social context, pop context, the musicians' careers, the music business, music theory--you name it! Every single essay in this beautiful and witty book made me think and listen in a new way, even about music I've thought and read a lot about, and even when I disagreed with MacDonald. The individual essays address: Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Band, Bob Marley, Lenny Bruce, John Lennon, Steely Dan, The Beach Boys, Laura Nyro, Miles Davis, David Bowie, Jefferson Airplane, Spirit, Love, Randy Newman, John Fahey, Philip Glass, Pink Floyd, The Supremes, Nick Drake, and more. Varying in length from 3 to 50 pages, they are all fun, smart pieces. If you don't know him already, MacDonald will be a happy discovery for you. And if you like reading about music, just get it--no 260 pages on any kind of music will give you more bang for the buck!
Not quite as good as "Revolution in the Head
Not quite as good as "Revolution in the Head," but shows McDonald's range. Has a few more Fab Four pieces, plus some other sociological stuff about "the sixties." The Nick Drake piece is like a classic New Yorker article: long and rambling and scenic, including a portrait of the hippy scene at Cambridge University in the late 60s. The hagiographic piece about Laura Nyro makes me want to revisit this particular singer to see if his praise is justified. Other highlights include a piece on how outrageous the Stones were in 1960s Britain, Lennon's time as a political agitator in the US, the meaning of Chic, how the Beach Boys transcended their roots and Love made a masterpiece. Points for rightly dissing the late Jefferson Airplane, Simon and Garfunkel, and Marvin Gaye. Props for the rave for Randy Newman's first album. Prescient.
Four Stars
Some great ideas and writing. I didn't always agree but that's the nature of it.
Visit the Pimlico Store
The People's Music: Selected Journalism: ix (Pimlico)
BHD10191
Quantity:
|
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over BHD 20
'%3e%3crect%20x='0.599609'%20width='22.4'%20height='16'%20fill='%230A17A7'/%3e%3cpath%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20clip-rule='evenodd'%20d='M-0.426196%20-1.53223L9.1335%204.91587V-1.06506H14.4668V4.91648L24.0263%20-1.53147L25.2193%200.237148L17.6615%205.33494H23.0002V10.6683H17.6618L25.2187%2015.7655L24.0258%2017.5341L14.4668%2011.0865V17.0683H9.1335V11.0871L-0.425634%2017.5348L-1.61858%2015.7662L5.93947%2010.6683H0.600172V5.33494H5.93977L-1.61914%200.236387L-0.426196%20-1.53223Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M15.5332%205.06615L25.6655%20-1.59961'%20stroke='%23DB1F35'%20stroke-width='0.533333'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M16.6094%2010.9578L25.6924%2017.0801'%20stroke='%23DB1F35'%20stroke-width='0.533333'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M7.00176%205.04727L-2.47266%20-1.33789'%20stroke='%23DB1F35'%20stroke-width='0.533333'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M8.02936%2010.8842L-2.47266%2017.8486'%20stroke='%23DB1F35'%20stroke-width='0.533333'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3cpath%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20clip-rule='evenodd'%20d='M0.599609%209.6H10.1996V16H13.3996V9.6H22.9996V6.4H13.3996V0H10.1996V6.4H0.599609V9.6Z'%20fill='%23E6273E'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Product origin: United Kingdom
All product information listed on the site are from 3rd party sources, including images and reviews. bolo.bh is not liable for any claims or promotions mentioned on the product description or images with textual content. For detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer or Bolo support by logging into your account. Unless stated otherwise during checkout, all import taxes and duty are included in the price mentioned on the product page. bolo.bh follows the rules and regulations of sale in Bahrain and will cancel items in an order that are illegal for sale in Bahrain. We take all the necessary steps to ensure only products for sale in Bahrain are displayed. Product stock and delivery estimate may change with the seller even after placing the order. All items are shipped by air and items marked “Dangerous Goods (DG)” by the IATA will be cancelled from orders. We strive to process your order as soon as it is finalized.
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “Communication Studies”
Share with
X
Or share with link
https://bolo.com/