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eljaspero's review
3.0
Often compelling and provocative, but ultimately also quite frustrating for its unevenness. It seems like every other contributor has an axe to grind or a point to prove, that has little or nothing to do with the song they're ostensibly writing on.
richardwells's review
3.0
An interesting set of essays on just what the title says, from the earliest Appalachian ballads to recent hip-hop.
pattydsf's review
3.0
I often recommend to readers that if you get 50 pages into a book and you still don't like it, quit. Fortunately, I did not take my own advice with this book. Fifty pages had only taken me through three essays and I was struggling.
Had I stopped reading, I would have missed an amazing rant by R. Crumb, the history of Frankie and Albert, some very bizarre artwork by Jon Langford. And then there were the essays I really loved - one by Stanley Crouch about "Come Sunday", a discussion of Randy Newman's music and then a discourse about "Nebraska" by Springsteen.
This was a fascinating book. I learned so much about American music - pieces I knew and music I would now really like to hear. This is why I read essays - I can learn so much new stuff in just a few pages.
I can't remember why I picked this up, but it was definitely worth it. R-MC owns the CD, I really need to listen to it.
Had I stopped reading, I would have missed an amazing rant by R. Crumb, the history of Frankie and Albert, some very bizarre artwork by Jon Langford. And then there were the essays I really loved - one by Stanley Crouch about "Come Sunday", a discussion of Randy Newman's music and then a discourse about "Nebraska" by Springsteen.
This was a fascinating book. I learned so much about American music - pieces I knew and music I would now really like to hear. This is why I read essays - I can learn so much new stuff in just a few pages.
I can't remember why I picked this up, but it was definitely worth it. R-MC owns the CD, I really need to listen to it.
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