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Title: Let it Blurt : The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America's Greatest Rock Critic by Jim Derogatis ISBN: 0-7679-0509-1 Publisher: Broadway Books Pub. Date: 18 April, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.41 (32 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Better Than Bukowski
Comment: This is a welcome, if rather brief and somewhat flimsy, addition to the woefully incomplete Lester Bangs canon, as of this date represented solely by Greil Marcus' anthology "Psychotic Reactions and Carb. Dung." Derogatis has interviewed plenty and done his research, and of all the young rock critics out there today, he's probably the one closest to emulating Lester's style and ideas, so credwise he's ok.
But while there are some interesting revelations about Lester's boyhood and events in his life, the book rarely does more than scratch the surface of Bangs' writing. Derogatis seems content to gather up numerous chunks of information and a few quotes from Lester, and decide that that alone should tell the story. And in one sense, I suppose it does, but can't help but feel that this book could use more depth. At times, Derogatis seems headed in that direction - periodically, he makes reference to some of Bangs' limitations, or acknowledges that Lester sometimes wasn't the greatest person in the world. I enjoy these tough looks at one of my literary idols - it makes his great pieces all the more impressive. But that's as far as the author will go, and the majority of the book is filled with the kind of pussy-footed trepidation that seperates intellectual criticism from the more suspect fan bio.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, too, just like Derogatis. But given the opportunity to write about a man who was both talented and interesting, Derogatis only goes about halfway. There's still much to enjoy, and plenty of facts, anecdotes and gossip about the 70's rock scene to keep even the well-informed intrigued. Though disappointed, I still enjoyed it, and can only hope that it will help bring about a new and expanded anthology of Lester's work. Greil's was great, but limited in scope (naturally - it reflected the interests of the compiler, which is fine) - Bangs' essays on the Ramones, Black Sabbath, Miles Davis, reggae, even Grand Funk Railroad, all should be made available to those curious about the full Lester Bangs story. Contact your local publishing house today.
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent book, well written,
Comment: I really enjoyed Let It Blurt, which is about the deceased rock critic Lester Bangs. I first read about Lester when Almost Famous came out, and read this book on a beach in Thailand last year, and it has stayed with me since that time. Lester died when I was 10, so I certainly didn't follow him, and other than a passion for music, Lester's taste in music was very different from mine, but I really enjoyed reading about him in this book. That is a good comment on DeRogatis as a writer, as I bore easily. Lester was a true individualist and someone with real passions, faults and weaknesses. He struggled and was human, and had this passion for music that many people have, so it is easy to relate in many ways if you have ever felt like you don't quite fit in, or are hyperopinionated, or just dislike the corporate machine. Highly recommended book.
Rating: 5
Summary: Fascinating character, devastated life...
Comment: This is a fan's book though it is not a hagiography of St Lester. DeRogatis had met Lester shortly before his death and met his friends, relatives, acquaintances, fellow rock-critics. The first surprise is that Lester had a sad life from his very youth, struggling against his mother dedication to the Jehovas witnesses and the symbolic death of his father.
We see Lester trying to become an artist, failing to write the novel he was dreaming of, achieving nevertheless to turn rock criticism in modern litterature. The author manages to recreate quite vividly the atmosphere of the legendary Creem mag offices, then when Lester moves to NYC the CBGB attitude is all there. And Lester through the years loved by women and not able to decipher true love, trying to become a rock musician when he was a star on his own is wasting his life in front of us thanks to booze and substances... This book is like some modern version of an antique greek tragedy and this suits well Lester Bangs, who was a true modern writer.
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Title: Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung : The Work of a Legendary Critic: Rock'N'Roll as Literature and Literature as Rock'N'Roll by Lester Bangs ISBN: 0679720456 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 12 September, 1988 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste : A Lester Bangs Reader by JOHN MORTHLAND, LESTER BANGS ISBN: 0375713670 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 12 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Not Fade Away: A Backstage Pass to 20 Years of Rock & Roll by Ben Fong-Torres, Cameron Crowe ISBN: 0879305908 Publisher: Backbeat Books Pub. Date: November, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the '90s by Jim Derogatis ISBN: 0306812711 Publisher: DaCapo Press Pub. Date: October, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: A Whore Just Like the Rest: The Music Writings of Richard Meltzer by Richard Meltzer ISBN: 0306809532 Publisher: DaCapo Press Pub. Date: May, 2000 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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