Rock The Books

Steve Breen is the best. I love all his work. His Grand
Ave family is great. It makes me laugh. Rudy reminds me of my own pup.

I will buy more of Steve Breens books, I just love that mans
work.

This is a wonderful and wholesome comic strip about a grandmother looking after her twin grand-children. One grandchild wants to make money quick and be the next Bill Gates whilst the second is into drama and wants to be the next stage star. I am sure that many other readers of this comic strip would be wondering when the 2nd collection is coming out...I have been checking this for over a year now! This collection was released in 2001! I was introduced to it in 2002 and awaited the new release eagerly! It has been over 2 years since the first collection of comics were released...WHERE IS THE SECOND COLLECTION? There is a market for it! PLEASE ANDREW AND MCMEEL!

The cover caught my eye, the title cracked me up, so I gave it a try and am very glad I did! I love Steve Breen's sense of humor, his artwork and am looking forward to following his work. Now to get my hands on his previous stuff!

Steve Breen is the best. I love all his work. His Grand
Ave family is great. It makes me laugh. Rudy reminds me of my own pup.

I will buy more of Steve Breens books, I just love that mans
work.

The Grand Ave cartoons are the best out there!! Thank you Mr Breen!

In a landscape where the bravado and bluster of busty cartoon pin-ups was the norm, Jay Ryan's work seems downright radical in its understated, yet evocative approach. Jay's talents somehow make me want to see a concert and buy a Caldecott Medal winner in equal measure. A+

The first collection of poster artist Jay Ryan is both a biography and an art celebration: it gathers his works from rock clubs to galleries and arrives not alone but supplemented by essays from other involved in the music, design and poster worlds. Full-color reproductions of his works supplement these insights to create an excellent catalog of screenprint poster genius: a must for any collecting underground poster art.

This book is absolutely essential for all fans of illustration, poster art, and contemporary design. One of the best books you will find on an american poster artist, the layout is top-notch with original drawings for some of Jay's posters next to the finished pieces. Having watched Jay make his work for Ten years, it is great to see such a powerful survey packed into such a beautiful book.

Maybe Narducy of Evanston is kidding, but just to clarify for the kids in New York, Los Angeles, and Berlin--this IS the Jay Ryan based in Chicago, dude. And this book of his posters should grace the collection of any art student or indie music fan...

ps. it would be great if Amazon would fix the typo in the title--it's "Decade," not "Secade."

HI I know a lot of u people want books on Aaron Carter with super great pictures and u dont care alot about the reading. If UR like that get this book. Mostly pictures......great........LOVE AARON CARTER.....If u want to know some of the REAL facts on Aaron how he became a singer U HAVE TO GET Aaron Carter Litle Prince of Pop.The book by his mom. I gave this a 5 because it has pictures.........No offense Jane but in Litle Prince of pop ya need some more pics. I will be waiting 4 the sequel. I hope u get what ya need and c that thing at the bottom where it says WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL 2 YA? Hit yes ................. Come on r u that LAZY???

This book is a verry good book about our fave little prince Aaron Carter! In the book you can find pictures, tons facts and a little quiz. I think the book are verry good but the book that his mom write is a quite better...read it to..!!
this book is good for you that vanna get to now Aaron better, what he likes, what his fav food & drink is ??
I can just say READ THIS BOOK!

This very colorful book is packed full of information on Aaron. There are lots of pictures and all kinds of info about him, like:
where he was born and raised, his favorite foods, his favorite hobbies, his favorite collectibles, and of course his favorite sports. Most of the pages have an "Aaron sez" quote where he comments on Nick, video shoots, future plans, and recording his albums. You've gotta have this book if you're a fan cuz we have to know everything now don't we?? I think you'll definitely learn some new stuff.

Everybody that reads this messagemust be a Aaron fan. If your a fan. Get this your need it. If your a Aaron lover. I like this book. You should get it. Oh ya if you can't get enough of aaron visit his site at www.aaroncarter.com Later.

A collection of intelligent and informed essays from the late, lamented magazine. Not necessarily for the casual fan, but rabid BB admirers will find tasty food for thought in these pages.

Because I have begun my doctoral thesis on this very subject, I found that this critique has opened windows that heretofore I have only imagined. Mr. Cunningham must have known his subjects well (or developed a preternatural insight into their oeuvre) and also must possess an astounding knowledge of music, both classical and modern. I would recommend this book to anyone with more than a superficial interest in the subject.

Don Cunningham and Jeff Bleiel edit Add Some Music To Your Day, about analyzing the music of the Beach Boys. Over forty articles, essays and reviews provide critical analysis of albums and songs in a coverage which will delight Beach Boys fans. A highly recommended pick.

Don Cunningham and Jeff Bleiel have assembled some of the best Beach Boys writings here in this book, "Add Some Music To Your Day." I wasn't around to read these the first time in the "Add Some..." fanzine, but this is GREAT stuff. BRAVO!

As a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Armenia, I have found this guide to be extremely useful. I have used the guide on many occasions for myself and to introduce Armenians to the outdoors. It is offers an excellent introduction to the environmental issues currently surrounding Armenia, current and valuable resource list, and the most current topo hiking maps. It is by no means a complete guide but has some of the more popular areas to hike, some focusing around the Tufenkian hotels (Jeffery is the nephew of the famous carpet producer James Tufankian). Future editions will have more hikes, especially in the northwest section. The climbing section is small but offers some of the best areas to climb. If you are coming to Armenia to hike or climb, then you MUST own this guide.

This is one of the most user-friendly hiking guides I've ever used...it's laid out well, provides great resource information, the descriptions are clear and overall it makes what can be a difficult area to access very accessible. It's without a doubt made my time in the country more enjoyable and interesting.

Armenia - land of amazing mountains and plateaus and ancient culture...Are you interested in seeing old monasteries and churches or shepherds moving their flocks across the mountain face that you will be climbing? Come to Armenia and bring this guide-book with you.

Hiking in Armenia is an adventure. Eco-tourism is new and the land and mountains are still untouched. The Adventure Armenia guidebook is a perfect way to explore and experience a way of life that is vanishing in many parts of the world. About the book: I have found both the directions and options (once on the hike) incredibly accurate. I tested the book out five weeks ago on a hike to Mt. Hattis. We found our destination with no difficulty, had an interesting chat with a old woman at the shrine (start of the hike), and found ourselves in good company with shepherds and their flocks of sheep and goats. The shepherds were curious about us and often stopped us to ask what time it was (more for conversation, of course). We had spectacular views of Mt. Ararat and Mt. Aragats and were the only people on the mountain (other than the shepherds). The book itself is light-weight and provides one with plenty of pictures, recommendations, and practical advice about Armenia and getting around in Armenia.

I would highly recommend it to anyone coming to Armenia or living in Armenia that would like to see more of the country and experience first-hand the beauty of the country and its ancient sites.

I have lived in Armenia for over a year, and this is by far the most useful guide book on the market. Not only is it a great hiking guide, but it also provides all sorts of useful information about the country and region in a very accessible format. The authors have done a great job selecting hikes from a variety of regions and with varying skill levels. Unlike most guides about Armenia, the directions are up-to-date and easy to follow - a notable accomplishment given the generally poor signage in the country. Even if you aren't planning to hike, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone planning to venture beyond the city limits of Yerevan. It points you to all the best sights. Another bonus is the size - perfect for slipping in a pack or even a pocket.

I'm pleased to see that academia is now starting to look to subcultural doings as they happen, instead of invoking the fond nostalgia that the Beatniks inspired. The ability to digest and deconstruct the events that take place in this otherworldly space is much to be commended, and I think that by doing so the authors of these various articles may be tapping in to something most of their colleagues shy away from. The articles themselves are intriguing and scholarly, but never lose sight of their subject. I would love to see more editions of this book as the event (and the world around it - the context) changes and grows!

in these pages? Read this book and you will. Tho the author comments that this book was a composite of many different burning an festivals, te undercurrent feels strangely like one which puts you there in the middle of things.

There are a few details which, if you've been there, are a little flaky, and the book gets off to kind of a slow start (ergo the 4 stars) but as you bury yourself in this read (and it's one read that, if you're at all a burner, you will end up burying yourself in) you will be amazed... engrossed... wind blown... with a lot of little surprises thrown in that you don't expect, even all the way at the end.

There is another thing, tho... if you've never been to Black Rock City, and wonder what all the hubbub is about, ad you want to know if that ticket's worth it... and what it's getting you into... this book will give you a fairly good idea. Of course, your experience is your own... but, like I said in the beginning... read this, and you can almost smell the playa dust in these pages...

Critical writing up to any academic standards fused with a joy in language and topic. Wonderful! It will make your mind spin with ideas, and what could be better than that!

Prior to reading this excellent sophisticated introduction to Burning Man, I had dismissed this event as shamanism and tantra for amateurs. However, these well written, knowledgeable, and at times quite learned articles, have convinced me that Burning Man allows for the creation of authentic rituals that are rife with both transformative and aesthetic epiphanies. Moreover, it appears that Burning Man has largely not yet been" recouped" (to the use Guy Debord's term) by bourgeois capitualist society, and thereby succeeds where its predecessors, the Surrealists and Situationists, left off. Next year, instead of visiting the Himalayas or Mongolia for my taste of the (w)holy other, I will just go to Burning Man.

When I received this book in the mail, I tore it out andstarted reading it and didn't put it down. Couldn't put it down.I've been a Funk fan for almost 30 years having grown up with their music. I was really looking forward to this book when I heard it was coming out, and it didn't let me down. Well written, lots of facts with some great quotes I've heard and some I haven't heard from all the band members. It was interesting reading about their early days, and how they felt during all that since TK didn't really let them talk at all except (with a fight it sounded like) through their music. Billy James (AKA Ant Bee) is obviously a Funk fan, but this didn't shy him away from putting in the bad press and reviews the band received over the years, which if memory serves me right were most of the reviews they received, but this didn't stop them from going gold on their albums and selling out arenas. It is written mostly it seems from articles and interviews given by the band over the years with some correction from Don Brewer and Mel Schacher. It has an extensive bookmark section from where these articles and interviews came from. Very little dirt if that's what you're looking for, but a few amusing stories. Some good pictures too. I highly recommend this to any Grand Funk fan. It's a must!

This book is a page turner! I read the entire material within 48 hours after cracking it open. If you are a GFR fan, or a fan of classic rock in general, this book is highly recommended.

The tracks are laid out before the formation of GFR, and they pull back into the station after the Bosnia tour. Most interesting, to this reader, are the interactions the band had with Terry Knight. It was also an eye opener to know what the band had planned around the Bosnia era- many plans of which, sadly, did not come to fruition. If only...

This book gave me a deeper appreciation for "The People's Band," with all they had to endure from the "critics" (the author pulls no punches, as he quotes a vast amount of negative press heaped upon GFR), from shady management, and from the growing pains as musicians.

The only negative comment I can muster is the inclusion of a few typos within the text- of which the inclusions are minor.

This book is worth the price of admission!

An American Band, The Story of Grand Funk Railroad is a wonderful new book by Billy James that covers the History of the American Band Grand Funk Railroad (1969-1999).

An American Band covers GFRs Meteoric rise to Rock N roll Superstardom; there fall (due to the break up with there manager and the ensuing lawsuits) and there rebirth and reunions. The Book Goes through an album by album and tour by tour synopsis. It also covers Mark Farner's, Don Brewer's and Mel Shcacher's personal lives and solo careers. An American Band covers the origins of GFR (Bossman, ? and the Mysterians, Pack and Jazz master Days), The critical disdain and loyal fan support, The break Ups, The 80s reunion and the current reunion (96-98). It also covers GFR on the Internet and has a list of all the fan based sites.

Grand Funk Railroad formed in 1968 and released there first album, "On Time," in 1969. It was a first in a series of huge selling records ("On Time", "Grand Funk", "Closer To Home", "Live," "Survival," "E Pluribus Funk," "Mark, Don and Mel," "Phoenix," "We're An American Band," "Shinin' On," and "All The Girls in the world Beware"). GFR was an underground FM type band and received little airplay and nothing but negative media attention (if not outright hostility). Even with all that, Grand Funk Railroad with the support of a huge and loyal fan base, was the largest selling Rock group in the 1970s (1970-79); they sold twenty-five million albums in the United States and another 20 million more worldwide. They were the first band to sell 12 straight Gold Albums and 10 straight Platinum albums. They charted many times (With a switch to a more polished sound in 72 and the addition of a permeant keyboard player Craig Frost) with two songs reaching #1, "The Loco-Motion" and "We're An American; with also "Bad Time" and "Some Kind Of Wonderful" reaching the top 5. In 1975, GFR won the BMI award for having the most played song on the radio, which was "Bad Time". There were thrown off the Led Zeppelin tour in 69, cause Zeppelins manager could not stand the fact the GFR was the crowd pleaser (GFR blew the mighty Zep off the stage). They went on to tour on there own. They sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beetles, and sold out in the US and in their worldwide tours breaking records where ever they went. All this is covered in An American band in detail and Billy makes great use of critics reviews (both good and bad) and also the reactions of Mark, Don and Mel, to show what they thought about all that was happening around them. Billy also goes on to detail GFRs later and solo albums "Caught in the Act," "Born To Die," "Good Singin Good Playin," "Flint" (Don Mel and Craig's band), and Mark Farner's solo albums "Mark Farner," No Frills," "Just Another Injustice," "Wake Up," "Some Kind Of Wonderful." And GFR's New efforts "Bosnia," A double Live CD with proceeds going to the Bosnia war orphans and refugee relief fund, and "Thirty Years Of funk-1969-99," a 3 CD set Anthology covering the band from the pack days to three brand new songs.

GFR has always been the "People's Band." If they had something to say they did it, Mark Farner was always very political and it came out in his songs. His Anti Vietnam sediments were shown in songs suck as "Closer To Home," & "People Lets Stop The War;" His worry about the environment issues was shown in songs such as "Save The Land," & "Ban The Man." Overpopulation and spiritual searching in songs such as "So You Wont have to die," & "Comfort Me." Mark who was always a Christian became a devout follower of Jesus in the 80s and Mark's God Rock albums are covered in Billy's Book as well. Back in the early 1970s, GFR took a stand against hard drugs by doing promotional ads urging their generation not to destroy their lives with drugs. This was not a popular thing to do, at that time, but they showed the caring necessary not to worry about record sales and do what was right. They also helped establish the Phoenix House, which started in New York City. Phoenix House worked mostly with teens who were drug dependent. Mark, Don, and Mel named an album after the Phoenix House, "Phoenix," in its honor and played concerts for free to raise money for that institution. They also did advertisements for the Red Cross to get young people to Give Blood. Billy does a great job showing all sides of the band.

An American Band is the most documented and complete History that can be found on the great American Band, Grand Funk Railroad. Billy does a great job showing there whole history the good with the bad, the book is excellent and a must have for every GFR Fan. Billy also documents how the band was ripped of by the Manager Terry knight, and for this section alone, every young inspiring musician sound read this book. Its on SAF publishing and its ISBN is 0 946719 26 8

Rick Cappetto

This book documents the history of the legendary American rock group - Grand Funk Railroad. It tells of their early rise to fame; from a garage band from Flint, MI. to selling out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles. From a $6,000,000 lawsuit with their former manager to ten consecutive gold records. It tells of the groups demise in 1976 to it's rebirth in 1996; still packing stadiums like they did 20 years previous! With the help of Grand Funk band members Don Brewer and Mel Schacher, 'An American Band - the Story Of Grand Funk Railroad' is the definitive source for the history of one of the world's greatest rock and roll groups! As a bonus, Don Brewer has written the forward to the book as well!

As a novice generally interested in ancient Rome, I found this book to be just what the doctor ordered to understand the complex history of ancient Rome. The books lays out the history of Rome and all of its complxity in realitively easy to read terms. It is a very "reader friendly" book for the person who wants an better understanding of how the empire was formed and how it operated.

I actually thought that reding this would be a bit of a chore, but a necessary one to achieve a better understanding of the subject matter. I was pleasantly surprised to find it far from a chore to read. I came away with a working knowledge of the empire.

I was a contributing editor for the 2001 edition and co-authored the preface with my colleague, Suzanne Cross.
We trust that the general reader will find this classic work by Robert Payne a fine introduction to the history of Rome and her remarkable civilization.

Fifteen centuries after her fall, ancient Rome still has the power to fascinate us. The ruins and rutted roads where her mighty empire once held sway - from Britain to Africa to Asia - are mute testament to the vast scope of her greatness and a sobering reminder of the mortality of glory. But Rome's powerful legacy in the imagination of the West isn't built on ruins. As the author of this book so ably relates, we are the heirs of her ideas, a legacy perhaps more relevant to us at this moment in history than ever before. The Romans have, in fact, never seemed more modern.

Consider:

Common currencies? Twelve nations of the European Union have adopted a common currency-the euro-with other member states working toward the same goal. An innovation? The Roman denarius was the common currency of the Mediterranean world for at least 450 years.

Globalization? The Romans struggled with the "globalization" of their economy and its undreamed-of potential for prosperity- and conflict- long before the World Trade Organization and it's foes. They contended with the political and sociological consequences of the gaps between rich and poor, the role of slavery, the abandonment of the individual farm and the high price of unemployment, homelessness and want. These difficult issues are as real to us today as they were in the time of the Caesars.

Cultural diversity ? At it's height, the Roman Empire embraced over 50 million people on three continents, of vastly different cultures, creeds,and ethnicity, and made them one in a system where merit could raise a simple soldier from a far-flung province to the center of power. The Romans understood and valued talent and rewarded the able-regardless of origin. One example is the story of Pertinax, the son of a freed slave, who rose from the ranks to reign-albeit briefly-as emperor in the late second century.

World peace ? The Pax Romana - the Roman peace- lasted more than 200 years, the longest period free from major conflict the western world has ever known. Rome became the universal symbol of a dream that has haunted the human imagination since her fall: one world, at peace, united under the rule of law. After 20 centuries, it haunts us still.

Mass communications? The vast network of Roman roads, as revolutionary in it's day as the internet is in ours, served to tie the disparate empire together as the arteries of commerce and defense, but more important still as the pathway for ideas that profoundly changed the world. As a result, the Roman stamp is everywhere- in architecture, government, law, language and popular culture.

Post-Imperialism and Democracy? After the collapse of Roman power in Western Europe, the painful transition from united Empire to a patchwork of feudal states sapped the energies of the Mediterranean world for centuries. As Rome's former provinces struggled, so many third-world countries contend with ambivalent colonial legacies today. Yet it was Rome's republican ideals and institutions that inspired the Founding Fathers of colonial America in creating the laws and government of their infant democracy and continue to inspire free peoples around the world struggling with the vexing issues of self government.

When the Horizon Book of Ancient Rome first appeared in 1966, it set the standard for a one-volume introduction to the city on the Tiber and her vast Empire. In the 35 years since it's publication, new research in archaeology,anthropology, historiography and social sciences have produced landmark studies in Roman demographics, women's studies, and other fields, often with the aid of cutting-edge computer technology and the vast resources of the Internet. (A special feature of this volume are computer-generated images of the Roman Forum using digital technology only available in the past few years.)
In popular culture, the fiction of Lindsay Davis and Steven Saylor, numerous television documentaries, the development of PC games like "Civilization" and "SPQR" and the popularity of movies like "Gladiator" shows that ancient Rome is vividly alive in the 21st Century imagination.

With this in mind,Payne's book remains surprisingly undated and fresh, a solid introduction to almost every aspect of Rome's long history: her wars, armies, legendary figures like Julius Caesar and Constantine,the impact of Christianity, city architecture, government, literature,art , engineering and more. An extensive bibliography is included as a guide to further study.

Written with a bright high school student in mind (which is fine with me), this introductory history of Rome is an excellent read. The prose is highly readable. There could be more on the fall of Rome, especially because of the many parallels between the decline of modern Europe and the collapse of Rome. Many, including me, also see parallels between modern USA and ancient Rome.

In any event, it is an exciting period in history and Payne does a good job bringing it alive. One suggestion: read a biography of Cicero and a few of his essays; also read The Aeneid. Cicero was a hero to several of America's founding fathers. His life and thought not only reveal him and his times, but also disclose the ideas and intentions of the founders of the USA.

I recommend this book to anyone whom is looking for a generalized Historical background on Ancient Rome. Not a good source for specific detail.

I ordered this book, and it just came in the mail recently. I sat down and read it all in one sitting. Bet ya don't know which of the guys's favorite cartoon character is Alvin from The Chipmunks! And which one's favorite quote came from a South African pastor?

The chapters in this book include:
Overview Of The Band; Making The Promise; Taking It To The World; Jason Perry; Lights, Camera, Action; Jeremy Mhire; Hit The Road; Nathan Walters; It's Not What You Might Think; Nate Cole; Here In My Heart; Gabe Combs; Facing the Future; Fear Not; To The Fans; and Just The Facts.

Definately a cool book, and lots of cool pics too! If you're a fan of Plus One, you'll love it!

This book is a treat for any fan of this group. It's a bit thin, but is put together in a colourful fashion with lots of fun photos of the guys. Each member of the group gets his own profile and history with personal as well as publicity photos. A real bargain.

This book is about Plus One. It has facts about each of the guys, interviews, & great pics. Buy it if you're into Plus One (I mean, why wouldn't you be?). :)

This book is really good. I recommend any Plus One fan to get it. Great pics included in book. :)

The book worked very well. My wife and her sister sang one of their songs in church. The song and piano sounded great.

BG is by far the best Christian Rock band I've heard! THeir harmonies are perfect, and thins music is very easy. I've already memorized a lot of piano parts and guitar parts, just because I love it. Please don't delay/hesitate to get anything BarlowGirl. I can't wait for their next CD! (And I know their producer, Otto Price, and he rocks too! Part of the credit to this album should go to him! GO OTTO! GO BG!) Thanks!

If you liked the first Barlow Girl CD, you'll like this on too. Their music has a full, tight sound and great harmonies. I absolutely love their version of 'Enough'. Most of the other songs were just fair to good. And some of them seemed a bit despressing. But I'm still giving it a 5-star rating because of the song 'Enough'. It's a really great song, and they did a fantastic job on it both musically and vocally.

I love this book. It not only has the greatest songs in it, but it actually includes the notes for the harmonies! The pages are easy to read and follow, and the songs sound great. I used several songs from the book in my church as choir introits. Its a little lower than on the CD, but still a fantastic book.