Rock The Books

I loved this book! The author's writing style is evocative without being overwrought, and the story is engaging and accessible. It's not a long book, but a very satisfying read. Highly recommended!

This debut novel from Arthur Edwards, former bassist for the band The Refreshments, chronicles the dream of every future/never-to-be rock star: to escape suburbia and go on tour -- preferably in an over-sized, airbrushed bus.

Short but sweet, the pages flip quickly. Will Hote, Mr. Edwards' main character, escape Phoenix for Seattle, the land of his rock dreams? Or will he forever be stuck in the firing kiln of Phoenix, its concrete slabs extending as far as the eye can see?

Arthur Edwards does for music what Tom Clancey does for warfare; he writes an in depth technical novel about the inner workings of Phoenix's musical scene during the early '90's.
The main character, Hote, is the embodiment of the agnst and inner turmoil that was the hallmark of a young Generation X; following him for the three days he is stuck outside of Phoenix is as personal as rereading old journals from the same era. This book is so well-written I could hear Nirvana playing in the background and smell patchouli oil as I turned the pages.

After hearing a recent NPR interview with the author I ordered Taboo Tunes and have been totally charmed by it. Music censorship is an issue that has always interested me, and I've read and enjoyed a few others books about the topic -- including Eric Nuzum's good contribution from a few years back -- but there is just no doubt that Blecha's book shines. He brings to the table a distinct voice, an eye for meaningful detail, a background as a professional music historian and museum curator, but also a sense of fun. The author explicates the deep historical background of the music (and musicians) who have faced scorn for producing challenging music or lyrics, and he accomplishes this in a witty (if occasionally sarcastic) way that will attract even those who don't usually gravitate to history books. Because it was written with obvious commitment to rigorous scholarly standards (the Source and Reference citations run to 15 long pages) the book includes info about hundreds of controversial songs that, to my knowledge, haven't been documented in any one other place. The inclusion of many photographs of censored album covers and vintage sheet music spices up the book visually, but what keeps you reading is the "tongue in cheek" (and sometimes "laugh out loud") humor of the author. I'll view Taboo as a most unusual case of a masterful research effort that has resulted in a remarkably fun summer read.

...I would like to offer a review of "Taboo Tunes" and also weigh in on the impossibly contradictory reviews posted here by other reviewers. I have now had a chance to read this book and "Parental Advisory" (another book about music censorship, as referenced in those reviews). First of all: both books are worthwhile and have their own merits. However, some of the snarky attacks on "Taboo Tunes" by "A Reader" are downright untrue and ought to be addressed for the sake of Amazon.com customers. Let's examine the points raised: Yes, "Parental Advisory" was published first. And, it was a fine book that covered a lot of the topic's basics (though its format - narrative first, and then restating all that information a second time by presenting it in a chronological time-line form makes the book repetitive and exactly twice the length it needed to be). But the notion that "Taboo Tunes" used Nuzum's book as its "one source" of information, is flatly false. Blecha's book covers far more historical ground, a fact that puts the lie to the statement that "Parental Advisory" is "much more thorough and conprehensive" (sic). While Eric Nuzum devoted much more attention to the one historic incident of Tipper Gore's mid-1980s PMRC crusade, Peter Blecha covers that period as well and goes much further in documenting the deeper history of censorship over the centuries and around the globe. Regarding that undeniably superior breadth of story-telling, "A Reader" misleads again by posting the quip that "Taboo Tunes" includes "a few things" that Nuzum "missed or chose not to include." Well, that's putting it lightly: In fact, "Taboo Tunes" - which does share 4 out of 90 photo images with "Parental Advisory" - was published four full years later, and so it includes plenty of information that Nuzum was simply not in the position to cover in his book. "Taboo Tunes" digs deeper into the history, and also succeeds in bringing that history up to current times. "Parental Advisory" was a commendable introduction to the topic, but as a professional historian and writer, Blecha has the skills to frame the big picture in a form that is compelling and up to date. In sum, "A Reader's" review amounts to an unfair attack, an inaccurate analysis, and a bit of naked propaganda that does Amazon.com customers a disservice through its not-so-hidden agenda.

Taboo Tunes is not the first book ever published on music censorship, but FINALLY we get one written with skill, serious spunk, attitude, and flair. The author lays out the basics of what arts-censorship is, the deep history of the practice as a socio-political tool of the powerful, a brief survey of modern-day censorship in a global context, and then gets down to business: relating the story of censorship in America. Written in a humorous, fun, and wickedly wild style, Taboo Tunes' author sure knows what he's talking about. From the banning of early dance steps like the Waltz and Tango nearly a century ago, to radio bans on early jazz, rock `n' roll, and hip-hop, this book covers a lot of ground at a good lively clip. Nothing is over-looked: I almost died laughing while reading this telling of the FBI's silly investigation of the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" -- and nearly wept reading how the Nazi's suppressed the German jazz and classical scenes - and how America's government harassed artists like Billie Holiday, paul Robeson, and Woody Guthrie. Tipper Gore gets no mercy for her role in the 1980's PMRC incidents just as Nixon is excoriated for letting the FBI harass John Lennon, Jim Morrison, and other musicians with a political bent. Taboo Tunes makes clear exactly what happened during the Ice-T "Cop Killer" scandal in the `90s, and distills into entertaining form all the uproars in recent years over record "Warning Labels," satanic "back-masking," radio payola, censored album jackets, banned MTV videos, and controversial artists like Madonna, Rage Against The Machine, and the Dixie Chicks. Speaking of which: perhaps the book's strongest point is the even-handed way it presents the history of political dissent (in song) and the amazing things that have happened to various bands who have spoken out against war since 9/11. Scary stuff! Just raced through the book and can't imagine a finer telling of all this history of sex, drugs, dissent, and, yes, Rock N Roll. I'm going to read it again. Right now. Highly Recommended!

Outstanding and most complete description of most important subjects in relation with the teaching of gynecological surgery, ideal for medical students and residents. Specially important, there is a chapter on ethics and gynecological surgery.

This book is very useful for my gynecologic surgery learning period and just like a friendly teacher on my hand !!!
Young-Chan Lee

There are at least two texts that are considered "the authority" for internal medicine. The same for Obstetrics.

For Gyn surgery there is only one, and this is it. Te Linde's is so far ahead of any competitors that all Gynecologists I know consider any other texts to be useful only as supplements to Te Linde's.

It is also written in an easy to follow style - not as dry as many medical texts, and it is exhaustively complete. It would be worth the price (for a Gyn Surgeon) if only for the portions dealing with hysterectomy and surgical treatment of cystocele and stress urinary incontinence.

An excellent book. Really top quality information regarding a band that keeps much to its own privacy. Must have taken a lot of research and time to produce. I reccomend to everyone!

Mr. Falkers book had me in stiches. Now I can impress my friends, the Side Hill Dutchmen, with my knowledge of Dead trivia. The cover art work was also impressive.

Mr. Falker has assembled a light hearted look at the life and times of the Grateful Dead. With an amusing intoduction+ and accurate concise and humerous text.reading for deadheads and Trivphreaks alikee. The book appears to have been finished and published just prioor to the Demise of the Bands Lead Guitarist+ and so it will always be a full hlife history of this most unusual Band. Congratulations for job well done Mr.Falker. Ogri ;)

This Book Was In Perfect Condition And Will Help Me A Great Deal Thank You Very Much!

I had never really heard much Tenacious D apart from Tribute on the radio. I went to see them when they came to Christchurch New Zealand and was blown away. This was actually a present for a fellow guitar player but of what I saw, it was very good.

This is all of their songs (not the skits) off their debut album, transcribed in full guitar tab with vocals. There is some very good guitar playing on this record so very highly recommended!!!

This book is awesome. I love Jack Black he's so damn funny. Tenacious D is no different. I've always loved their music and I just recently started playing guitar so I bought this book. It's pretty easy, but I still can't transition that fast so it's still a little difficult for me. Other than that this book rules.

This is a wonderful book, with a wealth of information, and very clearly written. I regret having overlooked it for several years. It also contains many worked examples, from a large variety of references.

Product came in great condition. Invaluable resource for the study of poromechanics or biphasic constitutive theories.

This book is one of the most useful I have come across in recent years. Poroelasticity is a challenging field, but rewarding to those who make the effort to study it. Wang does an excellent job, leading the reader from basic principles to a detailed understanding-with this book you can leapfrog dozens of more arcane works and get to grips with real problems. Yet, if you need the detail, a wide range of previous works are referenced, and put into historical perspective: a true work of synthesis. I hope this book will stimulate more Earth Scientists and Engineers to follow Wang's lead. Figures are as admirably clear as the writing. Only spoiled by the drab cover! This book covers quasi-static poroelasticity theory-consolidation and so on.
Now all we need is for someone brave to do the same job on dynamic poroelasticity!

I loved this book.It was great to hear the Beatles speaking for themselves for once. Great NEW pics too. A MUST buy for Beatles fans.

I have got all of Giulianp's interview books and I think they are terrific. He has got a way with words and organization I have yet to see from any other Beatles historian or pop expert. Really good interviews and great pics. too.

I would just like to say that of all the books I've read on the Beatles this is the most interesting of all. Me being a young fan of only 17 is intrigued by the poliical views and social views of the fab four. This book not only shows their serious side, but it also shows their witty sense of humor. I recommend this book to any fab-4 fan who would like to have a good laugh and insight into these great musicians in history. Peace! 8-)

This book is perfect for Beatles fans of all ages. Based on the radio show that ran for seven years, it collected a lot of great stories. Should be reissued!

The best compilation of stories on The Beatles. A must for any Beatle Fan. The book is based on the succesful Radio Show "Ticket to Ride"

This book should be re-issued.

"Ticket to Ride" was a radio show hosted by Scott Muni devoted entirely to the music and memory of the Beatles (remember the radio station in New York City that played nothing but Beatles music?). Muni was a New York radio mainstay for more than twenty years who was not only a disc jockey but a friend to the Beatles. "Ticket to Ride," the book, brings together photographs, rare Beatles memorabilia from Muni's personal collection, and, most importantly, the transcripts of interviews with those touched by the Beatles in important ways. This means musicians like Elton John, Jimmy Page, Sting, and the Rolling Stones talking about how the Beatles inspired their own careers. Then there are friends like Pete Best and Tommy Smothers, family like Yoko Ono and Julian Lennon, musical associates like Billy Preston and George Martin, and the Beatles themselves talking candidly about their lives and music. Muni writes the introduction, and the transcripts are edited by Denny Somach, Kathleen Somach, and Kevin Gunn. The order of these transcripts could not be characterized as chronological, but there is a general attempt to provide a sense of moving forward. An index would have been nice, so that if you want to read about the Beatles appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Brian Epstein, or the recording sessions for "Let It Be," that it would be more by purpose than happenstance, but transcripts rarely get presented that way. So, basically what we have in "Ticket to Ride" is an expert interviewer talking with about four dozen famous names about the Beatles, including the most famous names (John, Paul, George and Ringo). These are essentially primary document and virtually every interview is an enjoyable and informative read. Warning: when you read the John Lennon interview be prepared to rummage through your music library to play the same songs that pop up during the conversation.

With the huge success of Reynold's first dissection of modern music's bad lyrics I HATE MYSELF AND WANT TO DIE: THE 52 MOST DEPRESSING SONGS YOU'VE EVER HEARD there was bound to be an encore and this fascinating read doesn't disappoint. In Touch Me, I'm Sick Reynolds tackles those songs about love, but not the mutually consenting romantic love, no these songs are about obsessive stalking, sleeping with kids, sleeping with parents, pleasuring yourself, jilted lovers, bad break ups as well as basically anything else that you'd be serving serious jail time or even get the chair if the lyrics were real.

The amazing thing is many of these songs are highly popular and requested to be played and set the mood at inappropriate places like wedding receptions and graduations. Which means those who request these songs for these occasions are either sick in the head or have never actually listened to the lyrics and do not know what they are actually about.

Most of these songs spent time in the top ten of the UK or US charts (Reynolds tells you at the start of the dissection of each song) and there's also a few you may not have heard of. Even with the ones you've never heard of Reynolds gives a detailed account of what the song is about then tells the reader why it is creepy. For those of us who were not around in the 70's or earlier when some of these songs were hits you'll also learn interesting facts such as I never knew Michael Jackson's Ben was being sung to an injured human flesh eating rat.

Tom Reynolds certainly is a very funny writer, you'll be laughing out loud at many an observation such as on Paula Cole (p145 if you've got this with you) "She doesn't just have issues, she has lifetime subscriptions". On You're Beautiful by James Blunt (p69) being one of the most requested songs at weddings "makes absolutely no sense because it's about a guy who's too stoned to approach a girl he saw for a few seconds on a subway platform and so he just repeats over and over again how beautiful she is but won't ever see her again" On you're body is a Wonderland by John Mayer "he reassures her that he'll never let her head hit the bed without my hand behind it. I'm completely at a loss as to what this means other than the girl is a pillow chasing nut who likes to ram her skull into the headboard" (p92). These are just three examples of the gems of dissection you'll find in here. His dissection of the life of Kevin Federline is also a must read.

The whole book is actually a must read for any fan of music especially the lyrics. Artists who appear inside include Air Supply, Kylie Minogue, The Offspring, The Beatles (and Reynolds recount of a chat room conversation with a Lennon fan nut who blames every bad Beatles thing on Paul is hilarious), The Police, Pearl Jam, Jennifer Lopez, George Michael, Divinyls, Fergie, Christina Aguilera, Sarah McLaughlan, Alanis Morissette, Sinead O'Connor, Eminem, Jewel, Radiohead, Melissa Etheridge and Motley Crue.

Can't wait for the next dissecting music book by Reynolds, if it's even half as good as the first two I won't be disappointed.

This is a very funny book. Even if the songs are obscure, the stories can stand up on their own. It will stimulate debate among boomers about woeful contributions over the years. Sorry.... But hands down winner has to be "Havin' My Baby". I dare you to deny it!!

Hillarious, snarky jabs at 52 creepy songs. This includes the weird, the annoying and the icky. People familiar with popular music (from the 1970s forward) will appreciate it the most. There's a certian vindication in discovering a song you've long considered stupid/eerie/scary has made the cut. Includes some obscure but too-weird-to-ignore numbers too.

Incredible. That's the only word I can use to describe this book. I spoke with Thomas Mesereau (Michael Jackson's lead defense attorney for his trial) and he had recommended I get this book. I'm so glad I did. If you want to know why it's wonderful, BUY IT!!! It's definitely worth the money!!

And one last thing... MICHAEL JACKSON IS 100% INNOCENT!

Read this book in one go and currently re-reading it to really take in all the facts. This is a thorough, well-researched book written by a man with respectable journalistic credentials.
There are long asides and explanations to work through before you get to much information about Michael Jackson himself. However, this approach is better than wild conjecture. Guest maintains a cool head when talking about Jackson. He is certainly no fawning lap dog, mentioning several times that during the 1990s the star was overtaken by his own ego, yet he conveys sympathy for Jackson's plight.
Guest's analysis of the main players in the case is interesting. He makes some pertinent points about the (in my opinion)dastardly Martin Bashir and his role in 'cornering' Michael Jackson - and the fact that Bashir has never really been been taken to task over this. The details he provides about Sony, and the entertainment business in general, certainly hammer home the fact that showbusiness, pop, rock, whatever you want to call it, is no bubblegum business. Perhaps not a book for the fervent fan as Michael Jackson is not at the centre of it - Sony is - but a good read for anyone who wants to know about the machinations of the music industry.

At long last, to all the naysayers and michael-bashers that would not believe the innocence of this highly gifted icon. Lynton Guest, the inside man of the evil corporation of Phony... I mean Sony, lays out the evidence that Michael and his fans have long proclaimed. Here, in solid print, is the burden of proof of how highly vulnerable a mega-star like Mike can become. The conspiracy, behind the trail, that no one saw and how calculated the media hunted for negative headlines to destroy not only a man but honest journalism as a whole. If only this book can be submitted as evidence to wipe out the label of guilt, given by public opinion, from a truly innocent man and superstar. Here is your burden of proof!