Music Books

This book's got everything a die-hard Metallica fan could ask for. I just finished reading it and I couldn't put it down. Normally, I don't read anything, but this being the best book about the best band in the world, I never stopped until the end. Complete history, all the songs played over the years, whatever you wanna know about the band, you'll find it here. If you've never read this book, you're not a full-fledged Metallica fan. Great job, Sem!

When this book originally came out several years ago, it was a pretty handy and interesting guide to the world of collecting Metallica CDs, Vinyl, Cassettes and Promo only items. To anyone not a collector, the book probably wouldn't hold much interest, even though there is a brief historical timeline to major events in the life of Metallica at the start of the book. The family tree of the various bands that members were once in towards the end of the book goes into a little more detail than some other books I've read, as those tend to usually gloss over the pre-Metallica bands, so it's nice to have. The demos and cover songs section is decent too, although it's missing a few items and lacks details for some. Also included is a radio interview CD.

The main problems with the book are mostly due to the format. It's understandable with the sheer number of bootlegs out there, that the author can't really do more than give them a passing mention (they'd be a book unto themselves). But any type of listing that tries to encompass everything that a (still) recording artist does is going to get stale pretty fast -- as new releases come and never before discovered versions of the albums and singles come to light. This type of listing is really better suited to the internet, which since the time the book was published, everybody and their grandmother has access to. There are several excellent sites that cover this material (the author has one himself) and is really the proper way to pass on this type of info. The book is also marred by some egregious typos and poorly reproduced scans that make the book look cheap (in quality, not price), which is too bad because this the only place to get a lot of this info in book form.

I bought this book buy mistake. I am really glad I did, It is a Metallica collectors must have. If you are a collector of anything Metallica, from rare vinyl, vinyl singles, cd's, cd singles, bootlegs, videos, promo's, cassettes, fan cans etc.... This guide gives you information on every Metallica release from every country. Mostly black and white it has a color section in the middle. Also comes with a interview cd. The author also provides his web address, he has a great website also. Get this one before its gone, you won't regret it.

Just when you thought you had a good little collection going, some guy from Norway goes and makes a book that makes you realize that you really don't have much! Ouch!!! This is an excellent book for the serious collector, Sem did an awesome job (like big surprise, right). Whether you think you have it all or you are just getting started into collecting "Metallica," you need this book!

This book is the most detailed Metallica book I have ever seen. It should be and there are so many items in the book not only the text but with tons of pictures so you know what to look for. Do yourself a favour and buy this book. I call it the bible for Metallica fans.

This is a phenomenal resource for the Mikado. The piano reduction is imminently playable, and the libretto includes the spoken dialogue between each of the vocal selections. The chorus parts are included, so this little score is the whole show in a complete package, with the exception of not being scored for the orchestra. Unless a person would want to alter some script, or lyrics (such as is commonly done in certain songs, i.e. I've Got a Little List) This Dover Vocal Score ranks right up there with the Stratford Video Production from 1982 - which is one of the best productions of this Gilbert and Sullivan classic.

This well-priced score is a great edition for student productions because it's legible and affordable!

Well, I don't know if it is perfect or not. However, it does have bar numbers, which is more than can be said for most of the vocal editions out there. AND they match the published full scores.

When you are rehearsing or doing any type of serious work with the music, being able to reference bar numbers is invariable. "Second bar of third system on page #148", just doesn't cut it.

Great for learning both dialogue and vocal score for anyone who is taking part in this production or who is just considering auditioning.

Being a serious fan of Gilbert and Sullivan's work and a performer in several of their collaborations, this is a wonderful score. It has every piece of dialogue, every song, and a great cover. If you are ever going to be in a production of 'The Mikado', buy this score!

After buying & loving Ella Elephant Scats Like That, we ordered Miles the Crocodile. My daughter loves the book and the CD! It's always playing in my car and isn't as cheesy as most children's music. We'll definitely buy more of the Baby Loves Jazz series.

Sturdy; colorful illustrations. Music matches moods based on colors. A couple of the selections are not age-appropriate for baby, but overall a fun concept.

I have a 5 month old baby who I've been reading to since she was born.
She loves all the books in the Baby Loves Jazz series. She loves the colorful illustrations and the rhythmic stories. Miles Crocodile is her favorite. Duck Ellington and Charlie Bird are great too.

This series is wonderful! Our two-year-old absolutely loves the Baby Loves Jazz series. We bought a few to start out, then ended up buying the whole set. Two months after acquiring them, she is still enamored and requests to listen to them and read them every day. Her favorites? Well, these are the words we hear most often: "Mommy, read Duck and Miles?" or "Daddy, listen to Duck and Miles?" Philly Joe is also high on the list. I recommend them all. The books stand out on their own, but the music is what makes this series really shine. For example, on Duck Ellington's CD, he does a great Monk style on one track, then switches to great impression of Coltrane's classic quartet on the next track, with a very nice McCoy Tyner impression. Lots of variety and high quality make this series worthwhile (though I could have done without Louis Lion's potty tune). Don't forget the Go Baby Go CD as well (a stand-alone CD without a book), which is perhaps a notch above the music on the book CDs. The ABC tune is her favorite on that one.

My husband and I absolutely love this series. It was made with adults in mind. It's not too kidish. We have the Miles the Crocodile, Charlie Bird, Ella Elephant, & Duck Ellington so far. We also have the Baby Loves Jazz CD (go baby go). It's great too. My 1 year old loves them all. We've been listening to them since he was about 8 months old. He listens to them every morning and night before bedtime. He's even started dancing to them. Now that he's a little older. He brings me the books and we read the little stories. I also dubbed these for my nieces who are 3 & 6. They really like them too. You can't go wrong with these books that come with the cd's. They are an excellent teaching tool as well as entertainment

The music industry is a very harsh world that punished and still punishes the weak and the ones that make mistakes. You must keep your head high and your spirit high if you want to have any chance here, a world in which evolution is speeding and the weak are eliminated in a blink of an eye. Moses Avalon's title has good background information coupled with witty explanations and additional breaking information about some of the more recent success stories. A definite buy for people involved in the business or for someone who wants to enter this world.

Another brilliant traipse through the tangles of the music biz. And in this volume we get the added value of "lessons learned" from a wide spectrum of industry reps.

Moses has more know-how in his little finger than a roomful of music business teachers. Read and master his stuff, or die!

-Peter Spellman

A great man once told me "The only good mistake is one you learn something from, and you don't learn unless you admit the mistake in the first place." I'm glad to see a book like this that contains first class mistakes and ways to avoid them. No one explains the dirty ways of the music biz like Moses. So get it, read it, highlight it and use it to avoid the pitfalls and side tracks that are coming your way.

Whenever I feel like adding some gas to the tank, I read this book. It does a great job of capturing the dark ugly mess we call the music industry. This is a great book for anyone thinking of joining the industry and provides real life examples of pitfalls that other artists have endured over time.5 stars!

The book is an easy read as it is written very clearly. Any person who aspires to be in the music industry must pick up this book. This is their bible. People say that in order to succeed you got to be in it to win it but once the point if you don't even know how the game is played? Get this book, learn the system and play by your rules!

I picked up this book to help me with my Jazz Studies classes. It is amazingly simple and clear, with just enough illustrations to make things easily understood, and a great dose of exercises for practical application. I found it clearly laid out and logically arranged. It's easy to find topics that I'm looking for just from the index, and there aren't pages of unnecessary information to go through before finding the needed resources.

You will need a clear understanding of music theory, but not necessarily of specific jazz, since vocabulary specific to jazz writing is defined and clarified.

The information is laid out as a reference, with information on each instrument, scale, chord, etc., carefully presented for quick reference.

O Autor dá um banho em matéria de pragmatismo. É um excelente material de ensino e um bom livro para pequenas consultas também. Traduz a didática americana da melhor maneira.
The author makes a goal on pragmatism. It is an excellent material for teaching and a good book for small queries as well. Translates the american-teaching way very best.

Well, I used old russian sources before, and had a lot of problems with understanding of voicings. I just can say - this book is amazing! Very clear, logical, exercises... if you need to know about how to change basic chords to more complex, this book is your helper.

The material presented is great, and will prove helpful in my study of arranging.

I did have one problem with the book however. In the introduction it states, "Because this book is intended for an expanded audience beyond students enrolled at Berklee, it includes substantial amounts of new text, many new musical examples, solutions to exercises and an accompanying CD."

Yes, it's all there except the solutions to the exercises and I am finding that frustrating. I contacted the publisher and got this reply:

Our Senior Editor clarified that the author meant the exercises begin with a measure of answers filled in for the student. They will clarify the "solutions to exercises" mention in the next printing of the book. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused you.

Anyways, I found this aspect frustrating and a hinderance to my getting the full benefit of this book.

This book is absolutely excellent. Like other Berklee Press books, it is easy-to-understand, and it offers exercises after each exercise to ensure that the lessons are etched in your brain through hands-on application. This book demystifies alot concerning voicings and chord scale theory, and I dare say that this and "Reharmonization Techniques" by Randy Felts should be the first books one reads before they read other fine arranging books by Sebesky, Riddle, Mancini and Grove. Many of those books focus more on style, with little if any explaination of jazz/chord theory. Once you get the essentials from this book, you'll gain way more from the other books.

This book starts with a lesson on chord theory, then simple 4 and 5 part voicings, as well as non-chord tone reharmonization. It then proceeds to tell you exactly how to write voicings in fourths, clusters, and upper-structure triads. In addition, it comes with a CD with recorded examples from each chapter of the book, so you can hear the subtle differences between the various voicings and effects.

This book is amazing!

One word of advice (speaking from my own initial misunderstanding): when reading the early chapter detailing "avoid notes", be sure to absorb and understand it as much as possible - it is the foundation upon which the later chapters on specialized voicings are built upon. This is the only part of the book where a decent grasp of jazz chord construction and tensions MAY be needed. In a nutshell, a note is avoided because: a.) It creates an nasty, dissonant interval with an essential chord tone, or b.) It creates an inteval with an essential chord tone that is uncharacteristic of that chord type (ie. a tritone in a Major 7th chord, etc.)

This is a wonderful little book. My children loved it and I still enjoy reading this to children when I get a chance. I like to volunteer to read at the schools, libraries, etc in our area.

I thought this book was a funny story.It was funny because a mouse learns to sing and the mouse is friends with a human. I thought the story waas interesting at times because when a human sees a mouse they scream but not Mrs. Honeybee she is nice to the mouse and gives them chocolate. I think you will enjoy this book because it was very interesting. I really enjoyed this book so you should to.

I thought this book was a good book because there is always going on. Like when Wolf was singing. I also thought some of the parts were funny. I thought it was funny becausethe only way Mrs.Honeybee could get Wolf to sing was if she gave him a piece of chocolate, and who would have thought, a singing mouse. This book is also weird because that there is a singing mouse and that is funny and very very wierd. It is als weird that Mrs. Honeybee wants to spend all of her extra time with Wolf and Mary (Wolfs mother).

A Mouse Called Wolf comes from the inventive mind of Dick King-Smith who gave us Babe: The Gallant Pig.

After watching his friends race across piano keys, wee Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse throws back his head and sings. Eventually he uses his voice to rescue the lady of the house. Wolf's antics are ably illustrated by Jon Goodell.

Dick King-Smith writes another fabulous book. This wonderful story of friendship and heroes is an inspiration to people of all ages. It speaks about friendship, family and aspiring to do your best. As always the characters come to life and become the readers new best friend.

The book showed up in a timely fashion and was brand new, just like it said online.

Terrance Hayes is a name you will see again. I promise you.

An earlier edition of this book came into my hands shortly after I worked with this wonderful poet at a seminar for younger poets. A wonderful first collection. So human it hurts. Get it now that it's back in print!

I just had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Terrance Hayes read at the University of Idaho. He was nervous, I think, and the room was big and strange, but this young man can write. He can really write. The new book--HIP LOGIC--is going to be terrific, and I'll bet each book that comes after will be better yet. A really splendid new talent.

I first became familiar with Mr. Hayes' work, when i saw his poem "Blackbird" in a 1995 double issue of ObsidianII: Black Literature In Review. It appeared opposite a poem I publshed in the journal. Every poem in Muscular Music, is a snapshot about African American life, and sings a song of america: "Late," "Goliath," "Something For Marvin," "Blackbird," "The Yummy Suite," " What I am..." The Black experience is all in here... I was laughing my ass off at " I want to be fat" and I'm a big guy.Expect Terrence Hayes to be a major poet in the literary canon.

Terrance Hayes has written a book where the poems have bite. These poems are hard-hitting, honest, sincere and yet suffused with "tenderness." "Yummy Suite" is one of the most powerful sequence of poems I have read anywhere that confront what is going on in our urban neighbourhoods today. I also loved "Late," "Goliath" and too many more to name. Here is a writer well worth getting to know. If I may riff on the Reuben Jackson quote that serves as an epilogue, Terrance Hayes' Muscular Music is a book that also "reveals itself" one splendid "black note at a time." Buy this book -- read it aloud and share it with a friend!

As an artifact documenting the group and their history, this most assuredly rates 5 full stars. The chances of there ever being something else even remotely close to this exhaustive about the group can pretty safely be put at slim to none.

Having said that, you should know what you're getting. This should be looked at as more of a rambling scrapbook than a strict "bio" type book. (Although lest that give the wrong impression, while there are many pictures, this is a *very* text heavy item! The majority of the book has additional info and annotations running down the side of each page.)

As a readable entity, though - as in, you start at the beginning and work your way to the end - it is in many ways a bit of a trainwreck (though a charming one, I hasten to add.) I found it easiest to digest by finding a certain section, reading that part, taking a break, then going back to find another. While the book does proceed in a chronological order, there is a tendency to sometimes veer off that path a bit. (Though again to be fair, sometimes this is noted in advance - but not always.) And in any case, if you're already a fan (which presumably anybody who would buy this is!), reading it in a precise chronological order is not necessarily such an important thing. (If you're like me, you know you'll want to go straight to your favorite bits/periods, anyway!)

The author (of whom there is no real info about given anywhere in the book) is quite obviously not a native English speaker. While by no means a sin, this does lead to some rather perplexing (and usually humorous) passages. Also, this reviewer found it a touch disturbing that, while the majority of the facts about the group, especially in their earliest days, were heretofore unknown to me, a few of the things that I *did* know about them and their activities were not mentioned accurately (or sometimes at all). This could suggest a lack of proper research, though again, with the wealth of information that is provided here, one can easily forgive the occasional error or omission.

So - don't go in expecting the most readable tome you've ever come across. But if the idea of a truly warts and all, minutiae-filled catalogue of the band's activities and history - and for that matter, a general impression of the times that surrounded them - sounds good to you, do not hesitate to grab this. You'll be most pleased in the end.

To hold in my hand this beautiful book is to hold Pandora's box. I lift the lid. I take a peek. And what I see inside this wonderfully designed object- bound as a book and yet radiating out with a strange collage-like power, are spokes to other times, other states of consciousness and people I have known. And loved. Worked with. And lost.

I was present and highly visible in the era when Tuxedomoon came into being. I ran parallel to them as a poet, as one of the Angels of Light and as one largely responsible for Victoria Lowe moving to California. In fact, she lived with me when she moved into San Francisco. I also got to see the strange confluence of talents drawn to each other as she met Steven Brown (also in the Angels) and Winston Tong. They performed in small shows the Angels did and, for a brief period, there was a sense that Tuxedomoon was growing out of the Angels of Light just as the Angels had been birthed from their own prior incarnation: the Cockettes, a glitter drag queen theater that perished in late 1972. Unlike many organic transformations, however, I don't recall any sense of breaking away but, rather, a 'metamorphosis into'. Perhaps this is because the fable-oriented and magical Angels, outrageous and fabulous as we were, fused many classical but familiar elements of theater: masks, puppets, stage sets, costumes, songs, mime and a diverse range of formal dance forms: Chinese, Indian, Balinese and Western jazz, tap, ballet, tango, etc.

Tuxedomoon, however, embarked on a mysterious journey of its own: something poetically yet radically different. In fact, it was this 'differentness' that was so captivating and alluring. It was essentially un-decorative and seductive, not sentimental in the least- austere and self-assured rather than deliberately pleasing. And in that strange moment of the mid-1970s when the hippie and glitter ages were passing into history with their referential nods to Old Broadway, Vaudeville, Burlesque and a bit of Guignol, Tuxedomoon surfaces as an enchanting alternative to the hard-edged and gritty Punk rock stance.

For we who lived in that time, it's almost impossible to recollect, let alone articulate, the multi-dimensional quality of existence. Life was aquatic. Free-form. There was a sense of listlessness and drift as the certainties of the counterculture forged in the Civil Rights and Anti-war movements of the 1960s hit the doldrums in the aftermath of Nixon's resignation; the end of America's tragic misadventure in Vietnam; the slow acknowledgment that San Francisco was not immune from the crippling economic effects of the Arab Oil embargo of 1973-1974 and that even Nixon's resignation under threat of imminent impeachment had not brought about a renaissance or cleansing for which we'd all hoped so desperately.

A certain oppositional certainty had been lost when the Angels hit our political, outrageous and socially pointed zenith in 1975 with 'Paris Sites Under the Bourgeois Sea," (a free show which I scripted, and which was staged at the SF Museum of Art) where the greatest illustration of totemic and imperious bearded drag queens used to symbolize Social Order and the ancienne regime fell to an invasion of giant rats and the Plague. No one could have known it at the time that we were not paying homage to Anotin Artuad, as we believed, but announcing the advent of the New Black Death which would lay waste to our shining city, and the culture of liberation that we had forged at such great personal and individual risk and, yet, with such pride and love.

It was out of this strangely unknowable, ill defined time that Tuxedomoon arose. Isabelle Corbisier captures it beautifully in her book, She writes magnificently in English (her second language), and in some miracle of cosmic osmosis or sympathetic magic, the fact that she was not here and not on the scene has given her just enough creative distance to observe brilliantly and capture what I wonder if anyone closer in towards the center could have pinned down so accurately. Not only is her prose clear, her thoughts are perfectly arranged- a tribute to the organization of a legal mind trained and disciplined to a fine polish. A mysterious order exists in this book, one complemented by the design itself, which is also her creation. The book is an object. Small side bars and inserts, the way photos are displayed, the collage like elements and, concurrently, the sense of a visible film-script caught on paper all contribute to a book that, itself, is a work of art even as it celebrates the vagabonds and slightly remote poetic souls who came together and created a unique and compelling group. I salute this book as one who, having been present at Tuxedomoon's inception and as part of the subculture from whence it sprang, knows what is real, or not real, honestly representative (or not) from that era.

This book is true to the time, true to the artists and, in its very presence, an accurate reflection of the aesthetic that avoided the too easy postures of Punk, circumvented the elaborate but subject-oriented dreamworld of the Angels of Light and vaulted into another dimension. I wish I could explain that world to the readers of this piece. The truth is: I can't. I perceived Tuxedomoon, and some of its members (especially Victoria Lowe, whom I loved very much, and the equally beautiful Steven Brown, whom I liked and respected) from my side of a smoky glass. We could not inhabit the same worlds and be true to both. Being true, each sphere was its own universe.

Fortunately, I don't have to struggle for the words or attempt to usher the uninitiated into Tuxedomoon. Isabelle Corbisier has done it all for the fortunate souls who go on the journey with her. As one from that era, and from that world, I can say that it is next-to-impossible for anyone to do what she has done: provide a compass and enough clear markers to serve as guideposts to illuminate a sphere that was mysterious yet compellingly binding. This book and the consciousness that informs it represents an amazing tour de force. My congratulations.

Adrian Brooks
(former Angel of Light and author of 'Flights of Angels')

This book is almost as thick as the Bible. Most questions and facts about anyone involved with Tuxedomoon from the early days until now are answered.
I felt the book to be honest in approach. Nothing seemed to be held back for the sake of vanity. A good read for any Tuxedomoon fan.

For fans of Tuxedomoon and those with an interest in the group, this exhaustive biography is perfect. What Ms. Corbisier has done with this book is extraordinary. Over years of interviews she has compiled a unique history of one of music's unique voices. It is the best companion in music biography that I have yet to see. Even if the reader has just a passing curiosity in the band, I highly recommend getting this book. Ms. Corbisier's prose is easy to read, the pictures are lovely, the side comments are fantastic. Highly recommended.

Tuxedomoon is an hybrid of a band that persevered and triumphed against all odds. Their score for choreographer Maurice Bejart's Greta Garbo inspired ballet Divine, thrust the band into the international spotlight.
Prior to that they had long inhabited the dark corners of the continents through tireless navigation of the nightclubs and performance art venues of the US and then as expatriates in Europe. So to an early fan like myself it was sweet to bear witness to the arc of success of these prolific recording artists as they developed a huge following in Europe even before their work with Bejart.
Isabelle Corbisier's book charts this arc of success with élan and devotion. Through story telling interwoven with gritty oral interviews and music reviews, Corbisier adeptly deconstructs the convergences of the pertinent movements of the times; new wave, no wave, goth, dada, anarchist, etc.
This is a must read for anyone intrigued by the petri-dish that was punk and new wave in the 70's and 80's. That Tuxedomoon is still a poignant and working band today in 2008 which the book takes us through, is a testament to the old saying that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. - Daniel Nicoletta

As the synopsis says, the main character is obsessed with the movie The Sound of Music. I am also a big fan of the movie. I used to watch it all the time when I was little. Anyway, because of this, I thought the book would follow the movie's story in some fashion. Instead, it's a modern take on Pride and Prejudice (think a G-rated version of Bridget Jones--one of my favorite movies, by the way!).

I loved this book. It is a sweet and simple romantic story. It is also humoress with pop culture and literary references thrown in. I really liked this aspect because I am the dorky girl who loves musicals and things of that nature, so I got all the references to musicals and such. I also enjoyed the literary references being an English major myself (the main character has an English degree).

This is the perfect book for people who enjoy sweet romance novels, especially the ones with a P&P feel to them. I feel that Must've Done Something Good is a book I'll keep as one of my comfort books to read when I'm feeling sad and need a good pick me up. :)

This may be tagged "chick-lit", but as a guy who greatly enjoyed this book I think anyone would enjoy it. There's so many situations that anybody can relate to. Go Sylvie!

I am a mother to 5 kids and one step son so, needless to say, I usually don't have time to read however for this book it was easy to make time because I enjoyed it so much!

Like the other reviewers on this site, I too found myself laughing out loud on so many occassions throughout the book. Everywhere I went with it, people would ask me what I was reading and I couldn't help but go on and on as to how much I loved this book! It was absolutely outstanding! (I actually broke out in a chorus of "My favorite things" the other day in front of my 8 yr old and he had the oddest expression on his face...priceless!)

I hope Cheryl Cory decides to write many more novels! If so, I may just turn out to be her biggest fan!

This is a great book, very funny and entertaining. To think of it solely as 'chick-lit' is a major disservice. Guys, like myself, will enjoy the characters and plot and irreverent humor as much as anyone. Sylvie's trials in the classroom are amusing, especially if one has any background in teaching, and it is nice to note her progress at adapting to this new situation as the school year progresses. This is really a neat book we can all like.

This is a great book. I loved it. My wife read it too and she loved it. It's a must buy!!

This was the very first *NSYNC book I got, and I loved it at first sight. I mean, I still like it. It's pretty informative...mostly stuff you could find out in any other book. The pictures are the best part. Some of the pictures a little old, though. It's a pretty good gift for the younger generation of fans, or the freaky fans like me.

Okay, this book is pretty good...it was my very first *NSYNC book and I think it's got some pretty good stuff in it.

Of course, it is unauthorized, which means the guys didn't stamp their names on it, and it has some inaccuracies in it. Of course, you might not notice it if you weren't a freak like me.

I think this is a great gift for a young fan...however, if you're older or a freak like me, then this definitely is a bit beyond your obsession for these hot and talented guys.

Well I know that I am a big fan of Nsync, and to read this book makes me fall in love with this group all over again...it gives 411 on the group and it has wonderful and beautiful pictures (and I mean BEAUTIFUL!) I know this isn't the best description but if your a true Nsync fan than you need to go buy this cuz it is awesome book and it is a great keepsake!!

This was the very first *NSYNC book I got, and I loved it at first sight. I mean, I still like it. It's pretty informative...mostly stuff you could find out in any other book. The pictures are the best part. Some of the pictures a little old, though.

This book about my favorite boy band was really cool! All of the stuff in the book was factual and there were some really cute pictures of the guys in there. There's a lot of stuff on each one of the guys personally and also stuff about the group as a whole. A fantastic book for any fan!