|
The 33 1/3 book series is a music nerd's wet dream - entire books devoted to just one album. That may seem like too much depth for most, but the books are short (usually just over 100 pages), and each volume's author comes up with their own way to approach the material - some reflect on what an album means to them personally, some focus on the behind the scenes aspects of an album's creation, some dissect the music, and some go as far as to write short novels that are inspired by an album. Author Rick Menck's (who also plays drums for a variety of groups, most notably Velvet Crush) examination of The Byrd's 1968 psychedelic-country classic "Notorious Byrd Brothers" goes through three distinct phases: First, he talks about his own history with the album since being turned on to it as a college student. Secondly, he gives a pre-Notorious Byrd Brothers history of group from their early days in the folk scene, through 1967's "Younger Than Yesterday". Finally, the book ends with a track by track look at the making of "Notorious Byrd Brothers" and the tumultuous recording sessions that tore the band apart (David Crosby would quit by the time the album was completed, and others would follow soon after), yet produced some of the most interesting and diverse material (covering traditional country, space-rock, soul, and, of course, folk-rock) they ever released. Menck makes an excellent argument for this album's status as an under-appreciated masterpiece, and by the book's end I found myself curious to give the album a listen for the first time in years. Well done.
Also new in the 33 1/3 series:
Shawn Taylor - 33 1/3: People's Instinctive Travels and The Paths Of Rhythm
Shawn Taylor's look at A Tribe Called Quest's debut album shines a light on just how out of step the album was with mainstream hip-hop in 1990, and how it remains so today. He does this by recounting his own experiences listening to the album as an outcast teenager in 1990 and contrasting them with his experience listening to the album on a 2006 ride through San Fransisco's transit system. Although there's not much insight into who A Tribe Called Quest were, and how they made the album, Taylor's writing style is honest and endearing, making the book an enjoyable read. Those looking for a little more behind the scenes info can flip to an interview with album engineer Bob Power at the end of the book, though it feels like it was tacked on at the last minute. Despite that one minor complaint, Taylor does a good job of placing the album as an alternative-rap classic.
DAVID MANSDORF
|
