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Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung

By Lester Bangs
Series: Serpent's Tail Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung is a collection of essays by Lester Bangs, capturing the raw, energetic spirit of rock 'n' roll through fearless music criticism. Bangs provides vivid chronicles of bands and albums while offering personal reflections and insights. This book serves as a testament to Bangs' influence on rock journalism, showcasing his unique style and passion.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by raw and gritty explorations of rock music and counterculture. It offers a collection of essays and critiques that delve into the passion and chaos of the music scene, making it perfect for those who appreciate a no-holds-barred approach to arts and cultural commentary.

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The essential writings of the greatest music writer of the twentieth, or any, century, reissued as a Serpent's Tail Classic.

The essential writings of the greatest music writer of the twentieth, or any, century, reissued as a Serpent's Tail Classic

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Until his death at the age of thirty-three in 1982, Lester Bangs wrote wired, rock 'n' roll pieces on Iggy Pop, The Clash, John Lennon, Kraftwerk, and Lou Reed. As a rock critic, he had an eagle eye for distinguishing the pre-packaged imitation from the real thing.

Written in a conversational, wisecracking, erotically charged style, his hallucinatory hagiographies and excoriating take-downs reveal an iconoclast unafraid to tell it like it is. To his journalism, he brought the talent of a great renegade Beat poet, and his essays, reviews, and scattered notes convey the electric thrill of a music junkie indulging in the habit of a lifetime.

As Greil Marcus writes in his introduction, 'What this book demands from a reader is a willingness to accept that the best writer in America could write almost nothing but record reviews.'

Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung is a testament to Lester Bangs's unique voice and his significant contribution to music journalism.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Lester Bangs is celebrated for his unrestrained and passionate rock writing, hailed by The New York Times as one of American culture's most astute and soulful observers. His work, recognised for its brilliance in The Guardian and Rolling Stone, is wild, funny, and unpredictable, offering deep insights into rock music. Time Out praises the collection for its comprehensive understanding of music appreciation, while the Irish Examiner highlights its original, raw, and occasionally abrasive style in rock criticism, underscoring its enduring relevance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781781252772

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 December 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Serpent's Tail

Edition: Main - Classic edition

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Greil Marcus
  • Introduction by Greil Marcus

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 292g

Pages: 416

Collections

Arts & Culture Biography & Memoir Lester Bangs Non-Fiction Series: Serpent's Tail Classics

About the Author

Lester Bangs started out as a record reviewer for Rolling Stone, went on to write for and then edit the magazine Creem, before moving to New York and covering the burgeoning punk scene, writing in daily newspapers and the Village Voice. Bangs died suddenly at the age of thirty-three in 1982. A biography of Lester Bangs, Let it Blurt was published in 2001.

Greil Marcus is an American author, music journalist and cultural critic. He writes for newspapers and magazines including Rolling Stone and the Village Voice.

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