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Talking Heads' Fear of Music
Series: 33 1/3
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Check link for latest rating. ( 898 ratings, 141 reviews)
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Talking Heads' Fear of Music
$2199
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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?
This book suits readers interested in music history, especially fans of the Talking Heads and those intrigued by the cultural landscape of 1970s New York. It appeals to those who appreciate detailed musical and lyrical analysis alongside memoir-style reflection.
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See moreA virtuoso performance by a writer at the peak of his powers, tackling one of his great obsessions: Talking Heads.
A virtuoso performance by a writer at the peak of his powers, tackling one of his great obsessions: Talking Heads.
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
It's the summer of 1979. A 15-year-old boy listens to WNEW on the radio in his bedroom in Brooklyn. A monotone voice (it's the singer's) announces into dead air in between songs, "The Talking Heads have a new album, it's called Fear of Music"—and everything spins outward from that one moment.
Jonathan Lethem treats Fear of Music (the third album by the Talking Heads, and the first produced by Brian Eno) as a masterpiece—edgy, paranoid, funky, addictive, rhythmic, repetitive, spooky and fun. He scratches obsessively at the album's songs, guitars, rhythms, lyrics, packaging, downtown origins, and legacy, showing how Fear of Music hints at the directions (positive and negative) the band would take in the future.
Lethem transports us again to the New York City of another time—tackling one of his great adolescent obsessions and illuminating the ways in which we fall in and out of love with works of art.
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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?
Critics praise Lethem's blend of passionate fandom and incisive analysis. The Atlantic highlights his ability to balance personal passion with scholarly insight, calling the book a powerful examination of a band warranting serious study. The Guardian commends the book as a singular investigation illuminating the album beyond prior understanding. Salon.com finds a natural synergy between Lethem and the Talking Heads, noting their shared ties to New York and interplay between high art and popular culture.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781441121004
Publisher: Continuum Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 26 April 2012
Country: United States
Imprint: Continuum Publishing Corporation
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 121.0mm
Height: 165.0mm
Weight: 142g
Pages: 160
About the Author
Jonathan Lethem is one of the most acclaimed American novelists of his generation. His books include Motherless Brooklyn, The Fortress of Solitude, and Chronic City. His essays about James Brown and Bob Dylan have appeared in Rolling Stone. He is Roy Edward Disney Professor in Creative Writing at Pomona College, US.
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