The Aesthetics Of Rock (Da Capo Paperback) [Paperback]

Richard Meltzer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Da Capo Paperback | Publication Date: March 22, 1987

This infamous book has enjoyed a lively underground reputation since its first publication in 1970. Richard Meltzer (a.k.a. R. Meltzer) took his training as a young philosopher and applied it with unalloyed enthusiasm to the lyrics, sound, and culture of rock and roll. Never before had anyone noticed the relationship between the philosophy of Heidegger and a tune by Little Anthony and the Imperials, heard the cries of agony in the Shangri Las' “Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)”, or transcribed every "papa-ooma-mow-mow" in the Trashmen's “Surfin' Bird.”From Dionne Warwick to Plato, Jim Morrison to Bert Brecht, Conway Twitty to Miguel de Unamuno, Meltzer subverts high and low culture in his search for meaning, emotion, and codes in popular music. At once an earnest investigation and a crypto put-on, the book can be read for its nuggets of information and insights or for its humor. Here with Greil Marcus's new introduction, yet another generation of readers can be outraged and inspired.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The ping-ponging, diet-pill-fueled prose...got Meltzer kicked out of Yale but helped invent rock criticism in the process." -- Blender, October 2006

About the Author

Richard Meltzer is the author of over a dozen books, including A Whore Just Like the Rest-winner of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award-and innumerable articles. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (March 22, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306802872
• ISBN-13: 978-0306802874
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #758,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, June 18, 2006

By 

Katherine McCarthy "kath e. miller" (Forest Hills, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Aesthetics Of Rock (Da Capo Paperback) (Paperback)

R. Meltzer may not have actually invented rock criticism, but he created a writing style approximating the way music sounds. With words jumping from the page, flowing from idea to idea, ranging from stylistic jams to short tight bursts like perfectly crafted two-and-a-half minute poptunes. Who else would've lead his tome with a literal printing of the lyrics of "Surfin' Bird"? There was nothing being written about rock music remotely close to "The Aesthetics of Rock." Nearly 40 years later, there still isn't. Before there was Lester, there was Meltzer, and he's still standing. And writing. It's a good thing. PS - Buy his other works, too.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't do what your expect, and thats a good thing., July 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aesthetics Of Rock (Da Capo Paperback) (Paperback)

Written in an age where rock critics were still in diapers and hungry for that which was R n'R, Meltzer explores the burgeoning music scene of '66-'68 and uses all the words at his disposeal to get at the heart of the great musical beast wiht as crude and delicate a knife as possible:that of a kid running through a candy store who has the ability to find what doesnt work , could work and eventually does work (on a good day). It's more unusual than a normal book with the sort of title it has, and the rock world benefits and is sadly struck dead (now, at least) with immesne amounts of tragic justice which it does/doesn't deserve. But man, I tell ya, that there music he speaks of is good for every single reason he finds. Read it if you can see what's in the typing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Great After 30 Years, May 14, 2000

By 

Russell J. Belding - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Aesthetics Of Rock (Da Capo Paperback) (Paperback)

The temptation is strong, when reviewing a Richard Meltzer book, to slip into his style of writing. I will resist that, and maintain a dull tone. This is the funniest book I have ever read about rock music; it is also one of the few that I've read more than once. Anybody who's read more than a few serious, scholarly, University-press-published books on rock will find this to be a refreshing alternative. Meltzer's 1988 collection of essays, "L.A. Is the Capital of Kansas," appears to be out of print, but is also well worth seeking out.