20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT COLLECTION OF WRITING ON MUSIC, December 25, 2009
This review is from: Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer (Hardcover)
Hardcover-432 pages of text. There is an index,and a sixteen page introduction written by Anthony DeCurtis,giving a short look into (the late) Robert Palmer's writing on music. There are no photographs accompanying the text. The various essays/interviews are grouped-such as "Jazz","The Blues","The Originators","Soul and R&B","Classic Rock","World Music","Punk and Beyond",etc.,instead of in chronological order of writing. There are also excerpts from his writings on Morocco and an excerpt from an interview with William Burroughs.
This great collection finally brings together many of Palmer's best writing concerning music and the people who make it,thanks to another noted music writer,Anthony DeCurtis. Palmer is mostly known for his wonderful book,"Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta" (which should be in every blues listeners library),and others such as "The Rolling Stones","Rock and Roll: An Unruly History",and"Baby,That Was Rock and Roll: The Legendary Leiber and Stroller". Palmer wasn't an authority on just one style of music-he seemed to have an innate sense of what makes for good music,no matter what type. While this collection isn't all of his best writing (there is still a great deal of it out there),what this great book does is bring into sharp focus a number of his best pieces,over many years and different musical subjects. Besides the above books,Palmer wrote many reviews/articles for "Rolling Stone Magazine",back when that magazine (and others) was still important musically,and he was the first person to hold the title of chief pop critic for "The New York Times". One other important point-Palmer was himself a musician (I still play his two albums when he was in the band THE INSECT TRUST),which gave him an extra feel and insight into music-making.
What elevated Palmer's writing above most of the others of the time was his obvious enthusiasm for his subjects. No matter what genre of music,if Palmer thought it had value he wrote about it with great insight and excitement. He was widely quoted and looked to for his opinion in many areas of music. His writing brought support to many musicians/bands who sometimes needed a boost into the public eye. Just some of the people/scenes he passionately wrote about included Philip Glass,Steve Reich,THE ROLLING STONES,the punk music scene,Charles Mingus,a number of blues artists,and THE VELVET UNDERGROUND. This book collects all that and much more. His way of drawing readers into his essays/reviews was second to none. At times,in the interviews,you get an almost "you are there" feel from his writing. His essays will make you think. His way of combining entertaining prose with extraordinary knowledge,and an excitement for his subject,made you want to go out and hear all this incredible music that you somehow had missed,or maybe needed to hear again with Palmer's insights. Palmer has the innate knack for both observing and getting to the heart of what music is. His opinions are usually grounded in the historical past-music (whatever genre) is based on something (blues,gospel,etc.) that came before.
His writings will make you stop and think about the music you're listening to. On reading his opinions on rock & roll as opposed to "rock",or the blues,for example,Palmer brings to light ideas and opinions that seem to get inside the very heart of what music was,is,and maybe might become. He uses examples (Springsteen,ROLLING STONES,Presley,for instance) to get his point (s) across as to just what r & r really is. On the subject of jazz innovators/innovation,Palmer argues that (to paraphrase),blacks (as they were known in the 70's),such as Armstrong,Ellington,and Parker for instance,have been the ones who have formulated and pushed every major movement in the genre. And that white musicians,while popular (Keith Jarrett,WEATHER REPORT as examples) have done relatively little,if anything to advance jazz. Palmer writes that it is because black culture is imbued with another form of music,the blues,which has been endemic to their culture for so long,while white jazz players ideas are steeped in European movements. Whether you agree completely or partially,or not at all,Palmer brings up ideas that needed (and still need)to be aired. This is why on reading his essays,you will more than likely come away listening to your favorite music with more insight and appreciation.
With this book listeners of many genres of music can once again,or for the first time (I envy you),revel in Palmer's style of making his subjects and ideas come alive on the page as few writers can. I can vividly remember reading (usually in "Rolling Stone Magazine") his reviews/thoughts on blues (especially)and jazz artists (Sun Ra),and other areas of music I was not,at the time,familiar with (Moroccan trance music for example)),and wanting to go out and purchase the music he so excitedly and passionately wrote about. Now,with this wonderful collection spanning a number of years and several genres,many more music listeners will get the chance to read Palmer's insights into the heart of what makes good music.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
read this book!, July 22, 2010
This review is from: Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer (Hardcover)
Something that makes Mr. Palmer's writing different from other critics' music writing is that he had deep knowledge of music itself. In this book he discusses blues and rock, but he also discusses jazz (Ornette Coleman, for example) and modern/contemporary classical composers. His musicological knowledge makes his discussions more than subjective statements of what he liked or didn't like in a song or piece of music. Instead, he discusses what experimental musicians (such as Mr. Coleman) or more traditional musicians (such as Muddy Waters) were actually doing musically.
And please don't miss his discussion of Bo Diddley. Mr. Palmer shows how he was a great innovator within particular African American musical and oral traditions, and that he deserves much more acclaim as a blues musician and rock & roll originator.
Finally: This book made me want to go out and get recordings of lots and lots of the music Mr. Palmer liked! So read this book, learn something maybe, and have fun!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
