Da Capo Best Music Writing 2004: The Year's Finest Writing on Rock, Hip-hop, Jazz, Pop, Country, & More [Paperback]

Mickey Hart (Author), Paul Bresnick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 2004 | Series: Da Capo Best Music Writing

Now in its landmark fifth year, Da Capo Best Music Writing has become one of the most eagerly awaited annuals of them all. Celebrating the year in music writing by gathering a rich array of essays, missives, and musings on every style of music from rock to hip-hop to R&B to jazz and more, it is essential reading for anyone who loves great music and accomplished writing. Scribes of every imaginable sort-novelists, poets, journalists, musicians-are gathered to create a multi-voiced snapshot of the year in music writing.Past contributors have included: Lynn Hirschberg * Chuck Klosterman * Elizabeth Gilbert * Jay McInerney * Elvis Costello * Susan Orlean * Jonathan Lethem * Lorraine Ali * Greil Marcus * Richard Meltzer * Robert Gordon * Sarah Vowell * Nick Tosches * Anthony DeCurtis * William Gay * Whitney Balliett * Lester Bangs * Rosanne Cash * Eddie Dean * Selwyn Seyfu Hinds * Alec Wilkinson * David Hadju * Lenny Kaye * The Onion * Gary Giddins * Luc Sante * Monica Kendrick * Kalefa Sanneh

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This edition of Da Capo's annual, guest edited by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, covers an array of music genres and subjects. From a variety of publications, Hart selects essays by journalists, novelists, and musicians that take a look at the year in music. Though not as strong overall as Matt Groening's choices for the 2003 edition [BKL N 1 03], Hart's include several gems. Dan Baum writes about a mysterious medical condition known as "jake leg" and how the blues helped trace its origins; country music is covered with articles on Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson; and Robbie Fulks reminisces about the Grand Ole Opry. Best of the bunch comes from William Bowers, who, while attempting to relate his descent into fandom for his favorite band, reveals a lifelong love-obsession for music that all music geeks can relate to. Another winner in its series that music fans who need the fix it gives won't want to miss. Carlos Orellana
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"****" -- Blender December 2004

"An enjoyable compendium of music musings drawn from major publications and some well-known alt-weeklies." -- Publishers Weekly 12/13/05

"An impressive compilation of music writing." -- New City Chicago 12/30/05

"Some of the year's funniest, most insightful, and most illuminating scribbles." -- Entertainment Weekly 12/17/04

"The fifth Da Capo Best Music Writing annual is, once again, exactly what it claims." -- Relix February / March 2005

"When it's good, it's very, very good...It's unsettlingly good. -- Austin Chronicle 12/3/04

"[A] rollicking collection...Best of all are the forays into the weird, wild and long forgotten past." -- Global Rhythm February 2005

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Revised edition (October 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306813807
• ISBN-13: 978-0306813801
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,786,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)