DJ Shadow's Endtroducing... (33 1/3) [Paperback]

Eliot Wilder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 2005 | Series: 33 1/3

What resonated about Endtroducing when it was released in 1996, and what makes it still resonate today, is the way in which it loosens itself from the mooring of the known and sails off into an uncharted territory that seems to exist both in and out of time. Josh Davis is not only a master sampler and turntablist supreme, he is also a serious archeologist with a world-thirsty passion (what Cut Chemist refers to as Josh’s “spidey sense”) for seeking out, uncovering and then ripping apart the discarded graces of some other generation – that “pile of broken dreams” – and weaving them back together into a tapestry of chronic bleakness and beauty. Over the course of several long conversations with Josh Davis (DJ Shadow), we learn about his early years in California, the friends and mentors who helped him along the way, his relationship with Mo’Wax and James Lavelle, and the genesis and creation of his widely acknowledged masterpiece, Endtroducing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"From DJ [Shadow]'s passion for music to his involvement in mixing and interactions with some of the key electronica wizards of modern times, any who would understand the man or his music needs Endtroducing in their collection."- The Midwest Book Review (Midwest Book Review, The )

'It's good to see DJ Shadow's 1996 debut LP Endtroducing...getting the 33 1/3 treatment: the series of smart pocketsize books...canonising classic albums'

Laurence Phelan, Independent on Sunday, 22/10/2006

(Laurence Phelan Independent, The )

'The 33 1/3 series, published by Continuum, is one of the best things that happened to the music press in the last years.... One of my biggest dreams is to open in Israel a publishing house that will focus exactly on that subject — rock literature. And if one day I'd get to do this, one of the first things that I'd do is buy the translation rights for the 33 1/3 series...This is a candy store that's full of fun for curious and hungry music lovers. It's also such a small and smart series, that... is a blessing, and it's not expensive either....The book is recommended to anyone who loves this album and wants to have a look behind the curtains.'

~ Guy Hajaj, Haoneg.com, 2006

Excerpt from book.

Word, One Week to Live

“From DJ [Shadow]’s passion for music to his involvement in mixing and interactions with some of the key electronica wizards of modern times, any who would understand the man or his music needs Endtroducing in their collection.”- The Midwest Book Review (Midwest Book Review, The )

'It's good to see DJ Shadow's 1996 debut LP Endtroducing...getting the 33 1/3 treatment: the series of smart pocketsize books...canonising classic albums'

Laurence Phelan, Independent on Sunday, 22/10/2006

(, Independent, The )

'The 33 1/3 series, published by Continuum, is one of the best things that happened to the music press in the last years…. One of my biggest dreams is to open in Israel a publishing house that will focus exactly on that subject – rock literature. And if one day I'd get to do this, one of the first things that I'd do is buy the translation rights for the 33 1/3 series…This is a candy store that's full of fun for curious and hungry music lovers. It's also such a small and smart series, that… is a blessing, and it's not expensive either….The book is recommended to anyone who loves this album and wants to have a look behind the curtains.'

~ Guy Hajaj, Haoneg.com, 2006

About the Author

Eliot Wilder is a writer and editor, having spent more than ten years at the Los Angeles Times and five years as editor and senior writer for Amplifier, an alternative music magazine. He is also a musician and songwriter and is currently promoting his latest album, The Sentimental Education. He lives in Boston.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (August 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826416829
• ISBN-13: 978-0826416827
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series of Interviews, August 16, 2007

By 

Thaddeus (nyc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DJ Shadow's Endtroducing... (33 1/3) (Paperback)

This book is essentially a long interview by Wilder with Josh Davis, and if you've seen Scratch, you know that Shadow can be very articulate. In essence, Wilder guides the story and gives it context, but is basically letting Shadow speak for himself. They go the whole nine yards: delving into Davis' childhood, how he discovered hiphop, how he started making his first mixes and tracks, who he met and when, and how he made the album in question. The focus is one Endtroducing... but you get the arc of his whole career up to Private Press. A very worthwhile read, in my opinion.

I supplemented my reading with the liner notes from the deluxe edition of Endtroducing... and also listened to the album and Preemptive Strike and all the b-sides. It's a fast read, you could finish in one sitting. Sold!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extended liner notes for one of the greatest albums ever created, December 22, 2008

By 

J. Book "music's biggest fan" (Pasco, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DJ Shadow's Endtroducing... (33 1/3) (Paperback)

Endtroducing... by DJ Shadow is one of the best albums of the 20th century, period. A lot of words have been said about it, but it was Eliot Wilder who, through a combinations of interviews with the artist, was able to get a closer look and listen to an album that is still an intense experience from start to finish.

It feels like having an extended set of liner notes with you, as Shadow reveals facts about his childhood, his eventual obsession of all that is vinyl, and what moved him to turn that love of rap music into something he could add into the mix. He talks about his experiences with his early work, all of which contributed to what would become "the album". As with many artists, he does keep himself slightly guarded but Wilder is able to have Shadow reveal things about the album that even the most diehard fans might not have known.

Had I written the book, I would've went in deeper, much deeper, but Wilder's book is able to dig up as much as possible from the artist himself, who is open into sharing his experiences, dreams, fears, and outlook into a piece of work that he calls his album of hope, and he formally thanks in full everyone who made an impact on him and his debut album.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of Series, March 1, 2011

By 

B. Pardue "Todd Pardue" (Burlington, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DJ Shadow's Endtroducing... (33 1/3) (Kindle Edition)

From the 33 1/3's, I've read David Bowie's LOW, Eno's ANOTHER GREEN WORLD, Neil Young's HARVEST,and The Pixies DOOLITTLE. This is by far my favorite title in the series. And to be honest, I'm not a big hip hop fan. The book is basically an extended interview with DJ Shadow as he tells his story of roaming the used record stores as a youngster, experimenting with scratching and mixing cassettes as a teen and finally making his first album, Entroducing... His passion and creativity came through to make it a great success story. I played Entroducing... and his next project, UNKLE, while I read this in one sitting. Great fun. If you like the 33 1/3 books, get this one. Entroducing...is a great album, if you don't have it, get it.