Customer Reviews

The Fall

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I was impressed with the information on the Information about Mark E Smith, the driven leader on one of the most different, yet the same sounding band, The Fall. The Fall are one of the greatest bands ever, With 40 some Original Albums/CD's. Millions of Singles. Millions of members from the 76-current they have been making records. However this book is more about Mark E since Mark Middles is a friend and sometime viewer/fan of the band. The fall did have a good 20 year run of a handful of people, and then when that 'whole part of the band was fired/or quit' Mark E has had 100 times more people then those 20 years of a 'core' of people. I want to hear from his Ex- Brix, who changed and made the fall very listenable and got them airplay. Stephen Hanley. The best bass player ever of inducing hypno-dirges is not talked about much. This is about Mark E the singer, poet, author, brilliant lyric minded man...psychic. I found it all entertaining. Having met Mark E, 3 times, he seems to be the same as I remember him. Interesting to a point when you would never want to walk away from his unlimited information of everything to talk about. There is much interviews at bars. Alcohol is a big part of life, though not talked about. UI think overall, the authors Friendship with mark got the interviews many have wanted to hear, but Mark E, being who very intimidating I think has made the author not ask the 'bomb' throwing questions. the intervier with his mom is nice. No Sisters? No other bandmates really. Though there is enough info in this book to satisfy and entertain anyone. It could be part 1 of a 10 volume series. There is so much more to the Man and more so the Band.

This book is the worst sort of worshipful rock criticism imaginable. It discusses Mark E. Smith and his ongoing, ever-changing band the Fall, in the sickeningly fawning tones usually reserved for hairless-chested boy bands and aging supposed icons. MES is neither, and fares poorly as a result. This book seems more about justifying Middles' fraying presence at Fall gigs than actually saying anything intelligent about what goes on at them. Perhaps worst of all, the text occasionally dissolves into a scattershot impressionism of style in a pathetic attempt to mirror that of his idol.

All that being said, Middles is a long time acquaintance of MES, and has close interview access to him, his family, and the various former band members and fans that make up the nebula surrounding this inimitable musical force. MES apparently worked on and off with Middles in the writing of the book, and some of the interviews and reprinted prose pieces are quite interesting for someone curious about Smith's working habits and musical ideas. They would make a great 30 paged xeroxed handout. If you're a huge fan who loves boyishly giddy show reminiscences, shell out the ducats and marvel at Middle's powers to disappoint. If you're interested in going a little bit further into what is a very rich subject, write your own book.