Customer Reviews

The Psychic Soviet

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The Psychic Soviet is the first book about art--and rock 'n' roll in particular--that challenges the typical, tiresome narrative of triumphalism and self-congratulation that surround the usual, often idiotic, discussions of the culture's officially elected art-expressions.
It consists of nineteen essays. The title essay ("The Psychic Soviet") sets the stage for the ones that follow and is the most provocative perhaps. Addressing the fall of the USSR as a major world power, the author sets up the Cold War face-off as a latent expression of gender conflict and misogyny in a kind of planetary divorce feud. It claims that the CIA's victory in that "war" has resulted in the dangerous, imbalanced state of things now and the "cosmic depression" of a world gone mad. After that rhe chapters careen from subject to subject, explaining this and that phenomena. Of special interest are the chapters exploring vampirism's rarely discussed racial dimensions and the (possibly) exploitative cultural significance of consuming coffee, vodka and other beverages.
Another chapter suggests that rock 'n' roll was exploded into paradigmatic status by the ruling class as a proxy religion, replacing Christianity in order to enforce consumerism. The case made for this new "religion"--rock n roll -- aping its predecessor/competitor is unsettling. Some of these essays have been published previously; the chapter about DJs as stock brokers--called 'Mix-Master Race'--I'd read before in another publication. Still, it fits in this collection perfectly.
The binding struck me as very nice; no simple glue job. It also has a durable plastic cover that seems weatherproof and is embossed.
In case the user is confused, the book comes with instructions on how to use it, and who to share/not to share it with.
The last essay is what seems to be a tone-poem of some sort and ends with a blank space for a personal inscription. That is nice in case one wants to present it as a gift.
The book is by Ian Svenonius of the Drag City group 'Weird War.'

Vampirism, vodka and dialectical materialism are stimulating topics, but this set of essays reads like a half-baked dissertation written by a precocious over-medicated narcissist. Often verbose and incomprehensible--I highly recommend it. Notwithstanding, Mr. Svenonius' greatest work is executed on stage or in the format of an astrology column.

Yes, it can be read as a tract. But it's also high postmodernist satire with witty, well-informed writing about two subjects often taken far too seriously: politics and rock music. For instance, the essay on punk rock's origins in gay culture is dead on and very funny, refuting common myths about appropriation but also confronting the toxic effects of "popularity" on outsider music and outsider art -- without being boring.

Some of this reads like Chomsky if he had a sense of humor, and some of it so heavily ironic that it crosses over into profound truth, much as a karate black belt eventually fades into white. Of course, sometimes it's a short jump from Trotskyite to neoconservative (e.g. Christopher Hitchens), but Ian is his own construct, operating in a unique mental arena. There's a real purity of thought here that stays true to itself.

This is fun reading. Buy this book.

This book is incredible for many reasons.

First of all it's written by one of the brightest writers of this present generation.

The humor, insight, and politics are spot on.

It's all terrain cover and size make it perfect for trips or walks, or coffee shop.

I love reading it on the plane when I'm not looking out the window (in the dark), and laughing out loud waking up everyone around me.

I have bought at least ten copies for friends too.

Almost 300 pages and it's dirt cheap.

Only a fool would read this review or examine this page and not buy at least three copies.
Really, I'm not kidding.

An absolute must.

This book will help you board the bus with fervor for the impending state of our country. Want to know why Seinfeld heralded the return from the suburbs of those white flighters? Or how about what exactly is the responsible use of rock and roll and how it relates to Hitler's regime? All this and more can be consumed in this neon pink bible.

Ian Svenonius has a unique, post-modern style. The idea of printing essays in a little pink plastic-covered book that you can carry around in your pocket is brilliant. The essays are entertaining, with some skewered observations that are ironic and paranoid at the same time. Think of this less as a book and more as a cultural artifact.

Forever before and after, there will be nothing quite like the psychic soviet. It is a delusional masterpiece, crying out over the failed dream of Socialism and spitefully kicking at the heels of the twisted powers that be. It's nice of Ian to bring it up - socialism - because not too long ago it was a real school of thought and has since been buried by all of the forces that Ian outlines herein.
I still can't take socialism any more seriously than I can nudism, because while I recognize money/clothing is not exactly "natural," there are a lot of situations where it serves a real purpose for people. Nevertheless, Ian's longing for the maternal government that macho capitalism drove to alcoholic defeatism is a good reminder that life doesn't actually have to be this way.

Additionally, Ian does a spiffy job at showing how the very counter-culture emblems we subscribe to so confidently - bands, beverages, bowl haircuts - are QUITE CERTAINLY "bread and circuses" set up by the invisible, cunning lords of the material world. The profound connections between eugenics and Dracula, beer-lust and WWII pride, LOTR and the GOP, and of course Art&Music as a psychological tool of the powerful- I really wouldn't have thought about it if Ian hadn't brought it up, but now I can't see it any other way. And Ian is fun, always playful and ingenious. Read this book!