Customer Reviews

Reveal: The Story of R.E.M. (Book)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I received this book as a gift for Christmas. To let you get a perspective on my review, I've been an R.E.M. fan for over 10 years and own every cd they've ever put out, and am generally obcessive when it comes to them. I've read all the previous books before that were mainly published when R.E.M. was in their heyday of Losing My Religion. I've even reviewed them, and found them to be full of misinformation, hearsay, etc. (Writing a bad review on one book even earned me a nasty email from the author!! lol)

But I digress. This book was incredible. It was well thought out and planned. It was completely linear - it only deviated from the timeline in the introduction to the book. Black approached writing this book as one would an academic research paper. He researched, researched, researched, and in his works sited he gave all credits where it was rightly due. I found out much I didn't know about R.E.M. in the early days. The great thing about this book is it's really recent, it goes up to right before Around the Sun came out, and addresses R.E.M.'s political leanings this year against the Iraq War.

I hate to use a overused cliche, but I couldn't put this book down all day. I had to read all through it. If you are a die hard R.E.M. fan, or know one, pick up this book as it's the definitive R.E.M. biography out there!!!

PS - The one flaw in the book is one picture was credited as being from "Out of Time" when it was clearly from the "Monster" era. But that's it!! Good stuff!

I was pleasantly surprised at how conversational & easy this book was. Black provides a relaxed story-telling w/ occasional personal attitudes towards what the band has to say/do.

What is refreshing is that, unlike other writers, he doesn't just fawn over the band and agree with whatever they have to say or do. Occasionally, he'll disagree or throw a contrary opinion in there worth considering.

I give it a B+. Insightful, yet fun and light. Great coffee-table book

This book is well written, insightful, and well researched. That's about all you can ask from a biography. If you are a fan, I believe you will enjoy it. Hell, even if you aren't a fan!

I've loved this band for a long time but have never read a book about them before. I decided on this one because, though it has only a few reviews, they are enthusiastic. It's hard not to go for a five-star book.

I devoured Reveal in two days. It was very well written. I really wanted it to tell me more. This might be reflective on the band members themselves, but I don't think so. They are definitely private people and, given their worldwide status, privacy is definitely worth cultivating. I wasn't hoping for a gossipy book, either. I don't want something that tells me what Michael Stipe has been heard to whisper before falling asleep. There are plenty of personal tidbits in this book, but the writer, though quoting a few personal interviews with the band, still seems to be sitting on a far ripple in the lake. It felt rushed. Is that indicative of how the band works? I'm not sure; first book, you see :)

I admire R.E.M. immensely. They reached the heights that they did for very good reasons and this book is excellent at showing the reader these reasons. Johnny Black expounds on their integrity and talent and tightness as a group. The author is obviously a fan in this respect, and as a complete catalogue of R.E.M.'s professional life I'm sure it stands out as concise and essential.

Here is my so-called want list: This band has (easily) as many books written about it as David Bowie does (thank you, Amazon, for illustrating). The best Bowie book I've read circumnavigated him and his career so many times, collecting so much information, conducting so many interviews without ever sounding intrusive. And when all is read and done, the only conclusion you can make about the man is that he is brilliant and unparalleled. That is a feat for a biography. That is the R.E.M. book I want to find.

P.S. I said I wasn't looking for gossip, but I am looking for a book that puts pictures in it! It's total band-worship to say so, but the only pictures here are used as chapter headings. BLAH.

This was a christmas gift for my husband who is a HUGE fan of R.E.M. The book was in excellent condition and was shipped on time.A very satisfied customer! My husband loved the book!!