Slint's Spiderland (33 1/3) [Paperback]

Scott Tennent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2010 | Series: 33 1/3 (Book 75)

<div><font face="Times New Roman" size=3>Of all the seminal albums to come out in 1991—the year of <em>Nevermind</em>, <em>Loveless</em>, <em>Ten</em>, and <em>Out of Time</em>, among others—none were quieter, both in volume and influence, than <em>Spiderland</em>, and no band more mysterious than Slint. Few single albums can lay claim to sparking an entire genre, but <em>Spiderland</em>—all six songs of it—laid the foundation for post rock in the 1990s. Yet for so much obvious influence, both the band and the album remain something of a puzzle. <br/><br/>This thoroughly researched book is the first substantive attempt to break through some of the mystery surrounding <em>Spiderland</em> and the band that made it. Scott Tennent has written a long overdue look at this remarkable album and its origins, delving into the small, insular musical universe that included bands like Squirrel Bait, Maurice, Bitch Magnet, and Bastro. The story, helped by in-depth interviews with band members David Pajo and Todd Brashear, explores the formation of Slint, the recording of <em>Tweez</em>, and the band's dramatic move into the sound of <em>Spiderland</em>.  </font></div>>

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A growing Alexandria of rock criticism - Los Angeles Times, 2008 Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren't enough - Rolling Stone One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet - Bookslut"

About the Author

Scott Tennent is a senior writer and editor at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and was previously an editor at Princeton Architectural Press. He writes about music at the blog Pretty Goes With Pretty, an ongoing preoccupation since 2006.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Continuum; 1 edition (November 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 144117026X
• ISBN-13: 978-1441170262
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.4 x 6.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is THE Book On Slint (Not Just Spiderland) January 10, 2011

By John Carswell

Format:Paperback

I can remember it like it was yesterday. The year was 1994, and I was a freshman in high school, examining a double-sided, photo-copied Slamdek Records catalog. My eyes fell upon a blurb about a band named Slint, and I fixated on a quote that went like this: "Even Stone Temple Pilots rip off big ideas from these guys." Not that I was an STP fan, but it didn't take me long to realize that these Slint guys were a big deal. A few days later, I boogied on up to Mike Bucayu`s Blue Moon Records in Holiday Manor and bought myself a cassette copy of Tweez. So, when I popped that sucker into my bookshelf setup, and the first discordant notes of "Ron" came blaring through my speakers, I was a little taken aback. Was this really the pride of Louisville?

Suffice to say, eventually I got it, and that's why I'm pleased to say that Scott Tennent has finally written THE BOOK on Slint, a band that was heretofore the subject of so much conjecture, hearsay, and legend that it was often hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Starting in 1982 with Brian McMahan`s first band, Languid and Flaccid, the book not only serves as the definitive story on Slint, but it also covers just about everything you'd want to know about seminal Louisville acts like Squirrel Bait, Maurice, and Solution Unknown. Tangentially, it even goes quite a ways toward revealing some of Will Oldham`s artistic roots as well. Through in-depth research and first-hand accounts from Dave Pajo, Todd Brashear, Ethan Buckler, and the imminently quotable Sean "Rat" Garrison, Tennant takes the band from cradle to grave, telling the story of the band's origins as a Pajo/Britt Walford side project, Steve Albini`s early embrace of the band, the controversial Tweez sessions and departure of Buckler, the second Albini session that produced the Glenn/Rhoda 10"', their efforts to establish themselves as a live act in 1989 and 1990, the Spiderland sessions, and the band's subsequent demise in late 1990.

Along the way, Tennent's account is revelatory, capturing the artistic dynamics that went into composing and making Spiderland, and demonstrates that Slint were truly aiming for something new and unique. They were a band driven towards the sort of precision and craftsmanship that is often dismissed by rock musicians, and one gets the sense from reading Spiderland that one of the reasons the record is so special is that those guys cared about the placement and performance of every single note. Tennent's analysis of Spiderland`s tracks is quite insightful as well, and even for those, like myself, who have listened to the record dozens of times, it refreshes the record and illuminates just what it is that makes it such an uncanny experience. Let me just put it this way: having just finished Tennent's Spiderland, "Good Morning, Captain" sounds even greater.

It's about time someone got around to writing this book. Tennent's Spiderland is HIGHLY recommended for any Slint fan, Slint-curious music fan, Slint-skeptic, or fan of interesting music in general.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to Spiderland February 11, 2011

By Darren

Format:Paperback

Having read approx a dozen of these little books from the 333series, this is the first time I have felt compelled to provide a review. This is not to say the other books were bad. There are two or three where I felt the writer had managed in capturing the album, the band and the bands philosophy re. their own music (whether spoken or not) and merge that into a tight unit that structured the writing on that ideal.

This book has been written by Scott Tennent, who also incidentally has a blog called Pretty goes with Pretty. I mention this as it will give you a good idea on his writing. I bought the book regardless, but reading some of his thoughts on music you can quickly appreciate he writes in a solid manner, can appreciate the poetry of music, without sounding esoteric you lose interest.

If you are a fan of Slint, this book will no doubt fill in blanks, perhaps the detail that the writer goes into with the recording of Spiderland, perhaps the detail with the history that led up to the start of Slint. The influence and support of Steve Albini to help Slint be heard by a wider group of people.
Overall the writer appreciates the historical factors that run up to Spiderland and discusses this in enough detail so you don't feel you have just jumped into a great big hole with no context.

Most importantly for me, Tennent weaves and unfolds the slight and tender story of Slint so much that even if you know everything about Slint it will still grab you. It unfolds in such a way that you almost feel and hear the music in the reading. It sucks you into Spiderland and keeps you there for the duration of the book. It lets you appreciate what is going on with the music. It lets you see the precision and control and compositional talent these guys manifested with Spiderland. The care and attention they lavished and also the sadness of the split.
When the writer knows his/her subject, then that writing enhances what is being written about and this is certainly the case with Spiderland. Even if you have heard it 100 times you still take something else, something new from the music experience.

Tennent doesn't fall into hero worship, at times he sees flaws and misgivings with Slint, Spiderland and Tweez. However, this doesn't hinder him on seeing what lies within - that the flaws and the weakness still reveal greatness.

If you are not a fan of Slint, or have not heard the music, this offers you a great chance to find something not only new, but something that will last as a companion to the music and this is music to last.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I had bought this sooner August 3, 2011

By Johnny

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I received this book today and finished it in one sitting. It went into detail about the bands the preceded and came after Slint as well as an in depth look into the songs on Spiderland.

What I really liked was that Tennent even managed to include details on the bands songwriting process with information straight from most of the band members (Brian McMahan was the exception as he rarely gives interviews). This extra insight made me realize how much work went into the book as well as the making of a one of a kind album. Any fan of the album has to buy this!