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Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung: The Work of a Legendary Critic: Rock'N'Roll as Literature and Literature as Rock 'N'Roll Paperback – September 12, 1988

by Lester Bangs (Author)

4.3 252 ratings

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Vintage presents the paperback edition of the wild and brilliant writings of Lester Bangs--the most outrageous and popular rock critic of the 1970s--edited and with an introduction by the reigning dean of rack critics, Greil Marcus.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Anchor
Publication date

September 12, 1988
Dimensions

5.25 x 0.8 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

9780679720454
ISBN-13

978-0679720454
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Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader

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Let it Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America's Greatest Rock Critic

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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

ents the paperback edition of the wild and brilliant writings of Lester Bangs--the most outrageous and popular rock critic of the 1970s--edited and with an introduction by the reigning dean of rack critics, Greil Marcus. Advertising in Rolling Stone and other major publications.

About the Author

Lester Bangs wrote for Creem, the Village Voice, and Rolling Stone. He died on April 30, 1982.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0679720456
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anchor; Reprint edition (September 12, 1988)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780679720454
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679720454
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.8 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #248,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #470 in Music History & Criticism (Books)
- #707 in Rock Band Biographies
- #724 in Rock Music (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 252 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

252 global ratings

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Terry Barham

another discovery to mourn

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2009

Verified Purchase

Not ONLY the greatest rock writer ;Lester Bangs is one of the greatest american writers period . The short story he derived from Maggie May is the best short story I've ever read and worth the price of the book . He writes about More than Rock . Clearly he could have turned his talent to short stories , novels , or anywhere in writing and been brilliant . It's always a good sign , for me , when a book receives only 5 stars or 1 from reviewers here - reliably a sign of great work some readers just won't " get ". Roger Ebert called him one of the only critics worth reading for their writing alone . As with John Kennedy Toole , I mourn the loss of what we could've had . Alas it seems the way with so many , who whet our appetites with their artistic genius and leave us too soon . Best said in Kerouak's beautiful meditation - "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!". That , truly , WAS Lester Bangs . Thanks !

13 people found this helpful

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Jamonite

Great read

Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2022

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Really good. Love this book.

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pidhajnyk

Like a shot of Methadrine!

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

Reading Lester Bangs is something everyone should experience. His writing was so personal, so unique that I think it forever changed the face of criticism. All I could think when reading this book was "What would Lester write today?" I think he'd be more frustrated and angry about the state of 'rock music' than ever? If he had a problem with the shiny, plastic bands of the 70s? What the hell would he think of American Idol and The Voice today? What would he think of how ALL forms of music have become 'pop' and have all blended and morphed into one giant homogenized whole?

Sometimes I think it's probably best that certain people die when they do (like Lester Bangs), because really if Lester didn't die when he did-he'd surely have wanted to blow himself up today! I can almost picture him self immolating after having to live through a decade of Brittany Spears, Christina Aguillera and bad rip-offs. . .he would probably be able to find some solace in the White Stripes and the Black Keys? But really, two bands with Black and White in their monikers does not a decade of popular rock music make! RIP Lester.

3 people found this helpful

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R. McOuat

We need you, Lester Bangs!

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2018

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I had so much fun reading this book. It delivers the promise - rock n roll as literature and literature as rock n roll. On a sad side, this book, like anything by Hunter S Thompson, makes me wonder about writers who lived like rock n roll stars and burned out too early. Did Lester (like Hunter) establish a "gonzo" reputation that required excessive drinking and amphetamines only to burn out too young? Hindsight is 20-20. I kept rooting for Bangs to rally… to focus on his writing and avoid the booze. He seemed to have some much un-actualized talent. I would love to hear what he would have said about all the subsequent bands that came along. He missed MTV (for the most part) and grunge and Taylor Swift. I would have loved to hear his impressions.

10 people found this helpful

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Jook Savages

Supreme writing, dismal edition

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2009

Verified Purchase

A simple average calculation has led me to giving this thing three stars only. Why? Because Lester's megatonic work is evidently the best thing you'll ever read (five stars and then some), but, unfortunately, Anchor's 1988 paperback edition (which is the item this page is about, the one you see pictured above) is truly pathetic (one star... and then less). This thing is printed so badly you have to GUESS whether you're looking at a period, a comma, a colon, a semicolon, ellipses... Question Mark and the MYSTERIANS, indeed! OK, so maybe it's possible I got the really short end of the damn stick and the problem is with my particular copy only. But if I were you, I'd stay away from this edition and try a different one, one in which you can enjoy Lester's writing in all its rockin' glory.

8 people found this helpful

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Glass

The Only Book You Will Ever Need

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2008

Verified Purchase

If you are at all interested in Rock And Roll, buy this book.

The cover is in tatters. I should have got a hardcover version. I carried this book with me wherever I went for months.

But enough effusive praise; the real reason you should get this book is because the words, the diction, the sheer energy in the sentences are rare indeed, especially in the nonfiction world. This is a primer for writing itself. I wish I would have read this when I was in High School.

The purchase pays for itself (intrinsically) with the chapter focusing on his correspondences between Lou Reed. Part Pop Culture history, part hyperbolic onslaught, part soap opera, part Oedipus, these pages are packed with drama.

For weeks my boyfriend and I had the TV off and we read to eachother in bed. You won't be disappointed.

8 people found this helpful

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MDix

Interesting stream-of-consciousness commentary by Lester Bangs

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2013

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An interesting and entertaining collection of Lester Bangs's critical commentaries on the state of the contemporary music scene during the 1970s.

One person found this helpful

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Lawrence Norris

Lester Bangs was a true prophet in more than one ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2017

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Lester Bangs was a true prophet in more than one way. I just wish he could have listened to the remastered Grateful Dead album, Anthem of the Sun (and Jerry Garcia for that matter). I read from this book anytime I feel uncertain about my life and viewpoints... Long live Lester Bangs!

3 people found this helpful

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Julia Posey

Para os que querem conhecer a metralhadora verbal e cultural que era Lester Bangs

Reviewed in Brazil on June 26, 2022

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Compilação dos textos de um dos maiores e mais polêmicos críticos de música que já existiu. Essencial para fãs de música. Lester Bangs era único!

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mandylyn

LB Forever

Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

Required reading for any true audiophile. I love you Lester.

Scriv

great rock n roll scribe, true fan

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

Fascinating to read his opinions on music from an era when it was worth listening to.

One person found this helpful

Daniel

Excelente

Reviewed in Mexico on January 10, 2017

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Lester Bangs es uno de los mayores críticos de rock de todos los tiempos, para mi, lo mejor de este libro es la forma en que Bangs combina la literatura, con la historia y cultura norteamericana para crear sus textos. Ojo, no es fácil de leer, dejando de lado el hecho de que está en inglés, la jerga sesentera norteamericana y las referencias culturales de la época son abundantes. Lo recomiendo para cuando estás adentrado en el rock and roll

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jesus julian martin jimenez

explendido libro

Reviewed in Spain on February 18, 2014

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explendido libro que no es si no el reflejo de un personaje legendario en el mundo de la musica y la critica musical

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