Category Archives: books

(knjiga) Everett True – Ramones Hey Ho Let´s Go! – priča o Ramonesima

Možda kasnim, ali bolje ikad no nikad. Nisam do sada pročitao ovu knjigu, a pošto mi je u zadnje vrijeme pala nekako u pandže, uzeo sam si vremena da to ispravim. No, nekako mi se nije dopalo sve skupa, ostavilo mi je slatko kiseli okus u ustima. Ramonesi su bend koje svi vole, od zadrtijih punksa koji ne fermaju nijedan drugi stil ekstremne muzike i undergrounda osim punka, preko metalaca, pa i takozvane normalne ekipe koja se ne smatra dijelom nikakve subkulture. U međuvremenu se majice Ramonesa mogu naći i u komercijalnim dućanima s tekstilom u šoping centrima i izgledalo mi je da se sjena ovog legendarnog benda jako prostituirala time. No, nakon što sam pročitao ovu knjigu, ispada da su Ramonesi uvijek bili gladni slave i uspjeha i patili na neki način što nisu nikada postigli razinu prodanih ploča kao mlađi bendovi tipa Green Day i Offspring koji su navodili Ramonese kao uzore i inspiraciju. Ova knjiga govori cijelu priču o bendu od početaka do kraja, uz sve trzavice, svađe, opsesivno kompulzivne poremećaje i smrti članova, uspjehe i padove. Ono što me smeta kod ove knjige je da previše skače s timelinea na timeline, od povijesti do sadašnjosti i prilično je neuredno i zbrda zdola napisana, iako ima pozamašan broj stranica. Možda je to zato što je loš prijevod što je bio slučaj i s biografijom Davea Grohla koju sam pročitao nedavno, pa zato više volim čitati takve knjige na engleskom jeziku. Nekada mi je toliko konfuzno bilo s nekim bezveznim intervjuima s članovima ekipe benda, da mi je bilo jako dosadno pročitati neke stvari i nekako sam jedva čekao da završim poneka poglavlja. Šteta, moglo je biti puno bolje.

(book) USBM: A revolution of identity in American black metal by Daniel Lake

Wow! This is all I can say after I finished this 500+ pages monstrosity by Daniel Lake with a foreword by legendary Tom G.Warrior of Celtic Frost and Hellhammer fame. I always somehow held European black metal in higher worth and regard than American black metal scene, but now I understand how wrong I was. Leaning more into punk rock and hardcore back ground than its European counterparts, American bands and projects have managed to create their own identity and large quantity of originality not trying to sound like third grade clones of Darkthrone and Burzum, rather evolving and thus becoming hated by some black metal purists circles, but also becoming original in their diy and free spirit. This book covers it all in shape of articles and rich interviews, from old school masters Judas Iscariot, Absu, Von, across Inquisition, Deafheaven, Panopticon, Krieg, Leviathan, Xasthur and many, many others. This book is a worthy document of a scene and its worth cannot be grasped in one reading, so I am definitely going to have to read it once or twice more soon. Great book!

(book) Martin James – Dave Grohl: Foo Fighters, Nirvana & Other Misadventures

I never thought much of Nirvana, although I recognize and acknowledge what they did for rock music. But, Dave Grohl was always an interesting character, because he came from hardcore punk scene to grunge which I despised much when I was a kid growing up, still despise it. Luckily, grunge died, but Dave has gone on to bring other wonderful bands and create music, namely Probot and most of all, Foo Fighters. Although Foo Fighters were not my choice and cup of tea, when I read books about music, I create kind of soundtrack listening to music that I read about. Thus, I learned to appreciate and love Foo and all their melodies and songs that are really written nice. This book is a biography about life and musicianship of Grohl since his early hardcore punk beginnings with Scream in Washington DC, to Nirvana, coping with death of Cobain, then going on and becoming one of the most revered and famous rock musicians in the world. This book is not top of the mountain, there are some parts that are somehow lame written and kinda too shallow, but it was in all fun to read. What I love is, that this book ends when Dave stiil will have so much to say and play. Hats off to the man, not so much to this book which could have been better.