- Gebundene Ausgabe: 597 Seiten
- Verlag: St Martins Pr; Auflage: 1 Us ed (Januar 1995)
- Sprache: Englisch
- ISBN-10: 0312119186
- ISBN-13: 978-0312119188
- Größe und/oder Gewicht: 23,6 x 16,3 x 5,1 cm
- Durchschnittliche Kundenbewertung: 3.9 von 5 Sternen Alle Rezensionen anzeigen (8 Kundenrezensionen)
- Amazon Bestseller-Rang: Nr. 501.685 in Englische Bücher (Siehe Top 100 in Englische Bücher)
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Frank Zappa
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There is probably no figure of modern popular music who so deserves the sort of scholarly exercise undertaken by Ben Watson in this book, and I am personally convinced that Zappa will be regaled by 21st Century music historians as a "crux of the biscuit" of 20th Century music.
And this 700 page tome will certainly be cited by our music historian descendants. In fairness, it may confound today's Zappa fans with it's copious references to Adorno, Freud, and Marx, but is likely to delight the erudite with its excerpts of the playfully situationist lyrics of Zappa, completely deconstructed by Watson. There is no doubt that Zappa was a genius--albeit a peculiarly American sort--and there is no doubt that no book has yet attempted such a thorough (albeit peculiar) analysis of his genius. Highly Recommended.
From Booklist
There is an identifiable community, similar to that of the heads who devote significant parts of their lives to the (Grateful) Dead, that is dedicated to the music, pronouncements, and performances of the late Frank Zappa. Its members, knowledgeable and sometimes militant about their passion, are as eclectic and diverse as was Zappa. Many share his interests in technology, music theory, and social issues. Others just like the sneaky bits in what Zappa called his "comedy music": mention "Dinah-Moe Humm," and Zappaphiles are likely to discuss the satire of the song's lyrics, the piece's place in the evolution-devolution of Zappa's "serious" music, or which is the best live version of it. Watson addresses all these concerns and interests and more in a magnificently detailed, painstakingly researched and annotated book on Zappa, his world, and his music that must be reckoned the best resource for the serious aficionado and suitable for the novice fan or the merely curious, too. Enough good cannot be said about this important contribution to the library of American popular music. Mike Tribby
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7 von 7 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich
Format:Taschenbuch
I have enjoyed reading (and re-reading) Watson's book since it first came out years ago. His passion for the music of Frank Zappa makes this book a wonderful read. I especially like the way in which Watson draws upon a wide array of musical and literary sources that help place Zappa's work in a broader artistic and intellectual context. Any Zappa fan who appreciates the relationship between theory and culture will find much value in this densely researched book, even if you find yourself (as I do) disagreeing with Watson's conclusions and the premises of much of his analysis.
In general Watson's assertions, while cogently argued and often compelling, serve to espouse theory--especially Freudianism and Marxism--at the expense of the subject, Zappa's art. This creates the unfortunate problem of teaching the reader a lot about theory but little about Zappa's music. Watson, despite a very noble attempt, is unsuccessful at demonstrating a strong link between his chosen theoretical approach and the complexities of Zappa's art which tend to resist mere reduction to Marxist and Freudian interpretations. But, as a reader, it is enjoyable to see Watson try. In fact, Watson demonstrates a lot of courage in his attempt to do so, and that in itself makes this book a worthwile purchase.
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Format:Taschenbuch
Clearly not your typical rock an roll book, which tend to fall into the categories of either poorly written self-aggrandizing "autobiographies", or breathless anecdotes from managers, groupies, hangers-on, etc. Ben Watson's book is a thoughtful examination of Frank Zappa's lyrics and the overall meaning of his career.
Sadly, the book does not devote as much attention to Zappa's music, which most people would consider far more significant than the lyrics. Although many reviewers point out Watson's farcically "deep" reading of Zappa's lyrics, it is his relative disinterest in the music which is the book's greatest stumbling block.
That being said, there is an awful lot for hardcore Zappa fanatics to chew on here. In the end it's certainly worth the effort.
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Format:Taschenbuch
I read this book for no reason that is very clear to me anymore, since when I bought it I was neither a left-wing academic nor a Zappa fan. I think the sheer obsessive folly of the whole thing got me hooked. And in fact, quite apart from it's virtues as a treatise on philosophy (which, among other things, it is) or a book about Zappa, it's one of the best books ever written about rock music. Watson's brilliant inspiration was to try to bring together his dedicated left-wing politics and his love for the vast and ungainly oeuvre of the decidedly non-left-wing Frank Zappa. It's a heroic attempt, and the amazing thing about it is that it's persuasive. Zappa's hatred of religious fundamentalism, his dedication to music, his humour, his indomitable determination to stick to his guns, his courage in opposing repressive government policies, are what get Watson really enthusiastic. It's true that there's not all that much here about the music qua music, although Watson considers Zappa to be an important composer and the finest rock guitarist since Hendrix (and he's not far wrong about either); but the minute attention to Zappa's lyrics produces some of the most unlikely and brilliant literary criticism since William Empson. The section when he goes to visit the ailing Zappa in LA is remarkable (Zappa seems to have generally approved of the book, and is a gracious interviewee even when he claims that he can't stand Shakespeare.) "Preposterousness is an underrated quality" claims the author in a letter to Zappa's wife, and this book bears him out. It also turned me into a Zappa fan. Now that has to be a good thing.
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Essential Analysis
As a long-time Zappa fanatic, I found Ben Watson's book to be mind-expanding in enabling increased enjoyment and understanding of the music of FZ. Lesen Sie weiter...
Am 18. Januar 2000 veröffentlicht
Hilarious, fascinating and at times downright weird
This book will prove a good source of Zappa info for anyone with an academic approach (and an equally academic sense of humor)to music, sometimes so ridicoulously free-form and... Lesen Sie weiter...
Am 7. September 1999 veröffentlicht
A dense but decent read (for hardcore Zappaphiles only)
An engaging tome if you're either a hardcore Zappa fanatic or tweed-wearing dweeb in a university English department somewhere. Lesen Sie weiter...
Am 10. Juni 1999 veröffentlicht
marxist groucho bible
i let the wind blow thru' the pages of this large tome on the work of the master of zen surreality... Lesen Sie weiter...
Am 12. Februar 1999 veröffentlicht
A Thorough Intellectual/Artistic Appreciation
Frank Zappa was one of the most innovative composers of 20th century popular music - arguably the most innovative. Lesen Sie weiter...
Veröffentlicht am 27. Dezember 1998 von MarkVA39@aol.com
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