We Shall Cleanse the World...
2.25 mile run in Noe Valley. Time to start adding some distance...
A couple of random reviews:
Concrete, Bulletproof, Invisible & Fried: My Life As A Revolting Cock, By Chris Connelly. This book probably has "selective" interest, as it's a tell-all rock-star biography, but of a rock-star so minor that most folks have never heard of his band(s), much less him. That said, if you were an industrial-obsessed club-kid in the late-80's/early-90's, this is a hilarious page-turner. Connelly was the lead-singer for the Revolting Cocks, and some incarnations of Ministry, and was there in the industrial trenches, drinking and drugging himself near to death for my amusement. I have a weakness for drug-addled rockstar biographies anyway, (hell, I just read Eric Clapton's autobiography, and I actively hate his music) but it's as though this particular volume was written specifically for me. I was a Wax-Trax Records geek, and sought out all of Al "Ministry" Jourgensen's many releases under all his various guises. To have this insider's perspective on the era is fascinating. Al comes across as a megalomaniac whose behavior is unpredictable in the extreme, and who surrounds himself with fawning yes-men. The book could _really_ have used some editing for clarity, (Connelly will often yammer about some minor character for several chapters before telling you who they are or why they're important) but it's a breezy read. Bonus points for not having any "recovery" hooey tacked on at the end. (See: Eric Clapton's three-chapters-too-long pile of dung.) Not that there's anything wrong with recovery programs, it's just refreshing to read a book that doesn't follow the "my life sucked and then I got help and now I'm all better" plot trajectory. In Connelly's case, it's more of "my life sucked and I was surrounded by idiots, and I was an active participant until I got sick of it and stopped." The book also earns credits for Connelly's unflinching honesty about his bandmates and their acolytes. A lot of folks would temper their comments for fear of harming the few people who might actually read the book; ex-bandmates, sound techs, and hangers-on. Connelly flails on them all, or those that deserve it, to an extent that one assumes he plans to never again see these people. Commendable.
Sacrament, by Lamb of God, Bonus DVD - In a similar "selective" vein, Lamb of God's most recent album comes with a bonus DVD that documents the making of the record. Unlike a lot of these fluffy bonuses, this is actually a fairly in-depth look at the creative process, and how it applies to the construction of a modern extreme metal record. Everything is covered, from drum tracking to the writing process to the producer's role. It's instructive if you're one of those folks who wonders why bands don't just walk into the studio, play a live set into a microphone, and walk out an hour and a half later with a finished album. Like I said, it might not be of general interest, but I found it very watchable. Also, while not venturing into Metallica "Some Kind of Monster" territory, they do allow the cameras "warts and all" access to the band's internal interaction, particularly in discussing the other member's disgruntlement with the lead singer. His lack of involvement in the writing stage and his substance abuse problems are both covered with surprising candor. As I said, an interesting insight into the creative process. Or the creative process as practiced by some southern rednecks making a heavy metal album.
Steve
A couple of random reviews:
Concrete, Bulletproof, Invisible & Fried: My Life As A Revolting Cock, By Chris Connelly. This book probably has "selective" interest, as it's a tell-all rock-star biography, but of a rock-star so minor that most folks have never heard of his band(s), much less him. That said, if you were an industrial-obsessed club-kid in the late-80's/early-90's, this is a hilarious page-turner. Connelly was the lead-singer for the Revolting Cocks, and some incarnations of Ministry, and was there in the industrial trenches, drinking and drugging himself near to death for my amusement. I have a weakness for drug-addled rockstar biographies anyway, (hell, I just read Eric Clapton's autobiography, and I actively hate his music) but it's as though this particular volume was written specifically for me. I was a Wax-Trax Records geek, and sought out all of Al "Ministry" Jourgensen's many releases under all his various guises. To have this insider's perspective on the era is fascinating. Al comes across as a megalomaniac whose behavior is unpredictable in the extreme, and who surrounds himself with fawning yes-men. The book could _really_ have used some editing for clarity, (Connelly will often yammer about some minor character for several chapters before telling you who they are or why they're important) but it's a breezy read. Bonus points for not having any "recovery" hooey tacked on at the end. (See: Eric Clapton's three-chapters-too-long pile of dung.) Not that there's anything wrong with recovery programs, it's just refreshing to read a book that doesn't follow the "my life sucked and then I got help and now I'm all better" plot trajectory. In Connelly's case, it's more of "my life sucked and I was surrounded by idiots, and I was an active participant until I got sick of it and stopped." The book also earns credits for Connelly's unflinching honesty about his bandmates and their acolytes. A lot of folks would temper their comments for fear of harming the few people who might actually read the book; ex-bandmates, sound techs, and hangers-on. Connelly flails on them all, or those that deserve it, to an extent that one assumes he plans to never again see these people. Commendable.
Sacrament, by Lamb of God, Bonus DVD - In a similar "selective" vein, Lamb of God's most recent album comes with a bonus DVD that documents the making of the record. Unlike a lot of these fluffy bonuses, this is actually a fairly in-depth look at the creative process, and how it applies to the construction of a modern extreme metal record. Everything is covered, from drum tracking to the writing process to the producer's role. It's instructive if you're one of those folks who wonders why bands don't just walk into the studio, play a live set into a microphone, and walk out an hour and a half later with a finished album. Like I said, it might not be of general interest, but I found it very watchable. Also, while not venturing into Metallica "Some Kind of Monster" territory, they do allow the cameras "warts and all" access to the band's internal interaction, particularly in discussing the other member's disgruntlement with the lead singer. His lack of involvement in the writing stage and his substance abuse problems are both covered with surprising candor. As I said, an interesting insight into the creative process. Or the creative process as practiced by some southern rednecks making a heavy metal album.
Steve