The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life
(Simon Goddard)
The Smith?s are an almost impossible analytical subject. The cloak and dagger atmosphere into which their existence descended, culminating in acrimonious court appearances and malevolent press mud slinging, is an impenetrable labyrinth, shrouded in opacity.
Goddard in his book lights a beacon and navigates this maze with ostensible ease. He wears his immense research lightly and illuminates the experience with the emotional devotion that has become a pre-requisite for fans of The Smiths.
Goddard?s ardent journey encompasses every song ever recorded by the band. It supplies the reader with an extensive analysis of both Marr?s musical influences, coupled with the multivariate literary and cinematic sources for Morrissey?s lyrics. Additionally Goddard informs us with a short history of each track including first radio airplay, live appearance and television viewing.
The recording process for each track is built up with unique insights gleaned from exhaustive interviews with the band members (excluding Morrissey) including the various producers used for different mixes of certain tracks.
Goddard also uncovers the vibrant social scene emanating from Manchester?s emerging artistic network, informing of the way the two principle songwriters were drawn towards each other by their similar loves and curiosities.
The book is organised in chronological order, from the confident humility of Morrissey?s early letters to the NME enthused by the Sparks bi-curious electronic eccentricity and the fanzine he wrote on his first musical obsession The New York Dolls, to his inexorable grief at Marr?s desertion and the subsequent emotionality of the Viva Hate album and beyond.
Goddard also transcends the usual routine of following up primarily Morrissey and Marr?s respective solo careers with additional attention to Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke, not omitting details of the court case that has appeared to wither away any chance of a Smiths reunion.Goddard?s book is original in that it manages to blend factual information with a prose style that is infused with the devotional intensity of The Smiths fanbase. This makes it a must for bedroom poets everywhere.
Resumos Relacionados
- Henry Goddard E A Hereditariedade
- One Giant Blunder For Mankind: How Nasa Lost Moon Pictures
- One Giant Blunder For Mankind: How Nasa Lost Moon Pictures
- Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel. Negociations And Love Songs
- Too Much, Too Late
|
|
