Portishead's Dummy (33 1/3)
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.81 (659 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1441194495 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 248 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-09-17 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
"A growing Alexandria of rock criticism - Los Angeles Times, 2008 Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren't enough - Rolling Stone One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet - Bookslut"
RJ Wheaton offers an impressionistic investigation of Dummy that imitates the cumulative structure of the album itself, piecing together interviews, impressions of time and place, cultural criticism, and a thorough exploration of the music itself. How is that so many people have, collectively, made a quintessential headphone album into a nightclub album? How have they made the product of a niche local scene into an international success? This is the story of how an innovative, experimental album became the iconic sound for the better part
A very good entry in the 33-1/3 series I've read quite a few of the 33-1/3 series, and I think this is one of the best entries. It gives a great insight into the making of the album and also positions its creation within the greater musical trends of the time. My one disappointment is that the book presupposes the instance of a single "Bristol Scene" that existed around the time of this album; but the city is also important as home of two other scenes -- that of iconic indie label Sarah Records, and the more experimental sounds of the loose collective of musicians that included Flying Saucer Attack, The Third Eye Foundation, Crescent, . Probably the best 33 1/3 so far Not only that, but twice as long as some! It can be a bit starry-eyed and ponderous from time to time, but the greatest praise I can give it is this: I found Dummy to be my least-favourite Portishead record (so sue me, I just love the other two more). This made me reconsider and see Dummy with new eyes. I'd recommend it if it's your first entry in the series, but it may also set the bar too high - especially when crap like the Fear of Music book found their way into the series.. Paul Muller said A deeply thought through, modern yet classical critique and exploration. Wheaton dissects the work of Portishead with the critical eye of eye of a micro-surgeon. No detail, musical nuance is missed and it makes going back to the music so much more enjoyable.Be prepared to have a tablet or laptop handy to follow the many musical references he mentions along the way (it would be great if this were easier from within the Kindle version itself).
RJ Wheaton's writing on music, film, and literature has been published in The Oxford American, DaCapo's Best Music Writing series, and at PopMatters, where he is Senior Producer. He currently lives in Toronto.