⭐
Just finished this book. There were times I wanted to stop reading because it was so sad to see how much suffering, sadness, and disappointment went into making some of my favorite music ever. But there was also a lot of love and magic. The context it adds around Chris, Jody, Alex, Andy and all that orbited the band is unparalleled. It felt like sitting around and being told first-hand stories directly to you from those that lived it, for over 400+ pages, imperfections and all.
Related Recs
i was up late working on a history assignment as a sophomore in high school when i first heard this record. my aunt gave me her deceased husband’s original copy as a gift. i put it on the shitty crosley turntable on the floor and was totally sucked in. i think about this record nearly every day.
“i could write a book and this book would be thick enough to stun an ox.”
Nov 7, 2024
Hard to believe it's nearly twenty years old now.
Three things stand out for me, reading it again today. Took like 3 months of reporting, or so, to get it all done.
1) The Courtney Love vignette from the Shins' show at the Hollywood Bowl (it was all very Ab Fab and unintentionally hilarious). She is every bit the piece of work she was described to be.
2) James was living in a house in Portland, OR that Elliott Smith used to live in. We smoked pot in the basement and he showed me the washer/dryer that was basically where Elliott four-tracked the "Roman Candle" album.
3) He had a guitar hanging in his home studio that had "You'll be Dead" spray painted on it -- a line from Star Wars (I think his brother, an artist I worked with at Starbucks, did that). I used to have a photo of that but IDK what happened to it.
It was a fun era to be writing about rock music.
Apr 5, 2024
Its the same author as come as you are, the nirvana book, and if you have any interest in indie bands or indie music this is a real page turner. admittedly I’ve only turned about 15 of those pages but I already can tell I love it. didn’t realize how many of these guys were truly DIY, indie to the bone, pressing Their own records type indie.
Jan 6, 2025
Top Recs from @will
😃
School made us think reading is a holy act. It is not. Its just something to do. Like watching a movie or sports. You aren’t going to be tested by anyone. Read high. Read drunk. Read 2 pages. Read half awake. Remember nothing or just some of it. It really doesn’t matter
May 2, 2024
🎵
Just do it who cares she probably knows better
Feb 27, 2025
🔌
Humbling. Nothing can stop this meat machine from rest.
Mar 25, 2025