Comments on: The 33 1/3 Odyssey: The Sound of Falling Apart http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/20/the-33-13-odyssey-shoot-out-the-lights/ where the music matters Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:27:22 -0700 hourly 1 By: Chris Estey http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/20/the-33-13-odyssey-shoot-out-the-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-95168 Chris Estey Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:50:10 +0000 http://blog.kexp.org/blog/?p=8144#comment-95168 I completely agree with you about both The Band's and NMH's second records. I was just noting the difference in popularity between the volumes, which I think is worthy of some analysis. I think younger people are picking up the 33 1/3 series, and these readers may not be that familiar with The Band -- which is both a bad and a good thing (younger people are reading about their own music! But: don't forget about The Band!). I credit you for noting the odd affinity between the books as well, even with the different styles. (For my part, I would have been into anything Cooper wrote about, as she is an amazing editor and I've been a fan for a long time.) I do wish Jeff had given interviews, but I'm not as critical of it with the work as some reviewers were. That album tends to breed that sort of fecund passion. I completely agree with you about both The Band’s and NMH’s second records. I was just noting the difference in popularity between the volumes, which I think is worthy of some analysis. I think younger people are picking up the 33 1/3 series, and these readers may not be that familiar with The Band — which is both a bad and a good thing (younger people are reading about their own music! But: don’t forget about The Band!). I credit you for noting the odd affinity between the books as well, even with the different styles. (For my part, I would have been into anything Cooper wrote about, as she is an amazing editor and I’ve been a fan for a long time.) I do wish Jeff had given interviews, but I’m not as critical of it with the work as some reviewers were. That album tends to breed that sort of fecund passion.

]]> By: Hayden http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/20/the-33-13-odyssey-shoot-out-the-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-95094 Hayden Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:52:04 +0000 http://blog.kexp.org/blog/?p=8144#comment-95094 Another choice I hope never to make in this life: The Band vs. Neutral Milk Hotel, especially the second albums. I think both Niven's book and Kim Cooper's book are brilliant (as are the subjects of their books), and despite their completely different approaches (fiction v. oral-historical, I mean), they have an odd affinity. Both put the readers right into the moment, and both are more concerned with the narrative than with criticism of the album in question. That approach works very well for their subjects. And I'm always happy to throw in with Greil Marcus! Even when I think he's wrong, he's wrong for a reason that's fascinating. It's been a long, long time since I read Mystery Train, and a half-new version sounds like a delightful read. Another choice I hope never to make in this life: The Band vs. Neutral Milk Hotel, especially the second albums. I think both Niven’s book and Kim Cooper’s book are brilliant (as are the subjects of their books), and despite their completely different approaches (fiction v. oral-historical, I mean), they have an odd affinity. Both put the readers right into the moment, and both are more concerned with the narrative than with criticism of the album in question. That approach works very well for their subjects.

And I’m always happy to throw in with Greil Marcus! Even when I think he’s wrong, he’s wrong for a reason that’s fascinating. It’s been a long, long time since I read Mystery Train, and a half-new version sounds like a delightful read.

]]> By: Chris Estey http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/20/the-33-13-odyssey-shoot-out-the-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-95086 Chris Estey Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:31:35 +0000 http://blog.kexp.org/blog/?p=8144#comment-95086 Thank you, sir, my pleasure, due to the great people at KEXP! Also, I need to read that Big Pink book myself. Last I heard from Continuum that volume had been really overlooked (perhaps due to its fictional nature, maybe because it as about something less buzz-worthy than Neutral Milk Hotel, who knows) and they were eager for me to review it for the rock magazine I edited at the time. You are throwing in with Greil Marcus in his new notes for the astonishing fifth edition of "Mystery Train" (just out) where he says Niven did a great job too. So back into my too-read pile it goes! (And I need to review "Mystery Train" soon too, as the new draft is almost half-new with juicy contemporaneous notes from the esteemed Mr. Marcus.) Thank you, sir, my pleasure, due to the great people at KEXP!

Also, I need to read that Big Pink book myself. Last I heard from Continuum that volume had been really overlooked (perhaps due to its fictional nature, maybe because it as about something less buzz-worthy than Neutral Milk Hotel, who knows) and they were eager for me to review it for the rock magazine I edited at the time. You are throwing in with Greil Marcus in his new notes for the astonishing fifth edition of “Mystery Train” (just out) where he says Niven did a great job too. So back into my too-read pile it goes! (And I need to review “Mystery Train” soon too, as the new draft is almost half-new with juicy contemporaneous notes from the esteemed Mr. Marcus.)

]]> By: Hayden http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/20/the-33-13-odyssey-shoot-out-the-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-95084 Hayden Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:42:05 +0000 http://blog.kexp.org/blog/?p=8144#comment-95084 Aw, thanks, man! (and wink wink: the ayola-pay is already in route.) In the two SOTL readings so far, I've mentioned that I initially thought the idea of using fiction in a 33 1/3 book was a cop-out. I wouldn't even read John Niven's book on Music From Big Pink when it came out, so offended were my delicate flower-like sensibilities. Of course, as I got further into the process and found myself unable to write a compelling narrative from secondary sources, fiction seemed far more enticing. I thought: hey, I know how to cop-out! Then I read Niven's book and realized that it was quite good and the stakes were fairly high on that front, too, but I was already committed to my approach, so, well, voila: fiction. Anyway, thanks again for the great review. I love KEXP in general, so it's quite a thrill to see my book show up on your blog. Aw, thanks, man! (and wink wink: the ayola-pay is already in route.)

In the two SOTL readings so far, I’ve mentioned that I initially thought the idea of using fiction in a 33 1/3 book was a cop-out. I wouldn’t even read John Niven’s book on Music From Big Pink when it came out, so offended were my delicate flower-like sensibilities. Of course, as I got further into the process and found myself unable to write a compelling narrative from secondary sources, fiction seemed far more enticing. I thought: hey, I know how to cop-out! Then I read Niven’s book and realized that it was quite good and the stakes were fairly high on that front, too, but I was already committed to my approach, so, well, voila: fiction.

Anyway, thanks again for the great review. I love KEXP in general, so it’s quite a thrill to see my book show up on your blog.

]]> By: Chris Estey http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/20/the-33-13-odyssey-shoot-out-the-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-95077 Chris Estey Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:09:07 +0000 http://blog.kexp.org/blog/?p=8144#comment-95077 Thanks, Hayden, and at the risk of being an ass for commenting on an author's comment on my review of their work (which I don't think you were being at all, unless you had just called me an ass, or something), I have to say I've been struggling a bit in hindsight with my criticism of your fictional aspect to the book. I was actually leery of your combining a fictionalized character with so much story behind such an important record being readily available, but you really did pull that element off well, too. Perhaps much better than I suggest in my final paragraph above. Other 33 1/3 volumes had done it, as had other writers elsewhere, to a less satisfying level of literature. Thinking back on it, you did a really good job of telling a story many of us can identify with -- the feeling that the creator of an album (or story, for example) is a twin of ours, creating a disturbing simulation of our own existence. I had bought "Shoot Out The Lights" just before my deep, several-year engagement with a girl fell apart, and the LP didn't seem to have any lyrics that couldn't have been written about my own existence. You captured that weird energy between fan/listener and singer/songwriter so well that it's been more memorable than a lot of other fiction I've read this year. So, well, I want to thank you and encourage people even more to check out your analysis of Richard & Linda Thompson's (arguable tie for best) album, with less hesitation than my review originally stated. You're a damned good writer! Thanks, Hayden, and at the risk of being an ass for commenting on an author’s comment on my review of their work (which I don’t think you were being at all, unless you had just called me an ass, or something), I have to say I’ve been struggling a bit in hindsight with my criticism of your fictional aspect to the book. I was actually leery of your combining a fictionalized character with so much story behind such an important record being readily available, but you really did pull that element off well, too. Perhaps much better than I suggest in my final paragraph above. Other 33 1/3 volumes had done it, as had other writers elsewhere, to a less satisfying level of literature. Thinking back on it, you did a really good job of telling a story many of us can identify with — the feeling that the creator of an album (or story, for example) is a twin of ours, creating a disturbing simulation of our own existence. I had bought “Shoot Out The Lights” just before my deep, several-year engagement with a girl fell apart, and the LP didn’t seem to have any lyrics that couldn’t have been written about my own existence. You captured that weird energy between fan/listener and singer/songwriter so well that it’s been more memorable than a lot of other fiction I’ve read this year. So, well, I want to thank you and encourage people even more to check out your analysis of Richard & Linda Thompson’s (arguable tie for best) album, with less hesitation than my review originally stated. You’re a damned good writer!

]]> By: Hayden http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/20/the-33-13-odyssey-shoot-out-the-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-95074 Hayden Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:49:39 +0000 http://blog.kexp.org/blog/?p=8144#comment-95074 At the risk of being an ass for commenting on a review of my book, I just wanted to thank Chris for the kind words. I'm honored to be a part of the 33 1/3 Odyssey. For the record, I couldn't choose between I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight and Shoot Out The Lights at gunpoint, but the SOTL story is indeed the juicier of the two. At the risk of being an ass for commenting on a review of my book, I just wanted to thank Chris for the kind words. I’m honored to be a part of the 33 1/3 Odyssey. For the record, I couldn’t choose between I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight and Shoot Out The Lights at gunpoint, but the SOTL story is indeed the juicier of the two.

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