Book Review: Practicing by Glenn Kurtz

Posted by Jack on 10.27.2008 at 11:30 am

When we get entrenched in something that takes so much of our day, be it work, a significant other, or the curious amalgamation of the two in the form of our “craft” (be it writing, playing music, dancing or whatever), we often fail to see anything else.  As someone who went to school for classical guitar and English, I picked up Glenn Kurtz’s Practicing: A Musician’s Return to Music.  I figured “Hey, I lapsed from guitar too and need to return!  I like to write too!”  But even I, in my love of these simple joys have trouble at times delving into the indulgence of Kurtz’s writing.

His tacit statement of genius is part of the affect of the book.  I get that.  His descriptions of the music and practice are excellent, Read more…

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, glenn kurtz, music, practicing

REAL Music Criticism

Posted by admin on 04.29.2008 at 10:24 am

With the exception of academics, and a few serious writers such as New York Times’ David Carr or the ever loved/hated Sasha Frere Jones (“lack of miscenegation in indie music” seriously, Sasha?) plenty of music criticism comes off as hipster tripe or “rockist” rambling.  33 1/3, the series from Continuum offers a legitimate venue for serious music writers to scribe their research and thoughts about everything from the musicality of great records to the meaning of lyrics to the techniques in the recording.  Each book is a densely packed wealth of knowledge about one particular record.  Thus far I bought Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In an Aeroplane over the Sea” as well as My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless” and David Bowie’s “Low.”

I can’t express this enough, this series is awesome.  Whenever I’m going to do a book review, I like to make sure we have it in stock, and if we don’t, take the steps needed to get it in stock.  This series I was so excited about I was crossing my fingers when I checked Betterworld.com (which makes it much harder to type, incidentally) but we have many of them!

Anyway, the series in question is called “33 1/3″ (after the RPM of a record player for an LP).  You can find their blog here, or the wikipedia entry here.

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, 33 1/3, book reviews, music, sasha frere jones

New Books: Music

Posted by admin on 01.25.2008 at 11:13 am

Before I was writing here on the blog and running book drives around the northeast of the US and Canada I was busy being a music major, doing everything from conducting orchestras to playing classical guitar concerts to a regular Wednesday gig at a pub in Ireland.  Even these days I’ve been known to write the occasional piece for a festival or dance.

Anyway, because of this huge part of my life, I tend to read books that either have to do with music or my other love (modernist literature, particularly turn of the 20th century British lit).

Luckily there has hardly been a better time to be into the former as there are a few great new books for me to suggest that you read (as usual click the cover to check it out at www.BetterWorld.com ):

The one most recently reviewed in the Sunday New York Times Book Review: Grand Obsession.  This text, by Perri Knize describes her search for the perfect piano that takes her on a journey all over geographically and mentally.  It’s an entertaining and engaging story that will have you longing to play, be it chopsticks or Chopin.

Not being a piano player didn’t take away from my enjoyment of Grand Obsession, but I certainly was more apt to pick up Practicing: A Musician’s Return to Music.  I’ve heard great thing but haven’t cracked this one open yet.  I’ll review it soon for those of you itching for a book about a classical guitarist who returns after years away from the instrument (tell me almost everyone doesn’t regret not continuing their _____ lessons as a kid).

Last is a book I’m just getting through right now called This is Your Brain On Music. This book approaches music with a far more scientific approach than the previous two.  This book deals with layman’s versions of how the brain works in it’s approach to listening to, reacting to and generally engaging with music.  Anyone who can understand the haunting quality of a single note or chord or finds themselves playing the same songs over and over needs to check this one out.

Have your say » | Tagged Book Reviews, betterworld.com, book reviews, grand obsession, levitan, music, perri knize, practicing, this is your brain on music