Books - Reviews by Lee Wrecker

Books - Reviews by Lee Wrecker

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
Lee Wrecker 21st Mar 2018		Book Paul Trynka - Starman (2012)	Rated 8/10 This is probably as good a biography of David Bowie that you can get. Trynka, however, leaves me cold as a rock writer. I have read his pieces in Mojo magazine and also his biography of Iggy Pop and must say I prefer his articles to his books. This is mainly because Trynka is a serious rock journalist that takes to his work like a historian and his forensic research skills and attention to detail are admirable. However, where his books seem to falter is in a lack of personality coming through from the author. This could be explained by his emphasis on historical correctness but I think otherwise. Now it is obvious in this book and Trynka's Iggy Pop biography that the author is smitten by both of the artists he is writing about but he tries to hide this behind facts at every turn. Ultimately, this leads to a somewhat soul-less read and the most telling part about the author in this book are his reviews and ratings of Bowie's albums tacked on to the end of the book. This seems to contradict his somewhat hagiographical accounts of the making of the same albums in the preceding chapters. He also has a tendency to avoid controversy and play down some of the less desirable aspects of his subjects. The end of the Iggy biography when Trynka eventually gets to interview Iggy and then welshes out on the more difficult questions he has uncovered in his research is particularly disappointing. This book is in that style and while it is a fabulously detailed account of Bowie it is short on soul. That said it's still probably the best Bowie biography around. 3 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Lee Wrecker 28th Dec 2016		Book Ken Scott - Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust (2012)	Rated 9/10 Ken Scott's "Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust" is a great read. The book follows Ken's life chronologically from when, as a teenager in the 1960's, he applied to to work for EMI at Abbey Road through to about 2006 when he remastered George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass". In between Ken learned his craft as a recording engineer and worked with a who's who of popular music including The Beatles, Bowie, Elton John and Supertramp. Now there is a fair bit of information on the technical side of recording in the book but Ken manages to appropriately slip it in, in segments, that relate to whoever he was working with at the time. This strategy neatly avoids the problem of the technical details becoming to boring or in this case getting in the way of a good story. This is perhaps most skillfully done when Ken offers his insight on the recording of Lou Reed's "Transformer" which is full of human drama and technical recording and studio problems. The book moves from the 70's to 80's via Ken's connection to Supertramp and in the book he gives vivid insight into the band and how their major albums were produced. To this point the book is very open and Ken seems happy to let us into his life and work. This seems to change after Supertramp break up and Ken decides to stay in Los Angeles and work from there. From here on in there are only hints of Ken's inner thoughts and a glossing over of his personal life which was full of drama throughout this period. This is a minor flaw but it does nag at the reader who by this stage has got to know Ken through the previous 260 pages. Perhaps this part of Ken's life isn't one he was really ready to discuss but needed to be included to maintain the chronology of events. If you persist through this section though you will be rewarded. The last 50-60 pages are great and offer more insight into his key works as albums are remastered, people pass away and Ken offers his philosophy on recording and the music business in general. If you've ever wondered just who is this Ken Scott and why is his name on so many of my favourite albums this book will give you the answers. A very enjoyable read. 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Lee Wrecker 16th Dec 2016		Book Various Authors - Please Kill Me (1997)	Rated 10/10 The best book I've ever read about Rock 'N' Roll and probably also the most entertaining book I've ever read. If you have the slightest interest in The Stooges, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, New York Dolls, Ramones, CBGB's, The Bowery, Johnny Thunders, Stiv Bators, and the like this book is for you. The story is a an oral chronology of how it all happened told in snippets from all the key players and is brilliantly pieced together by Legs McNeil And Gillian McCain. Truth, lies, sex, dope, triumphs and disasters, a real peak inside the underbelly of rock told by those who were there. A cracking read. 3 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?