Books - Comments / Reviews by Lee Wrecker

Books - Comments / Reviews by Lee Wrecker

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
Lee Wrecker 3rd Jun 2019		Book William S. Burroughs - The Naked Lunch (1968)	I have a 1970 hardback version of this printed by Calder & Boyars that uses the same cover picture. Has a different back cover though (sbn 714503916 - nine digits). I'll upload it when I get a chance.
Lee Wrecker 11th Jul 2018		Book Alexei Sayle - Thatcher Stole My Trousers (2016)	Thanks ppint. Correction sent but regarding your non-sequitur I know nothing about the Horwitz publishing house and their pulp fiction empire. Other than that of course.
Lee Wrecker 8th Jul 2018		Book Alexei Sayle - Thatcher Stole My Trousers (2016)	Bloomsbury Circus or just Bloomsbury I couldn't decide and just went with what was in the publishing details. Correct me if I'm you think I'm wrong ppint. However, it is listed this way here.
Lee Wrecker 30th Mar 2018		Book Paul Trynka - Starman (2012)	Thanks ppint and nboldock for confirming that publisher should in fact be Sphere. Correction sent.
Lee Wrecker 29th Mar 2018		Book Paul Trynka - Starman (2012)	nboldock it says "printed and bound in Australia by Griffin Press" just the ISBN13 # on the publishing details scan. You could be right I'm not a librarian but the publishing rights certainly belong to Sphere but this edition was made in Australia by Griffin Press. I'm happy to change it if the book boffins think I'm wrong. That's you ppint I think? I see I listed the other Trynka biography on Iggy Pop as published by Sphere and it too is "printed and bound in Australia by Griffin Press". So whichever is right should apply to both books. I'm happy for anyone to give me advice here.
Lee Wrecker 28th Mar 2018		Book Paul Trynka - Starman (2012)	Nyam Nyam were a good band that didn't get the breaks they perhaps deserved in the 80s. Their stuff holds up well compared to other similar stuff (perhaps Clock DVA but I still love them or Eyeless in Gaza) in a similar indie dark underground style. Never heard of them before you pointed this out nboldock but I had a listen and thought they sounded pretty good so thanks for that.
Lee Wrecker 22nd Mar 2018		Book Erich Kästner - Emil And The Detectives (1959)	One of the first books I bought with my own money. It's long gone now but I have fond memories of this book and seeing the cover just reminded of my younger self.
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 21st Mar 2018		Book Slavoj Žižek - Living In The End Times (2011)	Žižek may be "the most dangerous philosopher in the West" but this scatter-logical collection of anecdotes that supposedly indicate the death of Capitalism does very little in terms of presenting a direction forward. Yes, the evidence is in but the real question is what to do about it and not to endlessly re-present the evidence in ever more entertaining ways.
Lee Wrecker 24th Dec 2017		Book Jean Baudrillard - Simulacra And Simulation (2016)	Okey dokey guvnor, I'll get onto it right away. I've got Dante's map so I'm following it to a blind alley with a copy of the "Beano" and me yoga mat. I could be quite some time...
Lee Wrecker 21st Dec 2017		Book Jean Baudrillard - Simulacra And Simulation (2016)	No philosophy option in the dropdown menu would it be worth adding one? Or should we just think about it?
Lee Wrecker 20th Dec 2017		Book Pierre-Joseph Proudhon - Property Is Theft! (2011)	Property Is Theft! Surely not my books and albums?
Lee Wrecker 12th Dec 2017		Book David Eddings - Belgarath The Sorcerer (1996)	These cover art comments are boring ppint! They are far too easy to decipher. Hmm... now that I think about it I might contact the OC and suggest that your account has been hacked. Your cover has been blown away.
Lee Wrecker 15th Sep 2017		Book Mary Shelley - Frankenstein (1999)	Yes, zabadak, Magic's review is actually longer than the book. I held a copy of the book up against the screen and Magic's review is in fact about 9cm longer. So, no wonder you haven't finished it yet.
Lee Wrecker 1st Aug 2017		Book Inga Muscio - Cunt : A Declaration Of Independence (2002)	The perfect gift for that special someone? This book is really a thought provoking historical assessment of Women's issues through the ages.
Lee Wrecker 30th Apr 2017		Book Gareth Murphy - Cowboys And Indies (2014)	Added scans of flaps and publishing details. Threw in a copy of the back cover with spine for moderation.
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 21st Dec 2016		Book Simon Reynolds - Rip It Up And Start Again (2006)	Well, I might give it another crack then zabadak, I don't like not finishing a book.
Lee Wrecker 20th Dec 2016		Book Clinton Heylin - The Great White Wonders (1995)	Well researched and an interesting read. Heylin does a great job explaining the bootleg record industry and the weird and wonderful characters in it. The CD era of the industry cops a justified hammering by the author and industry insiders alike.
Lee Wrecker 19th Dec 2016		Book Billy Thorpe - Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy) (1998)	Jasper, I'll check it out. You're right though this story does follow a sort of stream of unconsciousness and not any logical or chronological order. You obviously found that tedious but I found it quite exciting and rather unusual in rock memoir. There is also a lot of 70's style swearing in this book and lot of use of the word "c#nt" which is highly unfashionable these days. After reading this book I found myself using the word in conversation when I previously never would. It caused me some embarrassment when I was addressing some high school children visiting my work place. When I was describing someone on staff and intending to say "silly old coot" I thought these kids won't know what the word coot means so my mind raced to find a replacement that they would understand. You guessed it, I slipped out a c#nt which is never a good thing.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Various Authors - Please Kill Me (1997)	Well I didn't, Janie but I must admit I did have the chance to in 1983 but that's a whole other story. I'll search out John Robb's book though, I'm going to Melbourne soon to buy records and the like so I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Ken Scott - Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust (2012)	A fascinating insight into the recording side of the record business. Review pending.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Simon Reynolds - Rip It Up And Start Again (2006)	Added class#, scans of back cover and publishing details. Never could plough all the way through this one. Factual - yes, entertaining - no. Almost as boring as hearing Pete Townshend reinvent the history of The Who over and over again. Bought my copy in Australia so it could be - ooooh - dare I say it, International.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Paul Trynka - Iggy Pop : Open Up And Bleed (2007)	A disappointing book, opened it and not a drop of blood in it - review pending.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Viv Albertine - Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys (2014)	An excellent book - review pending.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Billy Thorpe - Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy) (1998)	Much better than I expected, drugs, groupies, bikies (read bikers if you're not Australian) with guns, fights and of course the music. Billy reveals himself to be quite a storyteller and very handy with the pen so all in all streets ahead of most autobiographies.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Mick Wall - Lou Reed The Life (2013)	A very good effort on Mick Wall's behalf to put together as comprehensive a picture you probably could of Lou Reed's life.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Roberta Bayley - Blank Generation Revisited (1997)	A great coffee table book. Well, if you like looking at famous punks and drinking coffee at the same time.
Lee Wrecker 18th Dec 2016		Book Tony Sanchez - Up And Down With The Rolling Stones (1979)	An entertaining read and highly believable in spite of being widely discredited by the Stones' inner circle. A bit too close to the bone for some perhaps.
Lee Wrecker 17th Dec 2016		Book Various Authors - Please Kill Me (1997)	Yeah, Janie I bought Rock 'n' Roll Babylon by Gary Herman which was touted to be a follow on through the grunge years but it really didn't match this at all and was a pallid tale in comparison but I suppose times had changed by then. Simon Reynolds "Rip It Up and Start Again" is even worse and I still haven't managed to finish that one off. It's mainly due to the fact that Legs McNeil was really an integral part of the New York punk scene and not just someone who happened to be there jotting stuff down or a budding journalist type. That really is the difference in this one you can smell the dope, feel the grime and believe the shit people say because next quote is usually a completely different take on the same incident. Now just who did suck Iggy's cock?

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