Excellent biography - Rated 
I have to declare an interest here - I'm named in the acknowledgements by the ghostwriter of this book, Austin Collings. As far as the book goes, it's good stuff; I suspect that Mr Collings has contributed more to it that Mr Smith, but that's the drawback to writing someone else's story for them.
The book confirms what I'd long thought: my admiration for Mark E Smith, leader and creative mainspring of The Fall, is still in place. The man has stuck to his vision of that band, weathering the storms of umpteen lineup changes, bankruptcy, drugs and alcohol as he's gone. The book even made me laugh out loud, not what I expected at all.
Unfortunately, the book also confirms that Mr Collings has had a hard ride himself trying to produce this book - what's the betting that Mr Smith couldn't tell you what's in it?
Entertaining - but not easy going.
Aspalls and The Fall, a deadly brew. - Rated 
Ive just come in from the garden on a particularly lovely May evening having finished both this biography and three bottles of Aspalls dry cider. (sorry if this lacks coherence)
I must admit to being quite partial to both of them in moderation. Whilst the cider was very good but nothing new I must admit that I was hoping I gain something new fom reading this book.....a different insight and to world of the Fall and Mr Smith. That didn't happen.
Somewhere around the half way point I couldn't help reading between the lines about all the musicians he's sacked, voting tory, etc, etc. At this he starts to become the grating, misanthropic, reactionary drunkard in the corner of the pub strungling with his false teeth. Sadly this side of him soon wears thin and my susequent interest in the book started to wain. But in the second half there are enough anecdotes of him pulling himself out of impending oblivion and serious scrapes to keep most readers hooked. I also enjoyed his Lady Di, Beckham, Elton John, New-Labour bashing.
I can't forget that this is the man who has given us Sparta, Hit the North, Mr Phamacist and dozens of other stunning, witty, and insightful records over years and years. The over-riding power of this book is that M.E.S is rather like the character of Johnny in the film Naked: the down-trodden, intelligent, dissatisfied outsider looking in on society and commenting on the obvious broken mess around us that most people accept or don't even see. The Fall made really wonderful music. There's much about the tenacity in his life lived through the tough times pretty well described in the book that informs and often powers the music of the Fall.
No great revelations here but it will be a very sad day when he stops.
Smell the whisky tang - Rated
This is undeniably an entertaining read but the memory has taken a battering over the years. He comes out with some ridiculous stuff like "I paid all the band the same as U2 were getting" etc and banging on about others being sloppy and unprofessional. Half the the Fall concerts I've seen he's spent the gig forgetting words, walking off stage and twiddling amp knobs to no effect.
If you take his ramblings with a pinch of salt you'll find some hilarious moments; Japanese camp guard, Dad's advice and Vic and Bob's unexpected cameo.
Love the guy's music and glad he's doing what he's doing. Also glad I don't have to work with him.
Curmudgeon speaks ! - Rated 
I devoured this in one sitting and loved every page of it. It'll never be thought of as a brilliant opus, but I feel sure I'll read it again very soon. I find myself agreeing with much of what he has to say. Nice to see that he isn't as one-sided in his attitudes as I previously suspected.
I could have read another couple of hundred words of it without trouble. Absorbing. Crucial. Significant.
Can't wait to hear his new CD.
The "SS Frappuccino" - Rated
It's great - easily readable and very funny. There's musings on everything from Rigsby to Kurt Cobain, Knut Hamsun's train surfing habits ["it cleared his cough..."], very perceptive comments on Burroughs and Ginsberg, why New Labour's election footage will be seen as future Nazi propaganda, Lindsay Anderson films, the differences between tarot and poker... oh, and lots of tales about being [in] The Fall. His telling of the New York incarceration incident and 9/11 is as scary as "Cropdust".
Dylan's Chronicles was one of those rare rock bio's that's worth reading; this is even better.
All in all, a good week for Fall fans, this, and Imperial Wax Solvet, both corkers!
|
