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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pointed Nostalgia, 11 May 2005
I really enjoyed this book, although I am pretty close to the target demographic (forty-something, male, brought up outside London).This is not so much a biography, more a story of one man's relationship with popular music; following him through his school days to becoming a music journalist with the NME. Maconie has an attractive, light prose style, full of wit and packed with comic references and asides. He has created a book packed with nostalgia but lacking in sentimentality; a wonderful combination. The first section of the book details the start of Maconie's relationship with music: going to see the Beatles age 3, discovering Sounds, his love for prog rock and northern soul (well, he is from Wigan), discovering punk and playing in an unsuccessful band, etc. It is packed with references that will resonate with anybody who grew up in the seventies and loved pop music. He is particularly good (and amusing) about the tribalism of following bands (Slade vs. T-Rex), using prog rock (ELP) as an aid to seduction (not a good or successful idea) and the punk revolution. The second section of the book describes how he became a music journalist and charts his time at the NME. It is less nostalgic and there is considerably more name dropping and more anecdotes about pop music and music journalism. It could easily have been annoying but Maconie's love of the subject (verging on hero worship at times) together his wit and charm ensures that it is always interesting and amusing (often downright hilarious). He is particularly good on the strange world on music journalism (making up stories, travelling with bands, dealing with very strange readers' letters). Recommended, particularly if you fit the target demographic.
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by Stuart Maconie
by Stuart Maconie
by Giles Smith
by Andrew Collins
