- Paperback: 271 pages
- Publisher: Hyperion Books (16 May 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 140130835X
- ISBN-13: 978-1401308353
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 13.2 x 1.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,763,414 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What? No 'Gloomy Sunday' in the contents list? Actually, a great chunk of the introduction is devoted to the song that's probably sparked more urban myths than any other, so that's OK. Tom Reynolds takes us through a selection of songs with good singers but terrible lyrics, terrible versions of good songs, epics that mean to be profound but only end up over-pronated (that's flat-footed, to you!) and the ultimate - the perfect storm - the songs with extra bombast. It's very astute and funny, although some of the American references will go over the heads of UK readers, and I look forward to the possibility of someone releasing a CD of these songs so you can sing along with a hairbrush in one hand and a cutthroat razor in the other.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The trouble with I Hate Myself and Want to Die should actually be its strength - the writer's attitude. He is a musician himself, so should have some insight into the writing process and the background of the songs, but he ends up wasting pages in pointless sneering at musical genres or artists he dislikes, rather than the actual songs themselves - I don't care whether he thinks Kiss 'suck donkey poop' only why Beth rates as a depressing song. In a similar vein, Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' isn't automatically better then writer Trent Reznor's just because he is Johnny Cash. The writer frequently betrays his affection for country over other styles of music. A classic maudlin piece of writing, Eric Carmen's 'All by Myself', is only depressing because Celine Dion covered it - really? REALLY?
There's no affection shown to most of the songs listed, which I think is a major fault with the book.
Worse still, in the case of 'Brick' by the Ben Folds Five, he actually admits to having misunderstood the story behind the lyrics while he was compiling the book, then STILL proceeds to rate it based on his original belief - now that's just damn lazy writing.
A missed opportunity that makes me hate the writer - although I stop short of wanting him to die... as long as he doesn't write a follow-up (and he did, so die Reynolds, die!).
There's no affection shown to most of the songs listed, which I think is a major fault with the book.
Worse still, in the case of 'Brick' by the Ben Folds Five, he actually admits to having misunderstood the story behind the lyrics while he was compiling the book, then STILL proceeds to rate it based on his original belief - now that's just damn lazy writing.
A missed opportunity that makes me hate the writer - although I stop short of wanting him to die... as long as he doesn't write a follow-up (and he did, so die Reynolds, die!).
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Tom Reynolds' smart-arsed writing style grows old very quickly when subjected to it at book-length. Don't waste your money - you won't find the book very informative and the sneeringly dismissive tone of the writing is extremely off-putting. Should be in bookstores in a section headed 'Sneeringly Dismissive Critisism' next to the Medved Brothers' 50 Worst Movies of All Time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Funniest Book on Popular Music Ever Written
A terrific read for two reasons. Firstly, it will make you laugh until you wet yourself. Secondly, it contains lots of excellent musical information about the songs in question. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2008 by SteadyEddie
GLARING OMISSION
I don't think that some of the bands and songs were obscure. It is important to cover the whole breadth of (rock) music. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2007 by grubbanax
Wot, no Pink Floyd?
He left out Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall', and the daddy of them all, the Moody Blues' 'Forever Autumn'. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2006 by SueBee
tears (and fears and beers) of laughter
Rarely do I read a book that makes me cry with laughter on the train home. This book is for anyone who is or used to be into Hard Rock, Metal or Goth. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2005 by Chris
Dark, funny and educational!!!!
Being the morbid little person I am, I saw this book and it just seemed to reach out it's grubby hands to me. I was expecting something dark and (surprisingly) depressing. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2005 by "back_in_black86"
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