Members volvo1 Posted September 11, 2006 Members Share Posted September 11, 2006 Hey folks, I teach English at a college and I'm also a musician. I am organizing a freshman composition (English) class that explores music as a form of composition. I'm sure many of you can see the crossover between language, emotion, expression, and music. I don't need to explain that. I do need suggestions for books. The main text I'm using is Can't Stop - Won't Stop, which is history of the hip-hop generation. I'll also require a suscription to Vibe or Rolling Stone as supplimental readings. I need another book that is narration or autobiography; something that will be fun to read. Rap, rock, alt, indy - whatever. I'm not censoring either; I don't care if there is some grit. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it. I am in California, and most of my students are around 23 years old. Thanks, Volvo1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashjn Posted September 11, 2006 Members Share Posted September 11, 2006 Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis is a great book about his life in the music biz. Really good read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cryptozoon Posted September 11, 2006 Members Share Posted September 11, 2006 Originally posted by volvo1 I'm sure many of you can see the crossover between language, emotion, expression, and music... By chance I just happened to blog about this very topic earlier this morning. Click on my Critical Noise link below and read the most recent post titled 'Aural Intelligence'. As for books that feature great, interesting writing about music, what about Lester Bangs' collection of writings, 'Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung'? Or for autobiography, Dylan's 'Chronicles: Volume One (Chronicles)'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted September 11, 2006 Moderators Share Posted September 11, 2006 'No Commercial Potential' by David Walley...the early saga of Frank Zappa vs. the music industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members volvo1 Posted September 13, 2006 Author Members Share Posted September 13, 2006 Thanks a lot. The Dylan Chronicals I considered, but I know that many first year college students in my area in into hip-hop and I wan't sure how Dyaln talking about the 60s would go over (even though I know it is more than that. I'll check out the others - thanks. Volvo1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlurryBoy 13 Posted September 13, 2006 Members Share Posted September 13, 2006 So You Wanna be a Rock & Roll Star by Jacob Slichter Quick but informative read by the guy who was the drummer in Semisonic about the whole music industry machine from an easy to follow perspective. Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil Great book about 60s 70s 80s music and the connections between rock and punk but not for the feint of heart. All interviews deftly edited together and vulgar. You could read both in a couple of days though, they go by quick and are entertaining. Chronicles is a good book, but doesn't really say much about the industry as it exists today (or even after 1965). And it jumps around and probably wouldn't be of much interest to students who aren't Bob Dylan fans as it deals heavily with one of his 80s albums and a few 70s ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members volvo1 Posted September 14, 2006 Author Members Share Posted September 14, 2006 Thanks - I'll check out both suggestions. The shorter reads are appealing, especially if they are gritty. I should have mentioned that suggestions for film documentaries and feature-length movies, or otherwise visual media, would be welcome too. thanks, JT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.