Kill Your Idols : A New Generation of Rock Writers Reconsiders the Classics

Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: The book is a gimmick. That much is stated in the intro, where DeRogatis himself says he thinks 16 of the critics are dead wrong. There is some pretty bad criticism in here.

1) The review on Sgt. Pepper is really just DeRogatis lashing out against the 60s. It's not really a review. You just find out he thinks the album is over the top and boring. It's not enlightening, but it is well written and at least funny.

2) At the end of the review, the Pet Sounds critic argues that Pet Sounds may be great art, but isn't great rock and roll. Which essentially renders the whole review absolutely useless.

3) The essays on Nevermind and OK Computer happen to be really useless. You could read through both reviews and think to yourself, "wait, why does he not like it again?"

4) Rarely is anything truly insightful brought up. Few essays show a meaningful deconstruction of the album, and even fewer bring up legitimate points against it.

Yet, the book is good. Why? Because it's a noble idea. Telling those who wish to canonize rock music that theyre idiots rules. Also, its a well written book.

However, nothing new is really brought up. Still, entertaining read and it provokes discussion.

Rating:
Summary: Merely okay
Review: This book has a few excellent essays, most notably Dawn Eden's review of "Smile," the legendary un-released Beach Boys album. Reviews of the MC5, Gram Parsons, and Public Enemy albums are also very good and insightful. Unfortunately there are also numerous poorly written essays, padded with details about "why I became a rock journalist." There is also a hard rock emphasis that dismisses Neil Young's Harvest, for instance, apparently in favor of Deep Purple. All in all, I would say save your money and ask your public library if they could order it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: This is a book that re-enforces what I loved about the albums they trashed, and made me think about guys like Jim Morrison. A lot of people get pissy and defensive when they see something that they love get trashed. If you are one of those people, don't read this book. The book is like a challenge. You are supposed to think about what they say, and almost debate it in your head. The book is a great companion, and more thought prevoking than anything I've read in a long time.