Kick Out the Jams
Jibes, Barbs, Tributes, and Rallying Cries from 35 Years of Music Writing
2 of 2 copies available
Spanning three decades worth of astute, acerbic, and overall astounding music writing, Kick Out the Jams is the first large-scale anthology of the work of renowned critic Dave Marsh. Ranging from Elvis Presley to Kurt Cobain, from Nina Simone to Ani DiFranco, from the Beatles to Green Day, the book gives an opinionated, eye-opening overview of 20th-century popular music—offering a portrait not just of an era but of a writer wrestling with the American empire.
Every essay bears the distinct Dave Marsh attitude and voice. That passion is evident in a heart-wrenching piece on Cobain's suicide and legacy; a humorous attack on "Bono's bullshit;" an indignant look at James Brown and the FBI; deep, revelatory probes into the work of underappreciated artists like Patty Griffin and Alejandro Escovedo; and inspiring insight into what drives Marsh as a writer, namely "a raging passion to explain things in the hope that others would not be trapped and to keep the way clear so that others from the trashy outskirts of barbarous America still had a place to stand—if not in the culture at large, at least in rock and roll."
If you want to explore the recent history of pop music—its politics as well as its performers—Kick Out the Jams is the perfect guidebook.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 15, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797160788
- File size: 290018 KB
- Duration: 10:04:12
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 10, 2024
In this dynamic compilation of his essays and reviews, veteran rock-music critic Marsh's trenchant writing is paired with the ideal narrator--character actor and Audie Award-winning narrator Dennis Boutsikaris. In this collection, Marsh champions lesser-known artists, particularly women and people of color, such as Patty Griffin, Alejandro Escovedo, and Dorothy Love Coates. The compilation also offers piercing commentary on censorship, a personal exploration of grief and music after the death of Marsh's stepdaughter, and meditations on music's changing landscape in the internet age. Marsh tackles bigger-named artists, with an examination of Kurt Cobain's death by suicide and the legacies of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. His harshest jeers are for so-deemed hypocrites--Bono, Al Gore, and others he calls out for distorting music's best intentions for profit and power. The pieces included here hail from publications big and small, showcasing the breadth of Marsh's writing. Boutsikaris's narration captures the author's enthusiasm and occasionally high-handed style with a seamlessly conversational tone. His delivery never rushes but proceeds at a measured pace, infusing every aside with a well-placed smirk or an eye roll. VERDICT For listeners interested in reexamining musical gatekeeping, Marsh's writing and Boutsikaris's delivery provide a portrait of the music industry that goes well beyond the usual fare.--Lizzie Nolan
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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