The Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (33 1/3) - Softcover

Michael Fournier

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0826427871 ISBN 13: 9780826427878

Publisher: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2007

Synopsis

Hard to find

About this title

Review:

'How do you showcase the Minutemen's 'Double Nickels On The Dime', a sprawling opus of a punk record, spanning more than 40 songs over four LP sides? It's a formidable task that could easily get out of hand, but Michael T. Fournier takes a simple, no-nonsense approach in this installment of the Continuum 33 1/3 series, and this sensibility takes us into the heart and soul of the band and their crowning achievement. Fournier dives right into the band's history, giving us a short overview of the basics; how they formed, the band members' various personalities, and how they got to the point of releasing Double Nickels. The band was notorious for using inside jokes and obscure references, which played itself out in the theme of the record. Fournier breaks down their overall approach, including an interesting bit on how the album name and cover photo played off of Sammy Hagar's I Can't Drive 55, of all things. He also explains the structure of the album and how each separate side came into being, with each band member getting a side, and leftovers ending up on the last side, nicknamed Chaff. From there, Fournier goes into each song on the album, providing back stories and anecdotes, including interviews with bassist Mike Watt himself. The book does a great job of pulling back the layers of quirkiness that the band painted themselves in, shining light on some of the mysteries of one of the 80s greatest indie punk records --Mish Mash Music Reviews

Synopsis:

In recent years, the Minutemen have enjoyed something of a revival, due to both a chapter in Michael Azerrad's book "Our Band Could Be Your Life", and a feature length documentary film, "We Jam Econo", showcasing the band's legacy. (And having a song serve as the theme for MTV's "Jackass" show doesn't hurt, either.) To date, though, the band's actual work hasn't been the subject of much attention - everything has focused on either the interpersonal relationships that made the Minutemen so distinctive or the sudden and tragic death of guitarist/singer D. Boon. This book shines a light on the band's remarkable music and on this particular album; on their blending of several styles into something that will never be replicated. The Minutemen's body of work is very personal - people who are into this band feel a deep connection with their music and aesthetic. Included are extensive interviews with Mike Watt, the band's bass player, as well as with several artists, musicians, studio owners, and fanzine writers who have been devoted followers of the band for years.

The Minutemen redefined what punk rock could be, what punk rock could sound like, and this book will be a fitting tribute to that legacy. (Also, Mike Watt is now working with Kelly Clarkson on her upcoming album, so there should be ongoing interest...)

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Continuum
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0826427871
• ISBN 13: 9780826427878
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 120