Emmerdale Farm: The couple at Demdyke Row - Softcover

MacKenzie, Lee

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0352303344 ISBN 13: 9780352303349

Publisher: Star, 1979

Synopsis

Beck is 40 years of American music all rolled into one small frame. This biography follows his career from Los Angeles busker, to his first ever single, "Loser", to his status today as a musician considered by many to be extremely innovative. It also closely examines the man behind the music.

About this title

Review:

From the massive success of his very first single, the slacker-anthem Loser in 1994, to the release of albums such as Mutations and Midnite Vultures, Beck has consistently produced some of the most inventive and influential music of recent years. Despite significant critical and commercial success, however, little is known of the man himself. Rob Jovanovic's beautifully presented book seeks to rectify this omission.

In attempting to "closely examine the man behind the music", Jovanovic's chief obstacle has been his lack of access to Beck himself, this determining that the majority of the information given is well-arranged but essentially second-hand extracts from past media pieces. However, while the results of such cut-and-paste biographies are often disappointing, the combination of Beck's often inspired responses to standard music journalist's questions(such as his description of his debut album as "a satanic K-Tel record that's been found in a trash dumpster") and the attention to detail displayed throughout ensure an interesting, often amusing read. Details are given of every song Beck has recorded, along with analyses of his artwork, videos and TV performances, all accompanied by illuminating though brief interviews with fellow musicians and producers.

Ultimately, it could be said that Beck's music may well be deserving of amore incisive investigation, of the kind Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head afforded the Beatles. In the meantime, though, Jovanovic's book provides an excellent overview of a fine artist. --Steve Price

About this edition

• Publisher: Star
• Publication date: 1979
• ISBN 10: 0352303344
• ISBN 13: 9780352303349
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144