Sellout by Dan Ozzi

Title: Sellout: The Major Label Feeding Frenzy that Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore 1994-2007

Author: Sarah Hollowell

Publisher: Dey Street Books 2021

Genre: Nonfiction - Music

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Reader

Punk rock found itself at a crossroads in the mid-90’s. After indie favorite Nirvana catapulted into the mainstream with its unexpected phenomenon, Nevermind, rebellion was suddenly en vogue. Looking to replicate the band’s success, major record labels set their sights on the underground, and began courting punk’s rising stars. But the DIY punk scene, which had long prided itself on its trademark authenticity and anti-establishment ethos, wasn’t quite ready to let their homegrown acts go without a fight. The result was a schism: those who accepted the cash flow of the majors, and those who defiantly clung to their indie cred.

In Sellout, seasoned music writer Dan Ozzi chronicles this embattled era in punk. Focusing on eleven prominent bands who made the jump from indie to major, Sellout charts the twists and turns of the last “gold rush” of the music industry, where some groups “sold out” and rose to surprise super stardom, while others buckled under mounting pressures. Sellout is both a gripping history of the music industry’s evolution, and a punk rock lover’s guide to the chaotic darlings of the post-grunge era, featuring original interviews and personal stories from members of modern punk’s most (in)famous bands.

I ran across this book as a recommendation on interesting nonfiction from the last few years. I was intrigued by the topic as I’m a huge fan of punk and emo. This book breaks down the history of eleven bands. Some of the chapters are more engaging than the others. Hands down my favorite chapter was the first one about Green Day. Their story was absolutely fascinating! At times, Ozzi gets a little too in the weeds with the profusion of name drops and technical aspects of the music industry. But overall I enjoyed this journey through music history. As a bonus, it inspired me to download a few key albums from my past.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Manchester Orchestra "Telepath"

Serious obsessed with this song right now. I need to go download their album immediately.

Billie Holiday by Carlos Sampayo and Jose Munoz

Title: Billie Holiday

Author: Carlos Sampayo and Jose Munoz

Publisher: NBM Publishing 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 80

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Themes January

Born in Philadelphua in 1915, and dead too early in New York in 1959, Billie Holiday became a legendary jazz singer, even mythical. With her voice even now managing to touch so many people, we follow a reporter on the trail of the artist on behalf of a New York daily. Beyond the public scandals that marred the life of the star (alcohol, drugs, violence...), he seeks to restore the truth, revisiting the memory of Billie. Through this investigation, Muñoz and Sampayo trace, through the undertones of racism, and in the wake of the blues, the slow drift of a singer who expressed the deepest emotions in jazz. By internationally renowned Argentine artists, featuring Muñoz' strikingly raw heavy blacks, this is not just a biography but a spell-binding art book tribute.

This was a recommendation from the Omaha library for a biographical comic. Billie Holiday was a musical genius who led a very harsh life. I thoroughly enjoyed this comic interpretation of his life and work. This is certainly an adult comic with adult themes. I could only digest a few pages in one sitting. But it was oh so good. Put me in the mind to listen to some Billie Holiday and drink a cocktail.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Songbook by Nick Hornby

Title: Songbook

Author: Nick Hornby

Publisher: Riverhead Books 2003

Genre: Essays

Pages: 240

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Rory Gilmore; Popsugar - Seen on TV

Songs, songwriters, and why and how they get under our skin…

Songbook is Nick Hornby’s labor of love. A shrewd, funny, and completely unique collection of musings on pop music, why it’s good, what makes us listen and love it, and the ways in which it attaches itself to our lives—all with the beat of a perfectly mastered mix tape. 

I picked this one up to fulfill a few reading challenge slots. I have enjoyed many of Nick Hornby’s books, but this wasn’t a great one. I found many of the essays to be tedious and a little too esoteric. I think this is a case of mediocre white guy rearing it’s head. Not one I would recommend.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Visualizing the Beatles by John Pring and Rob Thomas

Title: Visualizing the Beatles

Author: John Pring and Rob Thomas

Publisher: Dey Street 2018

Genre: Nonfiction - Music

Pages: 288

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

Filled with stunning full-color infographics, a unique, album-by-album visual history of the evolution of the Beatles that examines how their style, their sound, their instruments, their songs, their tours, and the world they inhabited transformed over the course of a decade.

Combining data, colorful artwork, interactive charts, graphs, and timelines, Visualizing the Beatlesis a fresh and imaginative look at the world’s most popular band. Meticulously examining the songs on every Beatles’ album from Please Please Me to Let It Be, UK-based graphic artists John Pring and Rob Thomas deconstruct:

• lyrical content

• songwriting credits

• inspiration for the songs

• instruments used

• cover designs

• chart position

• and more . . . .

Random library shelf pick. I couldn’t resist the fun images and bright colors. I spent an afternoon flipping through and reading about various facts about The Beatles. I especially loved the graphics dealing with fashion and songwriting. A few of the spreads were a bit too text heavy, but overall, I really enjoyed this.

Next up on the TBR pile:

"Glee"ful Adoration!

So I am a Gleek.  I fully admit it.  I love the soap opera-like crazy plot lines.  I love the over the top musical numbers.  I love all the Brittany and Santana one-liners. The one thing that I haven't loved is the lack of really good classic rock songs.  I've been wishing for some Queen and Bowie for forever.  And last week's episode (I know I'm a bit late, but I forgot about watching it and just watched it on Hulu.com) "Silly Love Songs" fulfilled my dream.  Puck sang "Fat Bottom Girls" by Queen as his love song to Lauren.  Oh my Goodness!  I love that song and loved loved loved his rendition!  I just had to run over (okay okay click over) to iTunes and buy it.  That's big, I don't do that, but I had to do it.  And strangely it did put me into the Valentine's Day spirit, albeit a little late.  But that's okay, it's the thought that counts. *As a definite second favorite song from the episode, Artie's "PYT" was awesomely silly and sexy at the same time.  I love him! And Blaine's Gap Attack was pretty awesome too.  And I'm pretty sure I liked Rachel's "Fireworks" more than Katy Perry's.  Okay, okay, the entire episode was kinda awesome!

Highlight of the Week -- School Program

On Wednesday, the boys had their school Christmas program.  Although I picked the program for my highlight of the week, I have mixed feelings about the program itself. The Bad

For whatever reason, the school decided that the Christmas program would be a patriotic tribute to America.  No Christmas songs, no Frosty, no Santa, no nothing.  It was full of every patriotic song I knew and many I didn't know.  We all expected to hear some carols, maybe a song about snow, hopefully an audience sing along.  But what did we get?   This Land is Your Land and the Star-Spangled Banner.  My grandmother decided not to come because of the songs being sung.  She wanted Christmas and so did I.

The Good

Even with the nonChristmas music, all the kids did such a good job.  They were adorable.  There were cowboy kids and stepping kids.  Kids with little speaking parts and kids with cute barbershop choreography.  Although A definitely was a step behind on the choreography. he said he loved dancing and singing.  N look so cute in his barbershop hat taking a bow after his song.  N's class (who I help during the week) looked so finished and sophisticated in their performance.  As a bonus, they all mobbed me when I dropped off and picked up N from the cafeteria.  They had to confirm that I thought they did well.  So adorable!  I love watching little kids perform.

Added fun: The finale unintentionally sung in a round was the hilarity of the night!

Highlight of the Week

It's always good to reflect on our lives. What's gone well?  What's gone bad?  What was absolutely ridiculous?  So what was my highlight of the week?  The best thing/activity/conversation/etc.?  The best of the best... This week's best -- Karaoke on Friday!

Friday night I went to dinner with some friends, moved to Firefly for some good acoustic music, and then arrived at the bar.  My bff went on and on all week about doing karaoke this weekend.  We finally decided to do it.  And I have to say, it was awesome.

When we arrived the bar was half full of crooners over 65 singing country and Sinatra.  Interesting crowd!  Then we come in with some very unrelated music.  Of course we had to first prepare ourselves for the experience.  I am definitely not the fearless one of the group, so we all needed a little encouragement.  After two gin and tonics, we were ready to go.  Now what songs to choose?

We had to start with our standard "Build Me Up Buttercup"  and then moved to "Knock Three Times."  Of course to get to our songs, we had to wait probably 30 minutes and endure some very off-key country songs (think Alan Jackson without half his teeth).

And then we discussed our next songs: do we go with country, try a real song with real notes, or move to the ridiculous?  The bff decided to go the ridiculous route, but I found out later that she hid the slip in her bra!  Ugh!  Woman!  What you doing?  Anyway, the bff's sister decided we had to do Joan Jett's "I Love Rock n Roll."  Always an amazing choice.  But then she left before our slip came up.  Ugh!  But that's okay, the bff redeemed herself and sang with me.

Awesome karaoke fun!

*The bf spent most of the night doing crossword puzzles on the iPad and/or laughing at our singing.  One of these days, he will embarrass himself like us.  That day would definitely make the highlight of the week!