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	LET'S GO TO HELL - SCATTERED MEMORIES OF THE BUTTHOLE SURFERS by James Burns (Cheap Drugs) Reading like one big fat Butthole zine, "Lets Go To Hell" captures the frenzied cacophony created by Texas' wildest sons in a gushing transcript bursting with gloriously thorough histories of a band that remains for the most part, a misunderstood mystery to most. The Butthole Surfers raised the weirdo bar to absolute levels, easily eclipsing anything the music industry had ever seen, whilst creating a sonically inventive body of work few could match. Music likes its well-defined classes and slots, something the Surfers obliterated with much glee. Punk? Jazz? Psyche? Performance art? Who knew? No one cared, it was something completely original, and it messed with everyone. Burns chronicles the wooly escapades - musical, business, personal - of the surprisingly long shelf lifed outfit through their multi decade run of eye-popping anarchy, mixing a dedicated fan's worship with retrospective judgment that only come with time. Brimming with heaps of photos, interview snippets, an exhaustive discography and a long gig list (thirty years!), you'd think this would be a deadly dull, listing style read, but no. The adventures within, while showing the perpetrators to be quite sane at times, are totally outlandish, and oh so easily digestible. Like the band, this book is quite rough, often needlessly repeating passages with interviews that follow, and chock full of typos and missing words. Copy editor must have been snorting something. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP WILL NOT ATTEND by Adam Resnick (Penguin) Resnick may sound like a pessimist, but seeing the inevitable darkness in every situation actually makes him a realist. He's not an overbearing, dictatorial ogre, like his father. No, he's an uncomfortable, grumbling accomplice in life, and a bit of a wise guy. Hard to like, but even harder to dislike, Resnick plows through a speedy fifteen tales about the drudgery of childhood (from both sides). His is a gift of the written word: the ability to twist every ounce of laughter tears from a seemingly ordinary set of circumstances. Seemingly jaded out of the womb, Resnick is a stubborn know it all, going nowhere kid, who easily morphs into a larger version as an adult. Both versions take turns taking their lumps in a look back in indifference. The saving grace here is Resnick's superb comedy timing, as he sets up knockout out punches with a series of clever jabs. There's not a wasted word, or a superfluous tangent. All killer, no filler. Hidden in the bushes, behind the knee-slappers, is a genuine grasp of the human condition, which often stays silent in short storyland, but has a booming voice here. Hurrah! whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP ART OF MODERN ROCK by Paul Grushkin and Dennis King (Chronicle Books) There's a little intro blurb before the massive, tabloid size poster book takes over, that states the advent of puny CDs pretty well killed album cover art. Sounds fair enough, though a case may be made for Roger Dean, but that's another argument. What this theory surmises is that artists who loved the rock had to move over to gig posters to express themselves properly. Though gig posters have always been around, showing excellent (and horrific) art, there's no denying that for the first time in pop history, the poster has eclipsed the album art. With that out of the way, what comes next is a gargantuan collection of glossy reproductions of eye poppers for performers mainly in the alternative vein. A lot of wild and woolly stuff here from the likes of Coop and Kozik, but it's also a chance to see some unknowns strut their pens. Hard to put down, despite it's hefty weight, and sure to smash coffee tables across the land. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP WEIRDO DELUXE by Matt Dukes Jordan (Chronicle) Now who would want a painting of a topless Samantha being wooed by the two Darrins, hanging in their swanky parlour? Actually quite a few folks. Never underestimate the power and lure of sixties television kitsch, especially when something so ingrained in baby boomer consciousness as Bewitched is involved. Isabel Samaris' lush oil paintings may seem like black velvet material, but they are truly beautiful - and damn hilarious. There's the rub. Art isn't supposed to be funny. If it's funny, it ain't art right? Maybe not. Matt Dukes Jordan joyfully collects the works of twelve masters working in what he calls Lowbrow Art. There's the fifties pulp novel cover art of Owen Smith, the bizarro world of Gary Baseman, the paper cutout lounge style of Shag, and the grandaddy of out there art: Robert Williams. Each artist is represented with a smattering of glossy examples of their work along with a quick bio. It's a wildly diverse collection that has several common threads: vibrant colours, exploding imaginations, and the ability to make mainstream viewers a tad uncomfortable. What's not to love? whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP DUNGEON by Joann Sear, Lewis Trondheim and Many Larcenet (NBM) A visual smorgasborg, Dungeon can sometimes be awfully busy in that "Where's Waldo" kind of eye-straining kind of way. But the drawing is so playful and the colours so inviting, that eye strain is never an issue. In fact the visuals are the chief draw here. The story, as with most that are not in the original language, loses a lot in translation. It plays almost like Monty Python's "Holy Grail" - where twists are many, and the joy is in the ride, not the story. Fans of bloody yet humourous dungeons and dragons tales (and there are many) will devour this stuff. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP ONE OF A KIND by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson (Atria Books) This was supposed to be an autobiography by world famous poker king Stuey Ungar, but then he went and died. A typical ending to the rock and roll kid of Texas hold 'em. So bits and pieces were cobbled together and here we are, with the familiar live fast die young tale usually reserved for entertainers, but then in his own way Stuey was one hell of an entertainer. A sickly, scrawny kid raised by bookies and small time mobsters in Manhattan's Lower East side, Stuey failed at everything except cards. As a teenager he was so good at Gin Rummy that he couldn't get a game - even the Casinos would shut their doors, so he turned to the world of poker, where you could always get one. Soon he was on top of the poker world, collecting millions in winnings, and quickly losing it all at the race track - one of his two vices. Cocaine was the other, and a combination of both did him in. The story in itself reads like a crazy pulp novel, loaded with colourful crooks and cowboy poker studs, but Stuey's character takes the story to new levels of bizarre. Never having a job, a bank account or a social insurance number, Ungar always relied on friends and backers to convert his winnings into cash. Which he would flitter away in no time, whether at the track, drugs or through his overwhelming generosity. Using his own words, originally intended as the main core of the book but now scattered throughout, works well to bridge the outrageous episodes and the real life fun-loving wiseguy that Stuart Errol "The Kid" Ungar really was. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP THE CURIOUSLY SINISTER ART OF JIM FLORA by Irwin Chusid and Barbara Economon (Fantagraphics Books) Merging Picasso's flippant cubism portraits and Miro's inventive abstract work, Jim Flora whipped up a wickedly popular style of graphic art that graced many an LP cover, but until recently, that is all any of his followers knew existed. Now with this, the second volume of collected works from recently unearthed vaults, Flora must be recognized as the maverick artist he truly was. Back in the day (forties and fifties), commercial art was rather frowned upon - not the life of a true artist. The chief point after all was to sell out, not to be taken seriously. Flora's mischievous cartoon stylings were perfect for the endless magazine and record covers, but as is proven in this lavish volume, his colourful paintings do stand up on their very own. The assortment of published work, rough sketches, vibrant paintings, engravings, and works in progress, show a ridiculously prolific artist who was never at a loss for inspiration. Augmented nicely with histories and backgrounds by the authors / compilers, this really is a "pour over every page" treasure for anyone remotely interested in Jim Flora, or the images of the post war euphoric American boom for that matter. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP DREAM BOOGIE THE TRIUMPH OF SAM COOKE by Peter Guralnick (Little / Brown) As is Peter Guralnick's custom, he takes an interesting music story, researches the hell out of it, uncovers various dirty layers, then presents his findings in a skewed, meticulous, engrossing and overlong matter. The Sam Cooke story, as it turns out, is much more than the "middle of the road smooth black soul popster who died a mysterious early death" story than is common knowledge. There's the great gospel beginnings, the endless stream of women, the Civil Rights movement, and Muhammad Ali to name just a few highlights. Cooke was an odd entertainer, one who managed a string of popular hits, but never a smash. A live performer who had women fainting, throwing panties (not in that order) and ripping at his fancy clothes one day, and apathetically walking out of a show on another occasion. He was hailed as the greatest singer of his generation by some, and totally dismissed by others. Guralnick doesn't seem to be interested in this dichotomy, instead he focusses on another one: Sam Cooke, the son of a preacher man, the good time pleasant chap who could warm a room with his beaming smile vs. the whoring, cussing, drinking, smoking, temperamental party animal. Hard to believe Cooke, with his solid beliefs and strict church upbringing, could be equally at home serenading the pews with his golden tongue, then later be shoving it down a prostitute's throat. But the endless stories surely can't all be fabrications. Cooke's rise in the music industry, and his quest to control his destiny is a great story, and it is told well, but Guralnick gets bogged down with excruciating business details which tend to muddle more than inform. When Cooke is on the road, the book flies with tall tales of concert ecstasy, travel travails, segregation encounters, and of course the debauchery. The big build up to Cooke's death, which as it turns out isn't all that mysterious, is a tad disappointing, but Guralnick manages to bring it all together. As a final endorsement of the book, there will no doubt be a renewed interest in Sam Cooke music, and a movie can't be too far down the road - hopefully with a better title than the awful "Dream Boogie". whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY by The Beatles (Chronicle Books) This beautiful coffee table book is really nothing more than a detailed scrapbook from the Fab Four, and one that is targeted straight at the fans. But whose to complain when your fan base numbers in the billions? Chock full of wonderful photographs (the lads always seemed to have very competent shutter bugs on hand didn't they?), silly sketches, personal anecdotes, and some surprisingly revealing written blurbs. It's an "everything you wanted to know about the Beatles but were afraid to pick up lest the weight would squash you" book. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP THE BEST GAME GAME YOU CAN NAME by Dave Bidini (McClelland & Stewart) Dave Bidini may just have to give up his night job. Besides playing guitar for the Rheostatics, Bidini has carved himself a nice little career as a writer. Here he jumps back into hockey (something he does best), pitting his own on ice experience in recreation league glory to the outrageous stories he managed to pry from ex-NHLers. This is the locker room stuff that usually doesn't get beyond the doors - the juicy bits usually circulated as skeptical myth. Bidini probably had to buy many rounds at the pub to collect all his interviews, and some read as they may have been embellished under the influence, but a great story is a great story. Sadly material for further volumes is pretty nonexistent, as team camaraderie has taken a back seat to prima donna superstars who travel with their agents. All we have left is the good old days. God bless you Dave Bidini. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP THUNDER AND LIGHTNING by Phil Esposio and Peter Golenbock (McClelland & Stewart) Trader Phil sure doesn't mince his words. And that, of course, makes for a great read. Here's the down and dirty on Phil's crazy life, from the Big Bag Bruin days, to his debauchery years in New York, to his management fiascoes in Tampa Bay. It seems that every corner Phil took, there would be an astounding adventure, and when told bluntly and directly (as this obviously was - no sugar coated ghost writer treatment), it just jumps off the page as if Phil's entertaining from behind his wet bar. This ain't no Pulitzer candidate, but it may be one of the best rides you'll likely flip through. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP GORDIE: A HOCKEY LEGEND by Roy MacSkimming (Greystone) An old style sports hero biography that manages to encapsulate the legend of the one and only Mr. Hockey. And thankfully, right alongside the goody goody two-shoes career of Gordie Howe, is the wild and wooly life of the old style NHL. This was a blood and guts sport that was as ruthless on the ice as it was in the manager's office. The story of an "aw-shucks" prairie farm boy who survives a brain operation in his first playoff to become the energizer bunny of sports (playing with his sons no less), is one for the big screen. Too bad MacSkimming's writing style (more respect than sizzle) doesn't elevate the Howe history to the barn-burning read it oughta be. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP STOLE THIS FROM A HOCKEY CARD by Chris Robinson (Top Shelf) Most hockey fans recognize the name Doug Harvey, but few know more than what remains in statistics books: that he was a dominant defenseman for the powerful Montreal Canadians of the fifties. That is true, but while most picture Harvey skating around the ice hoisting the Stanley Cup, there were hardships for a man who often clashed with management. Hardships that escalated his social drinking past the point of no return. Robinson presents Harvey's story in an unapologetic warts and all bluntness that is slap in the face refreshing in the otherwise typical glorification world of sports writing. He parallels Harvey's life to his own, shifting back and forth seamlessly. It works on some levels, but not on others. Harvey's convoluted life, full of perplexing highs and lows, is the stuff of legend, and finally gets the honest treatment it deserves. Robinson's personal recollections work best in the early childhood stages, but tend to get overshadowed by Harvey's long shadow later on. Good idea though. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP MANHATTAN NOIR edited by Lawrence Block (Akashic) Another chapter in Akashic's quickly escalating Noir by city series, the Manhattan entry may be the juiciest of geographical choices. New York's infamous island brims with history, especially when the darker side of life is concerned. Collecting fifteen vibrant and surprisingly diverse short stories, Block manages to cover a wide scope of the bur-rough, scanning different eras, neighborhoods, and ethnic ways of life. Most importantly, irregardless of where or when the stories take place, they are superb, riveting page turners, in various styles of what may be considered noir. There's murder, foul play, deceit, trickery, seediness, cheating, frivolity, greed, revenge, despair, desperation, lust, love, jealousy - and a couple of killer stories that manage to provide a great thrill in the very short span it takes to flip through. The right amount of pulp and clever storytelling give it a light reading feel that doesn't feel cheap or cliched. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP THE COMPLETE PEANUTS by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphic Books) Perhaps the most perplexing, and most successful comic of all time, Peanuts was really a thoughtful panel for adults rather than just another fluff piece in the Sunday funnies. Charles Schulz hit a chord with everyday kid (man) Charlie Brown, and the beauty of subtle nuances of everyday drudgery. It was a strip that brought laughter, but more importantly, contemplation. Who knew it would do such ridiculous business? Not Shulz, especially in the early days. Starting at the beginning, Fantagraphic Books has undertaken the gargantuan task of chronologically documenting the wide girth of Shulz's lifetime work, and they've done it in style. Collecting (and sometimes cleaning up) the strips in beautiful hardbound volumes, with inspired histories from contemporary cartoonists. It makes for a terrific read, not just for historic purposes, but to enjoy the development of good ol' Charlie Brown (Shulz of course) through the ages, all the while maintaining a surprising relevancy. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP PLAYBOY: 50 YEARS, THE CARTOONS (Chronicle Books) So while not looking at the pictures, you were reading the articles eh? Right. Actually you were probably chuckling at the cartoons. Yes Playboy did have worthy articles, but they also had a cracker jack team of cartoonists, who no doubt enjoyed the freedom to let their bawdy, naughty side show without fear of reprimand. 50 Years of Cartoons presents the cream of the crop, from the likes of Gahan Wilson to Eldon Didini, sketching taboo panels in a giddy fashion. Good fun, especially seeing how tame some of this "racy" seems nowadays. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP PLAYBOY: 50 YEARS, THE PHOTOGRAPHS (Chronicle Books) Yes yes yes, there's the nudes, but what makes this collection of photographs so intriguing is the fashion. Especially from the late sixties and early seventies, when shiny plastic, bell bottoms, platforms, side burns and perms exploded on to the scene, and Playboy was not only documenting the style, but practically inventing it. The hairy bachelors in their sports cars and their leggy stewardess girlfriends always with a martini in hand - what a fantasy lifestyle baby! Just goes to show that Austin Powers flicks are not much of a stretch. Did i mention there's nudes as well? whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP JACK COLE AND PLASTIC MAN by Art Spiegelman and Chip Kidd (Chronicle Books) Forget Spiderman, or Batman, or Superman for that matter, the greatest hero of them all was undoubtedly Plastic man. Yup Plastic Man. Not Mr. Stretchie from the Fantastic Four, but the original Plastic Man, as created by Jack Cole. Not only did we have the original silly putty super hero who could stretch into the most inspired shapes, but we had a great combination of pulp fiction story telling, peppered with a good dose of slapstick humour. Discover the magic of Plastic Man for yourself, and see what other fun things artist Jack Cole was up to in his day. Lovingly gathered material by Art Spiegelman, who has made a nice career out of these cherished projects. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP LITTLE LIT: FOLKLORE AND FAIRY TALE FUNNIES LITTLE LIT: STRANGE STORIES FOR STRANGE KIDS LITTLE LIT: IT WAS A DARK AND SILLY NIGHT edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (Harper Collins) Billed as the RAW magazine for little tykes, The Little Lit books see Art Spiegelman revive his infamous graphic book compilation series in a clever disguise: posing as an innocent read for children, when in fact it will be the adults hogging perusing rights. Sure there's plenty of fun and innocent fairy tale stuff, but there's always an underlying edge to every colourful page. The first volume is full of bouncy fun. For instance a Chris Ware "Fairy Tale Road Rage" board game complete with snap out pieces and such instructions as "throw the board in the air and start again". There are classic style stories to be had for sure, like David Mazzucchelli painting a dreamy Japanese style tale about a fisherman and a princess, complete with a tear jerking moral. But just when the kids are getting nice and comfortable, Daniel Clowes presents a horrific Sleeping Beauty comic about an ogre mother in law, who wants to eat her new family. Down right Brotherly Grim this. A vintage Walt Kelly strip is included as Spiegelman always manages to include his heros. Creator of "Harold and The Purple Crayon" Crockett Johnson appears in volume two of the series, and original underground artists Basil Wolverton pops up in volume three. It's amazing how seamlessly the cartoons flow, whether they were drawn in 1930 or yesterday, whether they are light hearted fun or nightmare inducing surreal panels, and that's the magic of Little Lit: it brings together a diverse roster of gifted writers and artists under the cartoon umbrella. Lemony Snicket is paired with Richard Sala, while Neil Gaiman works with Gahan Wilson in an inspired set of pairings that probably would never have come to fruition if it wasn't for Spiegelman's vision (and no doubt, persuasive coaxing). And what it all boils down to is a perfect reading set: wonderful bed time reads for the little ones, fun game pages throughout, twist plot stories, and some mind blowing stuff for the elders. And of course it's presented in a gorgeous large book, full colour format of the highest quality. A veritable literary treasure chest that's not just off the wall, but off the ceiling. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING by Bill Bryson (Random House) Anyone with a passing interest in science, which was no doubt squelched by incomprehensive, cold, unsatisfying and frustrating school textbooks, will find great solace in Bill Bryson's highly entertaining and informative lesson. True to the ambitious title, Bryson tackles the unenviable task of explaining what the collective "we" (earth, life, science, space, etc.) is all about. He does so by recounting the attempts of the great science sleuths, and with the advantage of hind sight, comes to logical conclusions understandable by any layman. The journey is quite worthwhile and academically enlightening, but as Bryson digs deeper for answers, he inevitably digs out more questions. And that's the beauty of science: there will always be mysteries to solve. The best parts of the journey are the wonderful anecdotes of the real geniuses throughout history. Eccentricities, grudges, petty bickering, outlandish hypothesis, foul play, ... you name it, it's here. The greatest minds of our race also prove to be astonishingly quirky people. Bryson's whimsical accounts are perfectly placed to balance all the heady stuff, and just when history starts to get a little too serious, he inserts a good joke to break the tension. It's a bit like Carl Sagan's "Cosmos", except Bryson is not a heady scientist, just a curious fellow, and is intentionally funny (unlike Sagan). Really a wonderful read that passes much quicker than any 500 pages of science text ever should. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP WE OWE YOU NOTHING edited by Daniel Sinker (Akashic) Culling the best interviews from a seven year itch of all things punk zine "Punk Planet", makes for interesting perusing, even for the non-radical DIY set. Sure there are thick philosophical rhetoric to wade through (yes yes, world bad, punks good), but there are surprisingly candid laughs to be had with the likes of infamous "fresh titties" artist Frank Kozik to offset the very serious (though thoroughly engrossing) stance of Fugazi. Activism plays a key role in what is more than a mohawks and guitars tome. Why even the renown Noam Chomsky pipes in with some heady opinions. Up and down, entertaining, revealing, probing, doting, reminiscing - there's an interview for everyone. The punk ideal is alive and well, and yes, we/they owe you/them nothing - but that's ok, cuz the next generation will vilify their elders even further. It's an intellectual take on the word punk - which most still equate with the dismal and sloppy waste exemplified by Sid Vicious. It is yet another idealistic summary of angry youth turned activist, spurred on by their parents' generation (who never seem to get it right). It tries to bridge the fundamentally unbridgeable gap of political action (serious stuff) and popular music (light entertainment). Will the saviors of planet Earth be righting the wrongs whilst hardcore pummels their ears via iPods? Stranger things have happened. whoa mule ...BACK UP TOP SHARK HUNTERS by Jef Czekaj (Top Shelf) Grampa and Julie are the shark hunters in question and the sharks' name is Steven, so you know this won't inspire any Jaws type nightmares. The characters are drawn in a tyke friendly bubbly fashion and the only real mischief that ensues is of the bad joke variety. Though this looks, feels and reads like a perfect bedtime adventure for the tots, there are enough fun moments for everyone to enjoy the read. CzekajÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¢s art, seemingly simple, is actually quite clever in a warm, art pop style, and his imaginatively veering plot line is pure entertainment. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP 2 SISTERS by Matt Kindt (Top Shelf) Kindt's broad black ink drawings spill on to the pages as if time was running out. And though this massive undertaking (over 300 pages) is littered with plot twists, character mysteries and time jumps, that require full attention, it is a quick and breezy read. World War II spy caper, pirate treasure adventure, european romance, sibling drama - you name it, it is here. Kindt doesn't offer up all the answers, leaving little clues along the way, and enough of a strand of thread to tie everything together. It's one of those puzzlers that unfolds page by page, and generates rereads to clarify passages. Like a good movie that you have to see over and over, and discover something new each time, "2 Sisters" is quite a cinematic accomplishment for a graphic novel. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP HAIR HIGH by Bill Plympton (NBM) Master cartoonist from the old school (no computers thank you very much) Bill Plympton continues to crank out exhilarating pencil sketches that leap off the pages. In what is basically a story board - smudges and all - for his latest creature feature, Plympton again scores with a one-two story and sketch punch. "Hair High" borrows "Mutant Aliens' " great B-movie angle but to much greater effect. The laughs and sorrows and surreal passages work for the whole of the story, not just as individual bits - often the case in Aliens. The classic story of high school romance, fast wheels, football games, crazy hairdos, and uh, zombies, never gets old. The drawing, full of life, movement and unparalleled cheek, as always, is superb. A reminder of Plymton's rebellious originality, especially in his bare bones, paper and pencil mode. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP BLUES LESSONS by Robert Hellenga (Scribner) This may be masquerading as a music themed novel, but although the blues angle is a nice thread throughout, it really is the story of a white man crossing over the tracks, following his desires, and slipping into black culture. The time and place: 1950s Michigan, makes it a perilous journey for all involved. Hellenga weaves an intriguing soap opera that captures an innocent coming of age (personal) time that is set in a powderkeg (national) time. Using country blues to propel the story works well on several levels, bringing the important aspects (love, desire, hardship, prejudice, family, betrayal, perseverance, self-discovery) together. In the wrong hands this story could easily veer out of control, but Hellenga manages to tell his tale without reaching back for Hollywood style cliches, and thus it resonates all the more. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP BLANKETS by Craig Thompson (Top Shelf) Blankets of snow, blankets of comfort, blankets of warmth, blankets to snuggle with, blankets to hide under. Craig Thompson's wonderful graphic novel, as beautifully drawn as it is written, is one for the ages. Struggling with the heavy handed fundamentalist Christianity of family and community and self, this coming of age story effectively captures the dilemma of monumental life decisions (school, friends, lovers, parents, siblings, faith). Brutally honest in content and emotion, the story really is an open book easily devoured from cover to cover. Tragic, comic and dramatic, "Blankets" delivers its power from seemingly subtle passages, small nuances and snippets that resurface throughout the story loop. Sure to become a cherished classic. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP 5 IS THE PERFECT NUMBER by Igort (Drawn & Quarterly) Presenting an old time Mafioso story in a muted dualtone picture format is a stroke of genius. The man known as Igort, certainly knows his subject matter through and through, crafting a sly and twisted tale of intrigue, double crosses and plenty of gun play, but it is the Toulouse-Latrec poster art inspired panels that suck you deeply in. Igort balances his rich tale with a unique Euro flavoured paint and draw method that captures a by gone era in an inventive and unique fashion. A nice twist ending as well. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP JOHNNY JIHAD by Ryan Inzana (NBM) An obvious take on the infamous John Walker - the boy next door turned terrorist - story, Johnny Jihad valiantly paints a scenario where such a seemingly moral corruption is not only plausible, but down right understandable. Delivered in stark black and white inked wood cuts, "Johnny Jihad" follows a meandering social misfit youth, brought up by a brutal hard drinking, hunting rifle toting ex-vet father, looking for any semblance of direction. Finding it in the Koran, and then subsequently in special camps, leads the boy about as astray from the all American dream as possible. Inzana is careful not to preach, instead he delivers the story matter of factly, focusing on circumstance, the alienation of youth, and the power of religion to move masses. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP LOUIS RIEL by Chester Brown (Drawn & Quarterly) Tackling one of Canada's most infamous historical figures is one thing, but doing it in a comic strip biography format is really quite an undertaking. Not that Chester Brown isn't up to it. Fans of his unique, old timey anecdotal style will slip right into this book, but for the uninitiated it may take a couple of pages. Brown's drawings are bare, concise, clear and a perfect companion to his documentary style writing. Together they manage to cobble together a story which has many versions, in a plausible whole, one that not only begs historical reconciliation, but is also damn entertaining. It is the dawn of Canada, where land is being claimed, divided, fought for, and sometimes dispersed on whim. Riel is thrown into a dispute at first out of circumstance (he is one of he few Metis who can speak English), but quickly gets embroiled in the politics and rises as a fiery leader. His fight takes several twists, and Brown focuses on Riel's inner turmoil as much as what's happening to the country. The overall effect is a stunning achievement, striking a memorable balance of ink drawings and ink writings. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP THE VICE GUIDE TO SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL by Saroosh Alvi, Gavin McInnes and Shane Smith (Warner Books) The history of notorious Vice magazine sounds like a ridiculous Cheech and Chong plot line. Three stoners hijack a student venture magazine into the stratosphere of blasphemy, injecting as many taboo needles as possible, offending the masses as few could, disrupting the way of common decency, all in the name of gonzo journalism. Notoriety is good, but Vice always, well, almost always, backed it up with mind boggling stories, usually delivered with milk snorting hilarity. Take "The Vice Guide to Shagging Muslims": not only does the title say it all, but it's backed up by the sassy pen of adventurer/gay/porn filmmaker Bruce Labruce (who writes better than he films) in a bit of divine inspiration. If you've ever wondered how long it takes for nothing but corn to come out the other end of an all corn diet, or whether Jesus was a fag, or how to survive getting beaten up, but were afraid to ask, then this is your bible. Collecting the best bits from the mag (saves you dredging through some of the iffier moments), The Vice Guide is indeed a truly indispensable tool, often side-splitting hilarious, and surprisingly, quite thought provoking. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP ROMANCE WITHOUT TEARS by John Benson (Fantagraphics) Face it, you'd never be caught dead reading one of those flighty teen romance comic books, but those teary eyed soap opera covers were certainly a lure. Now you can indulge in a little guilty pleasure courtesy of John Benson. In its heyday, romance comics easily outsold the more notorious horror and sci-fi genres, providing squeaky clean fifties teens with plenty of heartbreak fodder, even though most of the content was passable fluff at best. Benson tries to elevate the art form by focusing on one Dana Dutch, a prolific writer who happened to make his heroines self assured, strong, almost (gasp) liberated. Tough to make a gal adventurous without making her out a hussy, but Dutch managed the trick. "Romance" collects twenty stories of first loves, broken hearts, and growing pains, with saucy titles like "Loneliness Made Me a Pickup" and "Thrill Seekers's Weekend". There's plenty of cornball antics, guys named Chick, and Leave It To Beaver families, to counter the relationship struggles, giving it a decidedly kitschy retro feel without succumbing to a self-parody parade. Guilty pleasure indeed. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP THE ACCIDENTAL EVOLUTION OF ROCK'N'ROLL by Chuck Eddy (Da Capo) Talk about a rambler, Chuck Eddy just goes and goes. Entertaining yes, and often informative, but there's just too much insiding here that a casual reader won't digest like a true music geek. Eddy's fondness for championing shmaltzy pop stars (Tiffany, Poison, Santa Esmeralda), even if it is with tongue planted in cheek, gets a bit tedious. Does he really think that we buy the assertion that Kixx was the greatest band ever? Anyhoo, for rock'n'roll trivia zombies, this really is a treat, full of fabulous theories and yummy detours, and once he gets going, like all true great writers, Eddy is unstoppable. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP FOLLOW THE MUSIC by Jac Holzman and Gavan Dawes (First Media) Basically an autobiography by Elektra records founder Jac Holzman, "Follow The Music" turns out to be more than just an average bright boy done good story. It does start out that way: a dry, factual account of a college boy with big dreams who sees them through, but as the Elektra story unfolds via interview snippets of the folks involved, there's a certain magic that takes over. Holzman turns his tiny folk label into a world music outlet, introduces an affordable classical line, and finally jumps into rock and roll: it's the lifeline of post war popular American music, and a thrilling ride to boot. Great tid-bits about Judy Collins, Tim Buckley, Love, The MC5, and of course, The Doors, balance the company's struggle to survive honestly and fairly in a business that is neither of those. Comes with a nice little CD of some of the early material so you know what performers like the ribald Ed McCurdy ("Go Bring Me a Lass") actually sounded like. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP COUNTRY by Nick Tosches (DaCapo) For this, an apparent historic thesis tracing rock music back through it's country origins and well beyond, Nick Tosches manages to drudge up some outlandish dirt. Not much of a stretch with runaway trains like Jerry Lee Lewis, but the heart of this exploration lies with covered up discoveries like Jimmie Rodgers performing in black face. Ouch. Blistering testimonials presented in cold hard factual blurbs, with enough of an edge to avoid a journalism tag. Tosches is a crazed trivia nut, hounding a certain Emmett Miller throughout the book as if he was the lost grail of music, and after sifting through his meticulous arguments, you might start believing 'tis so. As in all grand reads, it's not necessarily the facts but the trip taken to get them that makes it worthy. And this is one worthy trek. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP ROADKILL ON THE THREE-CHORD HIGHWAY by Colin Escott (Routledge) It turns out Perry Comatose wasn't so square after all.. Huh. In his superb bio comp, Colin Escott delivers fourteen swank life snippets of the great, not so great and rather obscure music performers. he starts off with the biggies: Roy Orbison, Patti Page and Perry Como, offering profound insights to what I had considered dead dogs - Como's groundbreaking television work for instance. Next up are great recollections of historically important figures who never really sold that many records, like Sonny Burgess and Wanda Jackson. Then we get to the nitty gritty: country and rockabilly artists without much of a name, but each with a grand story well worth unearthing and preserving. Folks like Wynn Stewart and Vernon Oxford. Escott delivers the tales matter of factly, with just the right amount of reverence, disdain and humour, never preaching or cutting. Of course he succeeds cuz by book's end you'll be clamouring for the records that he writes of - a sure fire sign of mission accomplished. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP SHUT OUT by Howard Bryant (Routledge) An intriguing and eye-opening treaty tackling the great American pastimes of baseball and racism, "Shut Out" has all the pieces of a fabulous read, yet for all its jaw-dropping revelations, it comes up a tad short. The sordid story of the Boston Red Sox franchise - the last major league club to field a black player (twelve years after the Dodgers let Jackie Robinson loose on the bases) has enough crazy intrigue to fill a book, and by gub, here it is. Starting with owner Tom Yawkey and his drinkin'/fishin'/redneck flunkies running the whitest team around in a city seething with racial tensions, Bryant keeps throwing hard hitting salvos that just keep a coming. Never mind the turbulent post war years, the Bosox practised a well-hushed racial game well into the nineties! All fascinating stuff, except that in his obvious zeal on the subject matter, Bryant tends to be over repetitive. After a while it's like being beaten over the head with the same disturbing facts - could be on purpose to hammer the point home I suppose - but what this book needs is a good chop-chop editor, cuz the content is dynamite, and Bryant knows his stuff. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP AWOPBOPALOOBOP ALOPBAMBOOM - THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROCK by Nick Cohn (DaCapo) Sometimes it takes someone else to point out the damn obvious. As Cohn points out, not only did Chubby ("The Twist", "Let's Twist Again", etc) Checker take his act from Fats Domino, he took his name as well: Chubby Checker, Fats Domino - get it? It had never occurred to me before, and well it was cause to slap a knee. I live for this kinda stuff, and if you don't dig it as well, then what're you doing here? Get back to the telly misguided fool! ... Originally published in '68, revised/updated in '72 and only recently available in North America, "The Golden Age of Rock" is still one of the best hit-the-nail-on-the-noggin' music reads going. Not only does Cohn dissect the evolution of pop with a crafty surgeon's touch, but he gets right to the meat of the personalities, infusing his unbridled passion (and hatred as well) for the music that took over his life. And though this was written way back, Cohn's words are far from dated. He is bang on with his commentaries and opinions that could have tarnished quickly with time. It's a joyous and fascinating romp with Cohn spewing words at a feverish rate cuz he's driven. Anyone smitten with pop would do well to scan this. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP OFF THE RECORD by David Menconi (iUniverse Books) The inevitable document of the late great TAB may seem redundant to one and all, but the stuff of legend does require a proper perspective. I tend to abhor vulture tomes picking at recently squashed rock and roll road kill, but "Off The Record" manages to clarify as humanly possible, the sordid laundry of everyone involved in the meteoric rise and crash of America's favourite junkie guitar god poster boy. Tommy Aguilar may have been a music visionary, when he could see straight, but like numerous predecessors stumbling down the fast lane, wasn't meant to stick around for reunion tours and VH-1 has-been specials. The story, and it's a doozy as told in Off The Record, paints a livid picture of the music industry. The greed, the back-stabbing, the payola, the blundering, the incompetence, the revenge, the depravity, you know, all the good things in life that make the world go round. From humble beginnings, when TAB would impatiently blow headliners off small stages, bewilder audiences with music virtuosity then pummel them with music mayhem, "Off The Record" bounces along like a super charged Indian rubber ball. Author David Menconi, a poorly disguised pseudonym for long time hack and early TAB supporter Ken Morrison, digs deep into every ugly crevice. The mark of someone who was there. The surprise comes with a sound knowledge and respectful understanding of the music itself, important and often overlooked in these types of cash-in accounts. Menconi's version of the events reads like a well paced mystery novel. Characters play, fight and die, and everything comes full circle. Not the typical live fast die young story, Off The Record is more about survival, and more specifically, about Gus DeGrande: the soul selling devil of American recording industry himself. If even half of what Menconi insinuates is true then DeGrande comes off as the greatest huckster since Barnum licked his first sucker. I recommend reading the book as a simple piece of fiction fluff, cuz as we all know, truth is stranger than fiction, and the real escapades of TAB probably would never fly on paper. Fans will flock to it as they do to Aguilar's overrun memorial, and in the process will wind up reading a pretty good book. further details can be had at: www.offtherecordbook.com whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP THE LIFE AND TIMES OF R. CRUMB by Monte Beauchamp (St. Martin's Griffin) A true find for Crumb fanatics, this lovely little book collects forty-six blurbs concerning the grandaddy of underground comics. Essays from fellow cartoonists (Ralph Steadman), filmmakers (Jim Jarmusch), critics (Roger Ebert) and ex-wives (Dana Crumb), reveal Crumb's influence on the American psyche was indeed a major force. Crumb broke taboos and barriers and various levels of good taste, but he did so with a sly sense of humour and a pioneering (and often imitated) drawing style. Plaudits are many and gushy, but it may be true that Crumb really did start the underground comics movement, something that snowballed into a cultural phenomena. As Matt Groening (The Simpsons) writes, "as a kid I had to hide my Crumb comics from my parents, ...now I have to hide my Crumb comics from my kids". That about says it all. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP STAIRWAY TO HELL by Chuck Eddy (Da Capo) True to it's subtitle "The 500 best heavy metal albums in the universe", "Stairway to Hell" is a rockem sockem blow by blow with Led Zep at the top of the heap, followed by Guns N' Roses, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith and ... Kix. Yeah, it's our man Chuck again. Boy does this scribe have a thing for obscure Baltimore glam rockers or what? Personal fetishes aside, this mighty tome is really a delightful romp of a read. Besides the obvious headbangers, Eddy also includes odd choices for heavy metaldom, and it's tough to figure when he dissects a Teena Marie record (#9!), just how serious to take all this. True metalheads will recoil in horror, but Chuck seems sincere. It becomes obvious that Chuck includes pretty well anything that has a hint of loud guitars, or at sometime or another, rocked his world. Resigning to this fact, and after a bit of settling in, it actually becomes fun to see Chuck make cases for such unmetallic folks as Heart, Miles Davis and Bryan Adams. His arguments, though often scattered, are entertaining, and sometimes bang on. I'm not about to go searching the delete bins for the Kix catalogue, but maybe Fonzie's pal Suzie Quattro. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP THE T-SHIRT BOOK by Scott Fresener (Gibbs - Smith) You wear 'em, I wear 'em, we all wear 'em. Face it bub, t-shirts are an institution, and for many, a calling card. Nothing sets the table like a good airbrushed Roger Dean fantasy scape, or it did when I was dodging bullies in school hallways. What was on yer t-shirt was the ultimate fashion statement. You were either cool, or a geek. Wearing a Sex Pistols tee in a crowd of Boston fans meant a pummelling. Donning a Harley shirt in a crowd of thugs meant instant acceptance. It was that simple. I speak of the past, not only for self-service, but also because that's where this book takes me. Scott Fresener is a t-shirt geek, a lover of all 100% cotton, especially if there's a colourful design up front. Anyone with enough guts to include a pic of the famous Farrah Fawcett tee (1976) is okay by me. Sure it's embarrassing now, but then it ruled. "The T-Shirt Book" starts with a good history and various print processes before succumbing to a healthy dose of examples. A nice overview though I'd like to see a lot more rock'n'roll examples, and less of the black velvet type animal shots thank you very much. Everyone has their own peculiarities, and it did make me dig way deep into my closet for some ancient wares before the moths had their way with them. For that I say mucho thanks. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP TEENAGE NERVOUS BREAKDOWN by David Walley (Insight Books) Music and politics in the post-Elvis age eh? Yeah, Walley (not the Beave) muses about both, lets 'em mingle and weaves a correlation path, but really, this all too general topic is little more than a great excuse to blab extensively about modern culture and all it's wonderfully curvaceous trappings. No complaint from this end, see Walley knows his stuff, he can jump around like a bunny with a pen and still make it all reasonably coherent. About as entertaining as a series of youth culture essays as you'll stumble over. Read all about it. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP ANTI DIVA by Carole Pope (Random House) Dishin' the dirt, talkin' the trash, spilling the beans; it comes easy for Carole Pope. As the sexually confusing frontperson for confrontational new wave duo Rough Trade, Pope lived a scandalous glam stage life that extended far beyond the usual rock and roll trappings: theatre with Divine, soundtracking a Pacino film, shacking up with Dusty Springfield .... that sorta action. In Anti Diva, Pope reveals everything that went on, under and between the sheets, in what is a frivolously fab showbiz career. Written in a hurried blab style, this book has a sizzling quality, as if Carole's spilling her anecdotes directly from her big mouth right on to the pages. The stories come fast and furious, and when they're this juicy it doesn't really matter that Pope is not an accomplished writer. She delivers the goods, adds her own saucy and cynical wit, and awaits impending lawsuits. Go girl go! whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP ZINES (VOL. II) by V. Vale (V Search) You knew this one was coming. As thorough as the first volume proved, there are just too many distinguished zines springing up like jack rabbits to keep track of. Thirteen riveting subjects (editors/publishers if you will) are interviewed with the fountain of obscure knowledge (Vale) at the helm. Of special interest is a chat with John Marr who has been writing "Murder Can Be Fun" since 1985. He not only proves a brilliant wit, but also an engrossing persona in his own right. He also has a lot of interesting thoughts on the likes of serial killers, pulp fiction and the horrific German children's book "Del Strummelpeter" (kids learned lessons by such nasty punishment as having their fingers chopped off). Vale manages to squeeze out a helluva lotta entertaining info out of his eager subjects, making for an engrossing and very quick read. Lay the next volume on me! whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP REGGAE ISLAND by Brian Jahn & Tom Weber (Da Capo) A who's who of Jamaican music, Reggae Island presents the reggae community in an essay and photo montage. Jahn snaps the pics, and Weber records the words, as the duo travel around the island, collecting images and thoughts of post-Marley musicians. Along with the artists, the deejays, producers and music biz shakers are also included, and this is where the book really shines. Makeshift studios like Jah D's Food, Clothes and Shelter Studio, basically a messy closet operation, is the eye-popping stuff of legend. A nice mix of words and pictures that brings a new dimension to the reggae sound. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP CLASSIC ROCK STORIES by Tim Morse (St. Martin's Griffin) Seems the big wigs over at Columbia didn't care too much for Bruce Springteen's new single "Born To Run". They wouldn't press it nor promote it. So Bruce and his manager sent out a bunch of dubs to key radio stations all over the US. The thing took off and pissed the bosses to now end, since the single wasn't officially released, and the album wasn't finished. A starving market and no product! Classic rock anecdotes like this pepper Tim Morse's book. Didya know that "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida" was a drunken slurred "In the Garden of Eden"? You get Mick and Keith, John and Paul, Robert and Jimmy ... bursting myths, revealing secrets and reminiscing about the songs that made 'em rich. The ideal guilty pleasure bathroom reading for baby boomers. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP MAKING TRACKS - THE RISE OF BLONDIE by Debbie Harry, Chris Stein & Victor Bockris (Da Capo) A timely release, seeing that a dusted off and refreshed Blondie are back on the charts, "Making Tracks" looks back at the glory and grimy days. The birth of punk rock, New York style: The Ramones, Patty Smith, The Heartbreakers, Suicide ... CBGB's. Stein offers great period pics, Harry some bizarre early stories and Bockris slaps it all together in an orderly fashion. Juicy stuff this. Besides documenting the vibrant scene, Making Tracks reveals Harry's long grind up the success ladder, enduring cover bands, long haired hippie bands, and pompous experimental bands before somehow arriving at punk. Getting there ain't just half the fun, it's all of it. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP THE UNOFFICIAL X-FILES COMPANION, VOL. 3 by N.E Genge (MacMillan) Among the scary legion of boob tube zombies held prisoner every Sunday evening, I have to admit, am one. As shows go, especially in these insipid times, The X-Files are somewhat of miracle, drawing a devout and very large audience to quality television. And it goes way beyond normal viewing pleasure, as a new hoard of lemmings called X-Philes replace the exasperated Trekkies. Delving deep into the many mysteries of agents Mulder and Scully, and their paranormal friends started as a web phenomena. Though that continues to be the primary source of gossip information, there are other, more archaic sources. Other than hysterical adoration, I expected little from this book form companion, but instead found myself flipping through this encyclopedic blow by blow with great vigour. Interviews, show synopsis, theories and plenty of trivia: everything you could ask for really. N.E. Genge is as thorough a researcher as you could hope for, peppering his text with oodles of anecdotes, revelations, suppositions, and uncovering tiny details the rest of us mortals have no hope of catching. Like the show, it is written with touches of humour which help in digesting this information overload. You know who you are. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP KING INK II by Nick Cave (2.13.61) A collection of lyrics and writings from a rock star is usually call for yawning, but when the man in question is Nick Cave, notice must be taken. Leaving off where the first volume ended, "King Ink II" starts off with the breakthrough Tender Prey record and takes us on a wickedly devilish ride. Cave's musical evolution has matured rapidly, while his literary skills continue to shine. There are few instances in the pop world when you can read a lyric without cringing. Cave provides one of the few exceptions. Even if you don't care for his music, the deliciously dark prose is too tempting to ignore. Simply superb. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP EL SID by David Dalton (St. Martin's Press) David Dalton has not come to bury Sid, but to praise him. Sort of. He claims throughout "El Sid" that the talent challenged bass hacker for the most infamous punk band of all time, was a true rock'n'roller. The stuff of legend. You know: make a splash, offend the moral majority and pull the plug before middle age seeps in. Trouble with the " leave a good looking corpse" theory is that even at 21, Sid Vicious left an ugly corpse. Ugly in death and ugly in life. Stupid too. Dalton doesn't skim over the obvious, presenting our punk with equal doses of disdain and reverence. Dalton manages to slag every other rock'n'roller along the way, which sort of elevates Sid to a level of accomplishment. No matter, opinions are just that. What this little stack of paper offers is yet another retelling of the familiar story, but with plenty of attitude and a heaping chunk of humour. Sid and Nancy were after all cartoon characters. How else can you explain monologue jokes from Johnny Carson the day after her murder? The odd feeling comes after putting down the book, and realizing that these were actual people. Cripes! whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP JACO by Bill Milkowski (Miller Freeman Books) Jaco Pastorius may have been the prototypical rock'n'roller of them all: coming onto the scene like a burning fireball, changing the face of music, reaping the rewards, indulging through fame and money that followed, and exploding out of control in a premature death. Only thing is, Jaco Pastorius was a jazz bassist, and though his wild antics would have made him a headliner were he in the pop mainstream, they just served as a sorry and sad part of what should have been a glorious career. A rock star jumping off balconies, dropping his pants, doing back flips on stage, hurling his bass into the crowd, creates attention and rebel infatuation. A jazz player who goes to these extremes is outcast by a stodgy and prim industry, and that's where Pastorius ended up. No one wanted to play with him. No one wanted to record him. And this for, perhaps the greatest bassist of all time - a fact he would proudly proclaim to anyone within earshot. What could have been another run of the mill book of music star excess, is treated with a careful balance of distance and awe by friend and musician Bill Milkowski. It is a tragedy for sure, but with several grand moments and comedic touches, as we're whisked along Jaco's wild carnival ride to fame. And though everyone quoted seems to be quite sad and remorseful of Jaco's early exit (at age 35), one can't but help feel that this was the only way he could go. This was a man of extremes: great joy and great despair, and as with many geniuses, thrived on torment as well as happiness. The book comes with a CD sampling three tracks from a live album which is a nice touch, but far too short a representation of the music. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP VAN MORRISON: INARTICULATE SPEECH OF THE HEART by John Collins (Da Capo) Seems almost everyone has a polar opinion of Van Morrison, and a good story to boot. Here's a performer admired, cherished and worshipped for his music, who also gets big fat raspberries from a lot of the same sources. Flipping this two sided coin is the main focus of "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart". We get a good, deep look into the workings of this "genius", as Collins meticulously dissects his subject, mixed with tales of obnoxious behaviour befitting a spoiled brat. Morrison can be wonderfully generous and friendly (accepting an invitation from a fan to sing at his wedding), and belligerently rude (lashing out at journalists, aborting concerts etc...). As histories go, Morrison's is a good one, and though Collins never mentions it, it is probably this bizarre inner turmoil that fuels Van's creative fire. In sports nice guys finish last, and the same is probably true in the music biz, though Van is probably more an eccentric than a bad guy. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP WONDER BOYS by Michael Chabot (Picador USA) A-ha! I knew there was a novelist out there somewhere. Took a while to find one I wouldn't drop off to when nap time came. Michael Chabot is a writer. He's not a witty eccentric. He's not a clever word player. He's a goddamn WRITER! I mean, how could a story of a struggling pot head scribe with a knack for screwing folks around the bend in scenic Pennsylvania, keep anyone interested past page two? Chabot manages to pull the trick. He pulls it by using an unteachable writing style that flows smoothly, is easily digested, never feels forced. His characters are nothing special, but they are real, and Chabot spends just enough time with each that matters never drag. The center of Wonder Boys is Grady Tripp, a sorta lovable, flawed writer who is busy ripping apart the lives of his fourth wife, his mistress and hisself, yet seems mostly interested in what's left in a plastic bag in the Galaxie 500's glove compartment. And though Grady's escapades are amusing, it is how Chabot unravels them that makes this thome go. Perhaps I've fallen for his bang on descriptive moments that few hacks manage to score with, usually two liners that set the stage perfectly, ranging from wordy eloquence to simple brevity: "The air was dewy and the grass squeaked under our shoes. There was a smell of horseshit and onions fried in chicken fat." Chabot the keen observer, has a real sense of the body, body parts, smells, reminiscences and fine detail, all things that make his book come to life. Setting the stage ain't just half the battle, it just might be the whole shooting match. What you've got here is 368 fresh pages brimming with charming lines and images that won't let go. Superb. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP SEARCH & DESTROY #1-6, #7-11 by V. Vale (V Search) Absolutely essential reading for any zine or punk fan, the compete set of Search & Destroy is collected in full tabloid size glory. This is 1977-'79, San Francisco. V. Vale is hammering out punk's first zine on a typewriter at the City Lights bookstore, a beat hangout. This is the stuff of legend. Jam packed with photos and interviews of everybody, and I mean everybody, who was a punk, Search & Destroy has reached mythical status, and for those unlucky to have missed it the first time around, this two set collection is a godsend. Read what Debbie Harry, Joey Ramone and Patti Smith had to say, when there were no agents or record company hassles to get in the way. Read Iggy Pop discussing painting. Read Devo talking about neutron bombs. Read .... ah, just read it all damn it! whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP CHUNKS: A BARFOLOGY by Elisa Stein & Kevin Leslie (St. Martin's Griffin) Tired of hearing yer old high school buddies recounting their various tales of hurl? If you want some fresh material then look no further, for here is a nifty little collection of upchuck lore that'll have you chuckling with queasiness from the get go. Anyone yearning for those yarns of fertilizing the sidewalk, decorating pavement, tossing cookies, blowing chunks, cleaning house, praying to the porcelain god etc... will have more than their fill here. Besides heartfelt stories (bringing up grandma's yams at Thanksgiving dinner), there are nice little barf tidbits along the way. I like the handy translation of "Where's the bathroom? I have to vomit", in ten essential languages; as necessary as travellers' checks. Highly recommended as a party ice-breaker, or those wishing to hear horror stories to surpass their own. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP NASA / TREK by Constance Penley (Verso) You know the joke "what's this button for?". It might as well be etched on Christa McAuliffe's gravestone. She, of course was the astronaut/teacher on board the ill fated Challenger/fireworks mission we all watched in horror. I knew she was an all-around super mom, the perfect Republican housewife, but there is much more to the story, and Constance Penley gets right down to it. There doesn't seem to be a tiresome tale to be told of the space program, but few written words are as riveting as those found in Nasa/Trek. Penley dissects the space program down to it's bare bones, leaving a bit of a freakish skeleton. This is very popular science, looked at from a cynical, clinical, speculative and feminist view. Spending time on subjects like McAuliffe and Star Trek, guarantees an increased attention level, cleverly leading the reader at a brisk pace. You'll learn a lot, and it won't hurt a bit. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP THE BOWIE COMPANION edited by Elizabeth Thompson & David Gutman (Da Capo) Before you start rolling yer eyes, lemme state that this is not some sugary piece of fan adoration, or a scathing bio from an enemy. The Bowie Companion is merely a nice collection of articles spanning the very early days to the present. It's quite a lot of fun seeing how journalists try to keep up with Bowie's ever changing personae, and somehow try to make some sense out of it all. Bowie continues to put on new masks to this day, and by now it is getting a bit tiresome. But back in the early seventies, he was something shocking. A bisexual? A fag? A woman? An alien? All of the above? Who knew? Besides keeping the photographers and gossip columnists busy, Bowie also managed to create some startling music. Reading early articles which see Bowie for the visionary he was, is a bit of a kick, capturing the excitement and hysteria this "thing" was creating. Alongside the usually splendid words of Pauline Kael, Lester Bangs and Simon Frith, are the very early and daring accounts by the British press, and those are the meat of this book. As Bowie's career meanders down a bumpy road, he can no longer generate shock and the new, and neither can the writers. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP ANGRY WOMEN IN ROCK by Andrea Juno (Juno Books) "Being a nice girl is just not possible any more", so proclaims Jarboe, formerly of art noise outfit Swans, and lead off interview in Andrea Juno's latest query of hot under the collar females. And she is right in a sense, that is if you want any attention. Underneath all the venom and spit lie really nice people with interesting ideals, wonderful histories, and bright futures. And while most of the subjects are current recording artists (Phranc, 7 Year Bitch, Tribe 8), Juno manages to time travel back to the early seventies with June Millington who used to front Fanny, the first all girl rock band. It is an interesting contrast to hear Millington's history next to Joan Jett's Runaways stories. It becomes crystal clear how far women in rock have come, and how much of the road still exists. Juno prods her subjects with leading questions, and sometimes slips into cheerleading, which takes away the usual coldness of an analytic interview, resulting in informative fun reading. whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP TOTEM OF THE DEPRAVED by Nick Zedd (2.13.61) The way Nick Zedd writes, it's a wonder he's still alive. He's the ultimate rebel, living on the tough streets of New York, hanging out with the fringe element, producing movies that everyone seems to despise. The Bogus Man, War Is Menstrual Envy, They Eat Scum ... you know 'em eh? Anyhoo, his films have been quite influential, if only for the stirings they've caused. And they've caused plenty. You have to create something extra special to be revered by Jim Jarmush and John Waters, and the product has to be quite perverse to carry a loathe label from nearly everyone else on the planet. I have not seen any of Zedd's films, a tough view since most of them are banned, but I must say that he sounds like a very interesting figure. Totem of the Depraved is a blow by blow account of Zedd's struggles to make art, make statements, make girls. There's no candy coating here, we get the full picture, dirty grains and all. Stories of excess with no success. Zedd has some interesting life philosophies, and you can't help but get swayed by his uncomplicated, direct writing style. His is a life of a loud rock'n'roller, the Johnny Thunders of the movie biz, but it's one which a voice is hard to hear. And it sounds like that's what Zedd wants, to be heard. ...four eyes... (aka: john sekerka - steal with consent... and plenty of candy) whoa mule ... BACK UP TOP