33 1/3. Again. Thought I was done with these, didn't you?

Recently I hit something of a dry patch with the 33 1/3 books. I read several in a row that, to varying degrees, did not work for me. After thoroughly enjoying volume 20 on The Ramones, I meandered through books on People's Instinctive Travels..., Doolittle, and Unknown Pleasures, finding fault with each, though they all had something to offer (1). This dissatisfying selection culminated with one book in the series that I would not recommend other people read: Pernice's novella based on The Smiths Meat is Murder.

The Smiths' Meat Is Murder (Thirty Three and a Third series)

Exercising the full extent of the freedoms allowed the authors in this series, Pernice writes not a non-fiction book about the album itself, but a story -- likely much of it autobiographical, in setting and mood if possibly not as much in historical fact -- of a Boston teen falling in love and coming of age to a soundtrack of the Mozzer and Co. The narrative begins with a completely unnecessary latter-day sequence which gives way to the flashback that comprises the rest of the book. The rest of the book, the actual story being told, does little for me. As a member of what is likely the last generation of pre-internet kids that had to discover new music through friends and trading tapes, I can sympathize with that condition of Pernice's characters, but otherwise the personalities and situations generally just fall flat. Joe Meno's Hairstyles of the Damned is more effective on every level, including when it comes to music. Overall, I found Meat is Murder very disappointing, not least because I feel the Smiths entry in the series has been squandered. I can only hope they'll change their one-book-per-band rule and we'll get another shot at this band in the future.

Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste (33 1/3)

After all of these let-downs, I was beginning to fret. Could I find another volume in the series to reignite my passion? My answer arrived via UPS the day I finished Meat is Murder. As I've mentioned before, I've eagerly awaited Carl Wilson's exploration of taste and art as examined through the lens of Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love. After reading the first two chapters during the promotional period, my expectations ran very high. I'm pleased to say that Wilson delivered on every front, vaulting neatly over even my highest of bars. Wilson is a skilled writer. His volume in this series shines a harsh light on many of the less polished entries, and future authors would do well to compare the quality of their prose to Wilson's.

The book itself is well-researched, nicely balanced, and very well organized, flowing from topic to topic in a way that makes sense and draws the reader further along the author's journey into aesthetics. The more academic aspects, discussions of the cultural traditions that produced Celine or historical analyses of the origins and meaning of taste, are tempered with Wilson's own experiences of seeing Celine in concert, meeting a variety of her fans, and, eventually, learning how to listen to her music. Never dry or stuffy, Wilson also manages to not become too conversational. Whereas some books in the series read like blog postings, this reads like what it is: a finely crafter work of non-fiction. I'm gushing, but I'm blown away by this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.

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footnote

1) NB: Only one of the dozen or so entries I've read has been a waste of time; at the risk of repeating myself for the thousandth time, this series is really a must-read for people who love music.

current music: Bohren & der Club of Gore "Black Earth"

Originally posted on paperdubs.vox.com