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Fuck You Have a Nice Day
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 12, 2007
"it's a song / you gotta play the fucker not let it smother like / so many sad beginner guitars deserted in dusty closets by / millions of unrequited lifers across this fat nation."
I bought this book from the man himself somewhere between the 4 year window of late 1996 to early 2001. It was during this period that Roger Manning managed to tour the USA a number of times. The book is a collection of his lyrics, poems, journal entries, and his random reactions/observations about the country around him. Littered through out the book are a number of illustrations by Fly, very cool stuff. If this were a Roger Manning album I'd awarded it 5 stars, easy. But being a collection of writings, I have to give it 3. The subtleties of his performance and phrasing just don't transfer as well to the printed page. These are words that were meant to be sung, shouted, and whispered.
"angles who've ridden shotgun through the worst of my shit / would probably tell you it ain't worth it / but they all quit / so no one can know for sure, can they?"
Manning's words are always clever and powerful and sincere and sarcastic and funny but this self-proclaimed anti-folk artists is best experienced in the live setting with just him and an acoustic. If you can't get that, then I suggest you track down one of his three self-titled albums. They all are good, scattered across three different labels (the only way to differentiate between releases) SST, Shimmy Disc, or Shanachie (the only one still in print, I think). Better yet just talk to me and make sure you get some Roger Manning in your life, because that is what has been missing.
"am i 'chasing you to get the rib back?' / who knows / but, maybe someday / i'll tell someone everything"
I bought this book from the man himself somewhere between the 4 year window of late 1996 to early 2001. It was during this period that Roger Manning managed to tour the USA a number of times. The book is a collection of his lyrics, poems, journal entries, and his random reactions/observations about the country around him. Littered through out the book are a number of illustrations by Fly, very cool stuff. If this were a Roger Manning album I'd awarded it 5 stars, easy. But being a collection of writings, I have to give it 3. The subtleties of his performance and phrasing just don't transfer as well to the printed page. These are words that were meant to be sung, shouted, and whispered.
"angles who've ridden shotgun through the worst of my shit / would probably tell you it ain't worth it / but they all quit / so no one can know for sure, can they?"
Manning's words are always clever and powerful and sincere and sarcastic and funny but this self-proclaimed anti-folk artists is best experienced in the live setting with just him and an acoustic. If you can't get that, then I suggest you track down one of his three self-titled albums. They all are good, scattered across three different labels (the only way to differentiate between releases) SST, Shimmy Disc, or Shanachie (the only one still in print, I think). Better yet just talk to me and make sure you get some Roger Manning in your life, because that is what has been missing.
"am i 'chasing you to get the rib back?' / who knows / but, maybe someday / i'll tell someone everything"
Displaying 1 of 1 review