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101 Artists To Listen To Before You Die
A graphic novel in the form of Ricardo Cavolo’s personal diary, which follows the story of music through 101 essential artists; from Bach to Radiohead, to Amy Winehouse, Nirvana and Daft Punk. With over one hundred uniquely colorful illustrations and handwritten text, lists, notes, and personal anecdotes this is a book to delight in.
Unknown Binding
First published September 8, 2015
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About the author
Ricardo Cavolo
26 books41 followersRicardo Cavolo is fast becoming recognized as one of the most exciting illustrators to come out of Spain, and his book 101 Artists to Listen to Before You Die is a pure and fun amalgam of sound and color. He was previously art director at several advertising agencies before he realized his colorful tattooed beings and iconography should be shown to the world. He has done commercial illustrations for Y&R, Leo Burnett, Urban Outfitters, Converse, and Nike.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 22, 2016
I know no one who has ever heard of Gogol Bordello... well, other than me. And one of my favorite film sountracks is "Everything is Illuminated" which is mostly Eastern European traditional music and on which, natch, Gogol Bordello appears. Friends and neighbors have complained. So now I can wave this book in their face: I DO have good taste in music. The author covers Bach (born in 1685) to the final entry, Chief Keef who has been recording since 2011. And the author's artwork is beautiful. I was also surprised to find here Portishead (trip-hop from the nineties) and Bjork (genre undefinable). But the author does include the usual suspects: Sinatra, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Beatles, Stones, Ramones, the glorious Amy Winehouse, and more. Arguably a good selection (I would have included Moby instead of Prodigy, X instead of Black Flag, NIN instead of Rage Against the Machine) and I'm going to listen to the music of the artists I don't recall ever having heard. I hope I'm not tempting fate by dying shortly thereafter. BUT, no Aretha Franklin? No Ella Fitzgerald? No Handel? Not a single opera? Oh well, the author does say in his introduction he makes no attempt to cover a history of music. But shame on this author for not mentioning the truly truly GREAT artists: Tiffany, Arianna Grande, NSync are just a few of Mr. Cavolo's massive misses.
January 28, 2016
A very unique collection. It has inspired me to begin my own list of 101 bands/artists who've helped me to create my identity. It has also provided me with a lot of bands to explore and to even re-discover old favorites.
PopSugar 2016: An Autobiography (x-it kind of is)
PopSugar 2016: An Autobiography (x-it kind of is)
July 18, 2023
Read this years ago
February 12, 2016
I'm losing my edge. I heard you have a compilation of every good song ever done by anybody. Every great song by the Beach Boys. All the underground hits.
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I loved reading/looking at this book and making a Spotify playlist as I went along (then discovering on the last page that the author already compiled a playlist, ha). Cavolo's illustration style is great and some of his observations really resonated (though not all). But mostly I just like the idea of keeping a journal of bands/books/artists that are life changing on a super personal level. I want to make one.
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I loved reading/looking at this book and making a Spotify playlist as I went along (then discovering on the last page that the author already compiled a playlist, ha). Cavolo's illustration style is great and some of his observations really resonated (though not all). But mostly I just like the idea of keeping a journal of bands/books/artists that are life changing on a super personal level. I want to make one.
July 26, 2016
I'd rate this more than five stars if I could - the incredible artwork itself makes the book worth picking up.
October 9, 2016
Not really what the title says it's going to be, more of the author's personal music comic journal. Still fun but not what I expected.
November 15, 2021
I want to do this some day
April 7, 2020
Also got this one from my birthday wishlist because of the illustrator. I mean what else can you say about the book? It is what it is. But i treasure the illustration.
September 1, 2018
Alright, granted this guy is humble enough with his opinions that trampling on this book on the basis that you disagree with his taste is stupid. So, that's out of the picture.
HOWEVER: Any reminder that there are people out there who would honestly rather live without Pink Floyd, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Talking Heads or Neil Young to preserve the music of Skrillex does irritate an overwhelming part of me.
Call me condescending, but this guy's a total normie outside of the token names he lists. Alright, alright, the fact that he gives exposure to Daniel Johnston and the Sonics is pretty cool, but better than Pink Floyd??
Ugh, but I promised I'd push that out of the picture, and ya know, despite my disagreement with his choices, I honestly don't think I could have fleshed out a better book than Cavolo has done here.
The childish art is fun to gawk at, and how the symbolism in the drawings relates to the written description beside it is a nice touch.
The writing itself is hit-or-miss, but I admit that's more than I expected. Some points are personal and evocative and even imaginative, while others (especially in the second half) get redundant and even abrupt. There are about a dozen garage-rock bands he mentions, and pretty much all of the sensual descriptions could be interchangeable. For one artist he just mentions that he wore his clothes like them and that's what makes them significant, and for another artist he mainly just remembers his mom dancing to them.
What's worse is that the calligraphy of Cavolo is at times hard to read. Sometimes "to me" looks like "tome" and lines curve up or down without a line to guide the bottoms of each letter. But at the same time, this is probably an aesthetic choice to fit the doodle-esque nature of Cavolo's drawings, so I can't hold this against the book as much as I should.
Overall though, I can say that I enjoyed how heartfelt and honest this book was. It wasn't pretentious and it wasn't propagandizing, and I think that's refreshing for such a pushy title.
... And speaking of the title, why would he introduce the book to say that the list is primarily for him when the title literally says "Before YOU Die." That means I am the subject he's referring to when he tells me "To Listen." This means he's instructing me to do something, when the proclaimed intention of this book was exactly the opposite. SO WHO DO I BELIEVE, RICARDO!? Do I listen to the title or your backpedalling introduction!?
HOWEVER: Any reminder that there are people out there who would honestly rather live without Pink Floyd, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Talking Heads or Neil Young to preserve the music of Skrillex does irritate an overwhelming part of me.
Call me condescending, but this guy's a total normie outside of the token names he lists. Alright, alright, the fact that he gives exposure to Daniel Johnston and the Sonics is pretty cool, but better than Pink Floyd??
Ugh, but I promised I'd push that out of the picture, and ya know, despite my disagreement with his choices, I honestly don't think I could have fleshed out a better book than Cavolo has done here.
The childish art is fun to gawk at, and how the symbolism in the drawings relates to the written description beside it is a nice touch.
The writing itself is hit-or-miss, but I admit that's more than I expected. Some points are personal and evocative and even imaginative, while others (especially in the second half) get redundant and even abrupt. There are about a dozen garage-rock bands he mentions, and pretty much all of the sensual descriptions could be interchangeable. For one artist he just mentions that he wore his clothes like them and that's what makes them significant, and for another artist he mainly just remembers his mom dancing to them.
What's worse is that the calligraphy of Cavolo is at times hard to read. Sometimes "to me" looks like "tome" and lines curve up or down without a line to guide the bottoms of each letter. But at the same time, this is probably an aesthetic choice to fit the doodle-esque nature of Cavolo's drawings, so I can't hold this against the book as much as I should.
Overall though, I can say that I enjoyed how heartfelt and honest this book was. It wasn't pretentious and it wasn't propagandizing, and I think that's refreshing for such a pushy title.
... And speaking of the title, why would he introduce the book to say that the list is primarily for him when the title literally says "Before YOU Die." That means I am the subject he's referring to when he tells me "To Listen." This means he's instructing me to do something, when the proclaimed intention of this book was exactly the opposite. SO WHO DO I BELIEVE, RICARDO!? Do I listen to the title or your backpedalling introduction!?
September 17, 2015
Cavolo presents us with his musical art journal. Not professing to be an expert, this is his personal list of 101 must listen to musicians. Written as a journal in a hand print font with words crossed out here and there each two-page spread features on artist or band. Cavolo's text tries to impart to the reader what each particular artist's music does for him, why he likes it. These are not biographies and barely even any song titles are mentioned. This is not about who the artists are but what they are about musically to the author. Cavolo's art is distinctive; bold and bright and certainly has a nod to Picasso. There is a wide range of music included starting with classical and ending with dub step, but Cavolo's main interests become apparent with the interest in early folk songs and blues then hits its stride in the sixties with punk and garage, which moves on to rap and keeps returning to garage and anything he refers to as "dark".
Ricardo is Spanish and there is a worldwide ethnicity to the singers he has chosen but early on he states his love for North American culture (hence many US groups) then he admits to a love affair with England where he currently resides (hence many British musicians). I haven't heard of most of these musicians once we get past the eighties and what I listened to of that I didn't like. I'd probably recommend the book to those who grew up in the nineties, who like "dark" music, and are into retro music of the same.
One group glaringly missing from the list, which I would have expected to see based both on theme and Cavolo's self-professed British-love is "The Smiths".
Ricardo is Spanish and there is a worldwide ethnicity to the singers he has chosen but early on he states his love for North American culture (hence many US groups) then he admits to a love affair with England where he currently resides (hence many British musicians). I haven't heard of most of these musicians once we get past the eighties and what I listened to of that I didn't like. I'd probably recommend the book to those who grew up in the nineties, who like "dark" music, and are into retro music of the same.
One group glaringly missing from the list, which I would have expected to see based both on theme and Cavolo's self-professed British-love is "The Smiths".
May 3, 2016
This is a really fun read. You must read the introduction to really understand what the author is going for, and if you are looking for serious music journalism this is not quite right. I really love it for what it is though, each artist has a portrait (very fantastic and imaginative artwork just psychedelic enough with rich symbolism relevant to each artist) and a brief essay that basically details what that artist means to the author. This is really a personal work, and the author is up front about that, it is almost a mixtape in book form. Inspiring and cool. And I did find a few artists I hadn't heard before, so it will be fun to follow up and listen to them.
January 14, 2016
¿De qué va 100 artistas sin los que no podría vivir? De música. De música y de sensaciones. De lo que la música te hace sentir cuando la escuchas. De los recuerdos que las canciones de tu vida tienen atrapados entre sus notas. De dibujos, de chorros de tinta y de horas de trabajo con el reproductor de música encendido. Escoge la que más te guste y habrás acertado, porque cualquiera, en mi opinión, se adapta al propósito del autor. LA RESEÑA SIGUE AQUÍ: http://www.el-buscalibros.com/2015/12...
February 7, 2016
Pros: I love the idea of everyone doing their own music diary. Particularly apt for this time/generation. The artwork is intense and moving, very personal in its own way.
Cons: Is this really a graphic novel. Also, while I like the personal style, it's almost too personal. Not sure people will really connect with it.
Cons: Is this really a graphic novel. Also, while I like the personal style, it's almost too personal. Not sure people will really connect with it.
July 21, 2016
One of those books that I could have written. I am secretly (or maybe not) this kind of a music person. Multiple genres, time periods, etc. His knowledge of classical music needs an expansion policy.
January 3, 2020
The finest bit of writing can be found in the "Initial Explanations," where the artist humbly explains that this book is just a list of 101 music artists he couldn't live without. I found this concession to be deeply personal, turning a lists of music artists into a emotional memoir of sorts. There are a number of reviews that hotly debate his selections - but I think this misses the point. I liked this book, but it was only okay (two stars) because the artist does not include recommended tracks or albums to guide the reader/listener. A playlist or suggested track would have enhanced the experience of trying to follow his mood. Second, while the artworks are striking, I wish the artist did more to explain his artistic interpretations. What does the motif of "lightening bolts" mean - On Iggy Pop, does it reference David Bowie? On Meg White, does it mean she plays drums with gusto? Each image is part Tarot card, part Lotería, part religious icons - I'm fascinated and want to know more about how his artistry was formed, but it is not explained anywhere. Publishers - let's get a second expanded edition going!
June 25, 2018
My library had a display of books about music and I had to stop and pick up this book. I enjoy an eclectic selection of music that covers many styles and centuries. I was curious to see if Ricardo and I had similar musical preferences and excited by the possibility of discovering new favorites. Honestly, I love the cartoon diary style and I think it fits the topic perfectly. Many of my favorite bands are in this book and I enjoyed the artwork and descriptions. Do I like all the bands in the book, no but it doesn’t matter. This is a book of musical inspiration and I now have a list of new bands to try.
October 6, 2022
Started off well enough but I was noting a lot of the details of each artist/band etc. 68 are American, 72 are all white and 86 are male or all male acts. So diversity is lacking. The artwork is obviously great but boring after a while as they all take on the same style. Hopefully I will get more out of this book in the long run by further researching and listening to the artists listed.
I understand this is in the artists own words and personal experience but again, it got monotonous. This book definitely exemplifies how white, male dominated the western music conglomerate is. Unfortunate.
I understand this is in the artists own words and personal experience but again, it got monotonous. This book definitely exemplifies how white, male dominated the western music conglomerate is. Unfortunate.
June 20, 2023
I dig it! The art is rad. It's someone else's 101 Artists to Listen to Before you Die, not the *definitive* 101 for everyone. I can appreciate it for what it is. I listened to a few new to me artists after reading this.
Justice for Radiohead though! I noticed that Radiohead is mentioned in the Goodreads synopsis of the book but left out of the book itself. They'd be in my 101 for sure. I think part of the fun of this book is creating your own 101 list in your mind to contrast and compare. I think it's rad that Cavolo isn't a music expert but rather an appreciator. This is a relatable, fun read.
Justice for Radiohead though! I noticed that Radiohead is mentioned in the Goodreads synopsis of the book but left out of the book itself. They'd be in my 101 for sure. I think part of the fun of this book is creating your own 101 list in your mind to contrast and compare. I think it's rad that Cavolo isn't a music expert but rather an appreciator. This is a relatable, fun read.
June 4, 2019
The artwork was cool, but overall too patriotic and white for my taste. Also kinda weird that one of the artists is literally just all of “Bollywood”. Also that he would pretend to be Nigerian when listening to rap. Open to discourse. 🤔
January 18, 2020
His art is so good this could be a book with each page being a letter of the alphabet and I would still like it a whole lot. His opinions are exactly that. Opinions. But the art in this book is perfect
December 15, 2017
This is the only book about music and musicians that I have enjoyed reading. The humourous writing style and the colourful illustrations made for an enthralling look at the author's love of music.
January 29, 2020
inspiring. vibrant art/illustrations. nice to read about some favorite musicians and cool to learn about ones new to me like Jacqueline Taieb and Los Saicos. Thoughtfully written
May 23, 2021
needs more women imo
July 31, 2021
I would have given this book 5 stars for the art alone if it hadn't excluded Stevie Wonder and The Smiths from the list (it pains me to give it any stars at all after such a musical crime)
July 6, 2023
There is a spotify playlist link in the back.
March 16, 2024
Es muy entretenido.A mi me significó conocer más música lo que hace que sea una agradable experiencia. Más que un texto.
February 23, 2025
This graphic novel is just plain fun. The artwork is outstanding and it’s cool to see what someone else deems important in the music universe.
May 14, 2025
Bueno. Tenemos gustos distintos.
November 10, 2025
Simplemente maravilloso, leer un libro de él siempre da gusto y si es sobre música ya ❤️
September 25, 2015
Spanish artist and illustrator Ricardo Cavolo's beautifully illustrated music diary, 101 Artists to Listen to Before You Die, offers a celebration of musicians and bands who have been most important in his life. "It's me trying to start to put down some coordinates for our musical universe," he writes.
Cavolo merges his love of music and art by giving each artist/band (listed in rough chronological order) a two-page spread. The left page offers his handwritten assessment and memories of the artists and the right page features his tribal, bright and boldly colored Frida Kahlo-esque illustration of the person or group.
Johnny Cash "is officially my favorite of all time," Cavolo writes of the only artist to merit two entries. "Everything is bigger and better with that voice. It makes a man feel secure, the baby stays sleeping soundly, and the mountains crack open with those low tones." He writes that Amy Winehouse "came on the scene for a few years to make us believe that the divas of soul and R&B had come back to life and rematerialized in the form of a girl from London."
A passionate music lover, Cavolo's charming personal anecdotes and lush praise are enticing invitations to explore and sample a range of music. His appreciation crosses musical genres to include Mozart, Leadbelly, the Crystals, Hank Williams, Velvet Underground, Cypress Hill, Mos Def, M.I.A., Daft Punk, the Sex Pistols, Public Enemy and the Beach Boys. And Cavolo's vibrant portraits--a mixture of folk- and tattoo-inspired art--are equally mesmerizing. A visual celebration of legendary and obscure acts from classical, blues, country, soul, electronica, rap and metal.
Cavolo merges his love of music and art by giving each artist/band (listed in rough chronological order) a two-page spread. The left page offers his handwritten assessment and memories of the artists and the right page features his tribal, bright and boldly colored Frida Kahlo-esque illustration of the person or group.
Johnny Cash "is officially my favorite of all time," Cavolo writes of the only artist to merit two entries. "Everything is bigger and better with that voice. It makes a man feel secure, the baby stays sleeping soundly, and the mountains crack open with those low tones." He writes that Amy Winehouse "came on the scene for a few years to make us believe that the divas of soul and R&B had come back to life and rematerialized in the form of a girl from London."
A passionate music lover, Cavolo's charming personal anecdotes and lush praise are enticing invitations to explore and sample a range of music. His appreciation crosses musical genres to include Mozart, Leadbelly, the Crystals, Hank Williams, Velvet Underground, Cypress Hill, Mos Def, M.I.A., Daft Punk, the Sex Pistols, Public Enemy and the Beach Boys. And Cavolo's vibrant portraits--a mixture of folk- and tattoo-inspired art--are equally mesmerizing. A visual celebration of legendary and obscure acts from classical, blues, country, soul, electronica, rap and metal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews