Da Capo Best Music Writing 2001

Da Capo Best Music Writing

by Nick Hornby (Editor), Ben Schafer (Editor)

The year's best essays and articles on music as selected by Nick Hornby, author of High Fidelity and How To Be Good

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Essays

364 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Nicholas Peter John Hornby is an English writer and lyricist. He is best known for his memoir Fever Pitch (1992) and novels High Fidelity and About a Boy, all of which were adapted into feature films. Hornby's work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists. His books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide as of 2018. In a 2004 poll for the BBC, Hornby was named the 29th most influential person in British culture. He has received two Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay nominations for An Education (2009), and Brooklyn (2015).

Reviews

[Hex75]

raccolta di articoli musicali selezionati dal buon nick horby e che vede presenti diversi autori storici affianco a qualche nome nuovo. la qualità è ovviamente sempre la stessa, ma non ci si può lamentare più di tanto: a volte l'autore sa talmente il fatto suo da fare un gioiello perfetto anche per chi non si interessa di musica (rian malan,nick toshes, il toccante e comico frammento autobiografico di robbie fulks) e in un paio di casi sa suscitare curiosità ("difendere la nazione hip hop", gli incontri con johnny cash e lucinda williams), altre volte è meglio sapere di che si sta parlando per godersi il discorso anche se solo raramente ci si imbatte in discorsi davvero da iniziati (la rece delle complete sessions di "funhouse" è qualcosa che solo il fan terminale degli stooges apprezzerà, così come l'interessante stroncatura di eminem porterà diversi dubbi in chi già segue l'hip hop), e solo un paio di volte si resta basiti dalla scelta (greil marcus -immenso, di solito- sulle sleater-kinney non mi convince, mike doughty sembra un blog e oggettivamente il dizionario del rock snob riesce a non far ridere nonostante l'argomento sia perfetto per il sarcasmo). consigliato? per la manciata di articoli imperdibili si, e vi faranno cambiare idea se credete alle stronzate sull'impossibilità di scrivere di musica (e valgono le 4 stelle date al libro).

[Doug]

These volumes are a journey not a destination. I recommend reading them with your streaming service paid up and listen as you go. Articles on music as widespread as the Riot Grrrrl movement, Johnny Cash’s last albums, History of Merlefest, Django, Jeff Buckley and Billie Holiday. Someone much smarter than me said “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture” so listening along with written attempts to make sense and place of it all makes sense. Like Best of short stories collection they are all introduced and compiled by someone relatively well known. This volume is edited by writer and music lover Nick Hornby.

[David Bril]

This book is a selection of articles about music, all written in the year 2001, hand picked by Nick Hornby.

I'll be honest I found a lot of this to be very boring and the articles seemed to go on forever. This was a tough read for me, one I really didn't enjoy.

[Ted Gurley]

Favorites included a feature on Lucinda Williams, a focus on Esteban, and a history of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

[Ensiform]

Another collection on music writing.from Da Capo, this edition does not disappoint admirers of the previous year’s entry. Hornsby has chosen well, representing a broad spectrum of styles and artists (though it must be said that women and black artists are given relatively short shrift). The most interesting pieces seem to be, once again, those on the least mainstream artists, probably because so much has been said about the hitmakers before. Still, all the pieces are at least interesting (however, I don't understand why NPR editor Sarah Vowell’s short essay on Al Gore is included).

Standouts include terrific novelist Steve Erickson’s attempt to capture the mercurial Neil Young on paper; a sad tribute of sorts to the forgotten South African Zulu, Solomon Linda, who improvised the melody to the song we know as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight;" a lengthy New York Times piece on the impact of hip-hop culture on whites and blacks, and how they in turn shape the culture; and Metal Mike Sauders making a surprisingly good case for Disney Radio being the ultimate independent station. More disappointing are a nostalgic homage to the gangsters that ran the early rock business by the usually powerful Nick Tosches, a prosaic account of a Barbra Streisand concert by a non-fan, and an uninformative tribute to Jeff Buckley by his neighbor. But, as I said, all of the material here is at least interesting, and there’s much here that will inspire readers to listen as well.

[Garrett]

It's a compilation of some amazing music journalism. It's really cool to reach back to the turn of the century and read great articles and essays on music and the industry. I read a selection when I'm on the train or just in need of a short fix. I don't know when I'll read it all but totally worthwhile for those dull moments or a quick read of a great article.

[David Allen]

I bought this used at Amoeba for $1.99 because of Hornby's name as editor. Dated, sure -- anyone remember Napster? Eminem? -- but some great essays, especially the one on the missing royalties for "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Which added up to a lot more than $1.99.

[Kay Sundstrom]

I have read every year up to 2008. Like most collections, some of brilliant, other just good but very entertaining and informative if you are interested in all the various aspects of music.

[DURTY]

Yep