Rough Mix

by Johnette Napolitano

Johnette Napolitano was born in Hollywood, California and has toured the world as the main voice and bassist of the Los Angeles rock band Concrete Blonde. A respected and prolific songwriter and recording artist, Napolitano is also a gallery artist and has studied art in Mata Ortiz, Mexico and Flamenco in Spain,as well as having contributed to group shows in Los Angeles and New York and solo installations including a multi-media performance at the historical landmark The Integratron in the California Mojave Desert. Johnette's music can be heard on television and in American and foreign film soundtracks. This is the first of a series of memoirs, stories, poetry, lyrics and essays. Johnette lives in Joshua Tree, California, with her dogs Coco, Chuey and Squeaky.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 19, 2013

Reviews

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was lucky enough to see Johnette perform this past Friday night. It was a practically empty auditorium except for the 60 or so folks that were there in a place random enough to be Wilmington, Deleware. None of the crowd appeared to be locals. That didn't stop Johnette who sang with such beautiful and painful fierceness that I began to cry the second she started and hardly stopped the whole way through. She is one of the few who can do this to me. She makes her way into the marrow of my brittle bones. She is the equivalent of seeing the Beatles for me. I swoon. I have her lyrics tattooed on my arm. So at the show I picked up her book.

So let's make this clear that I am obviously biased. There are typos in this book which make you feel like you are sneaking a peek at a diary entry. Her stories are sometimes funny and sometimes scary. This lady has been through some moments. She is a little damaged. She falls for those that are a little damaged as well. Her lyrics are poetry. If you love her like I do I would say its worth the quick read.

[Robert C. Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aptly Titled

I did not give this book 5 stars for 2 reasons. One there are a number of typos which is no reflection on the author but does indicate someone needs to check their copy.
Otherwise I found the book to be an easy read, a very interesting story which is artfully told. The story is a rough mix jumping to lyrics and then back to the narrative of a sometimes troubled but colorful life. Although there are not many pages the book is definitely a page turner, especially if you are a Napolitano fan.
Ah yes, the second reason for the lack of a 5 star rating ... the story ended nicely bit abruptly. I wanted more.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a feeling that I will spend a lot of time revisiting this book.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this band so much when I was a kid. I heard Joey in the local fruit and veg the other day and was lifted on a wave of nostalgia. When that song came out I had little to no idea how my life would turn out and that I would realise that song was mine

Anyway. I loved Johnette, we all did. We wanted to be her so badly. This book is very short and I should’ve tried to get the hard copy but I am impatient and downloaded it instead. It’s not a conventional memoir, it’s lyrics and sketches and stories about her growing up in Hollywood. Adventures, hauntings, drinking and rock’n’roll.

I only took one star off because it needs an editor. At one stage Concrete Blond is masculinised! The band was called Concrete BlondE. End bratty quibble

Buy the actual book! IF you can find it

[Charlotte Ehney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnette Napolitano is a singer, songwriter and artist. She was the lead singer for the band Concrete Blonde. I have admired her for many years. Her first book, ROUGH MIX is not your traditional book. Instead, it is more of an art journal full of sketches, song lyrics and memories. This is a peek into the creative mind of Johnette Napolitano.

This book will not be for everyone but as a fan, I enjoyed the glimpse into her world as she reminsces about her songs and parts of her life.

[Jeffery Romanovitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it! Feel it!

Absolutely wonderful. A snapshot. She gives you a perfect window into what made her and Concrete Blonde such a great moment.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only discovered Johnette had written a book on Friday. I used to log on to Myspace just because she was there writing a blog. She's one of those artists I just feel a connection to, through her music and her words I feel like we share a world. This was a wonderful book. It had lyrics and stories and showed how they all intertwined. Illustrated by Johnette with sketches. The full story of Kim was so sad but so glad she shared that. I had to read the kindle version on my phone which was a bit depressing, but I hope to find a physical copy eventually.

[Francisco Rebollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing journey with the legendary Johnette. A must-read for any Concrete Blonde fan, anyone who ever went to Hollywood with a guitar and a dream or just anybody looking for something different and unique. Wonderful and LA-ie. Johnette Napolitano is easily the most overlooked songwriter and lyricist of the last 30 years.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

None better

Napolitano, for me, was the voice and face of the 80's. This small, but deeply personal, book, captures her incredible creative spirit.

[Brandon Plantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt. Lyrical. Hollywood romanticism. Cool.