Best Music Writing 2007

Da Capo Best Music Writing

by Robert Christgau (Editor), Daphne Carr

Rappers, rockers, emo-boys, jazz snobs, and poptimists alike eagerly anticipate each edition of Best Music Writing. Returning Series Editor Daphne Carr is joined by a true pioneer of the form, esteemed critic Robert Christgau. Past editions of Best Music Writing have included:Anne Midgette * David Ritz * Dave Eggers * Sasha Frere-Jones * Michaelangelo Matos * Elizabeth Méndez Berry * Alex Ross * Elizabeth Gilbert * Jay McInerney * Lynn Hirschberg * Chuck Klosterman * Sarah Vowell * Nick Tosches * Rosanne Cash * Greil Marcus * Richard Meltzer * Touré * Susan Orlean * Jonathan Lethem * Kate Sullivan * David Hadju * Gary Giddins * Luc Sante * Monica Kendrick * Kelefa Sanneh * and more...

Genres: Music, Essays, Nonfiction

376 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2007

About the author

Robert Thomas Christgau (born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. He began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became an early proponent of musical movements such as hip hop, riot grrrl, and the import of African popular music in the West.

Christgau spent 37 years as the chief music critic and senior editor for The Village Voice, during which time he created and oversaw the annual Pazz & Jop critics poll. He has also covered popular music for Esquire, Creem, Newsday, Playboy, Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR, Blender, and MSN Music, and was a visiting arts teacher at New York University.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more cohesive than last years, consisting of many great entires as opposed to several amazing surrounded by a bunch of mediocre ones. Editor Robert Christgau gives equal space to articles that focus on the past, present and future of music. The main focus seems to be the effect the past has on various parts of the music world, whether its aging entertainers, advances in recording technology, or music that reassesses its cultural development.

Highlights include Jonathan Lethem's fly-on-the-wall reportage of James Brown and his band just before the soul man's death, Dave Simpson's obsessive research into why the Fall goes through members so quickly, and Nick Southall's expose on the rise of over-compressed music. There are several "name" entries, including David Byrne (from his quality blog), Douglas Wolk, Ann Powers, Sasha Frere-Jones, and Richard Hell.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Christgau. Enough said.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eminent "Dean" of Rock Critics takes the helm of the series, and if it's not the best edition yet (Matt Groening's and Mary Gaitskill's outings were also tops), it may be the most fun. Several pieces had me struggling to maintain composure on my commute. There were fewer NYer profile-length pieces than usual, but most of the short pieces easily earned their places. Funny how some subjects came up in pairs: rap in the Middle East, Barbra Streisand, crazy hip-hoppers, post-Katrina New Orleans.

Favorite pieces were: Erik Davis on J. Newsom, Elisabeth Vincentelli on the Eurovision Song Contest, Dave Simpson on The Fall ("Excuse Me, Weren't You in the Fall?"), Jessica Shaw on Babs ("People, People who Love Barbra")and Nick Southall on, well, impossible to sum that one up. Vive BMW! Can't wait for '08.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually get bored by these anthologies but this one was pretty good. The best ones (Will Hermes, Chris Ryan, Dylan Hicks) were fictions. Douglas Wolk has a really great piece about something called the "numa numa dance." Some English guy tries to find all 43 people who've been in the Fall. Naturally, there are the old annoying standbys -- TK ETHNIC GROUP likes TK KITSCH POP FIGURE and TK COUNTRY has hip-hop and, of course, TK FLUFFY POP STAR is "political." Oh, cultural studies, so much to answer for.

[Phil Overeem · Rating 3 out of 5]

The entire series (starting in 2000) is fantastic. A great way to get out of your comfort zone and discover new music and excellent writers on music. I am a Christgau fan, but this volume is one of my least favorites (maybe it's the articles on Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand). The highlight here is the very short but hilarious series of faux blog posts directed to Jay Z (in one of them, Hova wakes up--Beyonce is still in bed in an ambien coma--to look in the mirror and find he has BECOME Nas).

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly high quality and interesting to read. Admittedly, some of the essays were a little grating. There are some weird fan-boy, adjective-heavy conventions of the music writing genre that can become irritating quickly. Most of the essays avoided that though in favor of thought-provoking analyses of various artists. Largely it's just interesting to me to read about how other people interpret and listen to music and what kind of impact it makes on them and there was definitely some of that in the book.

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this 'Numa Numa Dance' and its various mutations. I was touched by Robert Forsters tribute to his fallen colleague and the tribute to New Orleans music post-Katrina. I was surprised that Joanna Newsom ate meat and now curious to hear 'Ys' eventhough I still have my premonitions. Dave Simpson's piece made me want to listen to The Fall and Doug Belknap's Streisand review actually piqued my interest briefly. The piece on Israeli rap was enlightening and the rarely told story of Nica Koenigswarter was a pleasant surprise.

[Elliot Chalom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once upon a time there was a genre called rock and it was given more than 6 pages in a 370 page music anthology … this isn't that story. There are a few interesting (and odd/random) pieces in here - the Barbra Streisand worshipers, the New Orleans hip-hop "gangsta gumbo" thing, but mostly I was bored. Seriously, I'm supposed to be newly impressed with Maria Carey?!

Check out my more detailed thoughts over at http://2bitmonkey.wordpress.com/2013/...

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with any anthology, some pieces in this are better than others; in particular, i thought the piece on James Brown (who was apparently quite insane) went on a little long, but the piece on the "Jazz Baroness" was really interesting. In any case, lots of good writing, and defines "music writing" broadly enough that it's not at all repetitive.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid anthology, like it seems to be every year. The essays on Beyonce and Mariah Carey -- and how they're both more complex than their lyrics suggest -- are particularly good, as is the long look at the Numa Numa dance.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit more consistent than the previous year's edition, but that's not necessarily a good thing as the high points weren't as high. Great examination via Will Hermes of the Holly character in the Hold Steady mythos, though.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as essential as the previous installments, but still some great stuff, including essays by Douglas Wolk & Jonathan Lethem.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far so good. I pick it up and read an article at a time. some good stuff some I just pass over.

[Sarah]

Joel's mentioned somewhere in this!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read the whole thing, but I did enjoy the phenomenal articles on James Brown and Joanna Newsom. I'll be getting this from the library every year.