Music in a Word: Volume 1

by Ira A. Robbins

Music in a Word is an anthology and memoir by veteran American music journalist Ira Robbins. If you've ever wondered how and why anyone becomes a critic, some of the answers are here. "Music in a Word" gathers articles, many previously unpublished interviews, album and concert reviews and other writing, with colorful recollections of 50 years spent on a musical soapbox. Subjects include Trouser Press, John Lydon, Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, Ice Cube, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Cure, Blondie, Be-Bop Deluxe, Liz Phair, Michael Jackson, T. Rex, the B-52's, Elvis Presley, Jethro Tull, J. Geils, Public Enemy, David Bowie, R.E.M., Linda Ronstadt, Pavement, Kirsty MacColl, Holly Beth Vincent, Billy Joel, Tears for Fears, Julian Cope and Ian McCulloch, as well as movie reviews and much more. Profusely illustrated with images from the author's personal archive.

1239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Ira A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote it. I like it.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like an issue of the late, lamented Trouser Press, this collection of writing from TP's founder/editor is at times exquisite and at times completely skippable. It depends on his subject; I was delighted to read about Julian Cope and equally delighted to pass on what seemed like reams and reams about Echo and the Bunnymen. Yeah, I don't understand why one and not the other. That's the nature of rock and roll fandom, I guess.