One of BookRiots Must-Read Books from Indie Presses for 2014"Prato has curated a collection to attract the uninitiated as well as preach to the unwashed converted masses."--Examiner.com"Its a wild ride thats vividly captured in Greg Pratos excellent oral history; Primus: Over the Electric Grapevine."--Bass Player Magazine"A book about the highly strange San Franciscans Primus has been overdue for years; so Greg Pratos excellent oral history of the band is welcome--doubly so; given that the key bandmembers; Les Claypool; Larry Lalonde and Tim Alexander; are involved....Great stuff."--Record Collector Magazine"A master storyteller; skilled in the art of assembling oral histories that not only examine their subjects in great depth but also spin a great yarn; Prato is able to combine a thorough study of Claypools eccentric genius with a relaxed; free-flowing narrative of the Primuss origins story; detailing influences and lineup changes; early performances and the making of landmark Primus albums....[The book] doesnt get bogged down by minutiae; and although it could be called an exhaustive work; its far from an exhausting read."--Backstage Auctions"Esteemed journalist and rock historian Greg Prato brings his estimable literary skills in unwrapping the enigma of Primus....If you loved Primus before but maybe didnt understand everything they did; that will change after reading this. In fact; when you finish the last page here; race over to your Primus CD collection and re-listen to all their music with new and educated ears. Their music will never have sounded so good."--Curled Up With a Good Book"Almost as if youre sitting across from them at the bar as they reminisce about the past...this book was the most fun Ive had reading a book all year. Go get it!"--Erlenmeyers MindPraise for Primus:"They were real musicians musicians...Primus had their own thing; for sure. Nobody really does that Primus thing--they have their own personality; which is something difficult to do."--Chad Smith; Red Hot Chili Peppers"Primitive; animated; dinosaur; Halloween; trailerfunk. I felt Les was a kindred spirit. Someone I could learn from and collaborate with. Quick; schooled; humble; with an amazing musical lexicon and down home as hell; with a bent sense of humor."--Tom WaitsUsually when the "alternative rock revolution" of the early 1990s is discussed; Nirvanas Nevermind is credited as the recording that led the charge. Yet there were several earlier albums that helped pave the way; including the Pixies Doolittle; the Red Hot Chili Peppers Mothers Milk; Janes Addictions Nothings Shocking; and especially Primuss 1991 album Sailing the Seas of Cheese.This fascinating and beautifully curated oral history tells the tale of this truly one-of-a-kind band. Compiled from nearly fifty all-new interviews conducted by journalist/author Greg Prato--including Primus members past and present and many more fellow musicians--this book is sure to appeal to longtime fans of the band; as well as admirers of the musicians interviewed for the book.Interviewees include: Tim Alexander; Trey Anastasio (Phish); Matthew Bellamy (Muse); Les Claypool; Stewart Copeland (The Police); Chuck D (Public Enemy); Kirk Hammett (Metallica); Larry LaLonde; Geddy Lee (Rush); Mickey Melchiondo (Ween); Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine); Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers); Matt Stone (South Park); Tom Waits; and many more.
#426577 in eBooks 2014-07-07 2014-07-07File Name: B00LN5YKMU
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Insightful and entertainingBy Kindle CustomerIrsquo;m of two minds about Steven Spielberg. I share the general belief that hersquo;s a brilliant showman. I think that "Jaws;" for example; might be the best adventure film ever made. On the other hand; I hold Spielberg largely ndash; if indirectly ndash; responsible for the sorry state of Hollywood today; with its glut of ldquo;franchiserdquo; movies and over-emphasis of special effects. Not to mention studiosrsquo; ldquo;will teenage boys like it?rdquo; marketing mentality.The publisher was wise to assign this short-but-insightful Spielberg biography to Haskell; a renowned critic who appreciates the filmmakerrsquo;s talent and influence but is not; by her own admission; a die-hard fan. Haskellrsquo;s chapters are chronological; linking Spielbergrsquo;s personal life and evolution to the plots and themes of his movies. I didnrsquo;t always agree with her evaluations; but her prose is unfailingly thought-provoking.To me; the book is most interesting in the chapters about early Spielberg; when the wunderkind was setting the world on fire with energetic; imaginative blockbusters like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Later films like "Empire of the Sun;" "Amistad;" and "Lincoln" might hold more appeal for a serious analyst like Haskell; but Irsquo;ve always felt that when it comes to a Steven Spielberg movie; popcorn is more palatable than polemics. ndash; grouchyeditor.com0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A biography that intertwines film criticism and JudaismBy Michael JollsMolly Haskell tackles the task of outlining the correlation between Spielbergs films and own life story - evident when following his interviews. "E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial"; "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"; and "Catch Me If You Can" openly reflect Spielbergs own life story; which Haskell does an excellent job of articulating; whereas pictures like "Amistad" and "Munich" are a product of his own agendas. My paperback is still dripping yellow ink from all the highlighted marks.Sadly; the Academy Award inaccuracies ("Saving Private Ryan" did not win Best Picture; Chiwetel Ejiofor did not win Best Actor for "12 Years A Slave") are unforgivable - yet that mistake reflects poorly on the editing team. Direct blame to Haskell is unwarranted. "Saving Private Ryan" losing Best Picture remains the greatest faux pas amongst the Spielberg fans; and it shows a lack of interest on the part of the publishing team for not knowing one of the hot-button-issues on its subject.Personally; while Haskell should be commended for giving extensive treatment to "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "Bridge of Spies"; to see "War Horse" reduced to mere paragraph was the most disappointing aspect of the book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Connecting the dots in a long career.By AxeManAfter watching; I thought; almost all of his films for decades; I was shocked to know about what I had missed or not known that he had his hand in. Haskell has told the story in a very interesting way; making him so much less of a mystery. Dots were connected; failures and victories were given substance; even if I disagreed with her evaluation of one film or another. Makes me want to re-watch several; and I have seen many several times. His Jewish journey was a familiar story that made me consider my own; which was entirely different and has turned out to remain that way. Reading a film critic looking at her colleagues; past and present; was a satisfying experience.
