Many albums could be cited to support the claim that great suffering yields great art. Elliott Smiths XO should not be one of them. Smiths 1998 major label debut defies the "tortured singer-songwriter" stereotype; and takes up this defiance as a central theme. At a time when Smith was being groomed for a particular (and particularly condescending) brand of stardom; he produced a record that eviscerated one of the central assumptions of singersongwriterdom: that pain is beautiful. XO insists that romanticizing personal tragedy can only leave you "deaf and dumb and done." And it backs up this claim with some of the most artful and intelligent music of its day. Matthew LeMay writes an original take on a widely beloved album; steering clear of the sensationalist suicide angles that have dogged most analysis of Elliott Smiths extraordinary work.
#2092474 in eBooks 2012-05-10 2012-05-10File Name: B00LVX0WTO
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Very good look at Spaldings workBy John R. W. BolandAs long as the reader does not expect a strictly biographical account of Spalding (and we all know that fans are very keen on having one); this book is a very good exploration of different aspects of Spaldings work. If a reader is unfamilar with Spalding; this is an excellent companion to becoming introduced to Spaldings books and monologues.Note that the official Spalding Gray web site has a complete pdf of Chapter 5 with the permission of the author. Hence; another way to get a sense of what this book is like.Thank you.web manager for the Estate of Spalding Gray[...]3 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Spalding Grays America; or Demastes Spalding Gray?By T. FrantzenI didnt know what to expect ordering this book. Its about a 300 page book with an introduction by Richard Schechner; the intro. full of new information about the Theater group Spalding was apart of and his relationship with Schechner over the years. Rich in detail.The first few chapters of the book; more information about Wooster and The Performance group. Demastess following chapters on the books are tough to make it through; if you know the language of Spaldings books very well. Yes; we know about meeting Sam Shepard and Lou Reed and feeling unmanly in your sneakers ---I dont want to be quoted back Spalding; again and again.However; great pictures Ive never seen.For me; the surveying style; however; is what kind of killed it for me.With the title; I was hoping for some information about his travelling live monologues....
