IMAGI-BLOG
John Darnielle loves metal, writes about it
Submitted by Cory Banks on May 9, 2008.In case you didn't know, John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats wrote an entry in the 33 1/3 series on Black Sabbath's Master of Reality, and it's brilliant. His fictional account of a teenage metalhead's love for Ozzy while stuck in a mental institution perfectly portrays how deep our love for music can go, and what a few silly notes can mean to anyone who truly listens. It's funny, fascinating, and far too short. Go buy it.
But maybe you're stuck at work, slaving for the man, and can't go spend the $8 right now. Okay, so here's the next best thing: Darnielle blogging at Powell's Books about five more hard rock albums that deserve to have books written about them.
John's prose is as perfect as the lyrics to his songs, and his love for Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate translates even if you don't listen to anything heavier than Death Cab. Like with all the best music, the story isn't the song as much as the story we equate with it, and Darnielle is a master storyteller. Click here for all five entries.
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imaginary serotonein said on May 9, 2008:
thanks for the write-up. i've been looking forward to the release, but it had slipped my mind of late. he writes so eloquently on his blog (http://lastplanetojakarta.com/)that i figured the book would be a good read regardless of the subject.
how do you think it compares to the other work of fiction in the 33 1/3 collection, joe pernice's take on "meat is murder"?
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Reviews
Chris Estey said on May 9, 2008:
Thanks for doing such a great and helpful write-up on this book, Cory. I had it sitting here in front of me for awhile as I tried to put together a TIG Blog both urgent and eloquent enough to inspire people to get it, and you have done it for me -- and I think much better than I could. As it forces such gooey adoration from me people might just dismiss what I would write as fanboy lunatic ravings or I'm Darnielle's pal or something.
Here are the facts, Jack:
(1.) Some people have "Catcher in the Rye," I now have John Darnielle's "Master of Reality" 33 1/3.
(2.) Arguably one of the top three books I've read this year, and I read three books a week.
(3.) Arguably the most essential 33 1/3, artistically (as in best written and most meaningful -- though I adore others, especially Carl Wilson's on Celine Dion and the hidden fascism of hipsterism).
(4.) I am not a fan of the album, though I am certainly checking it out now; and I'm a bit fussier about the Mountain Goats than I would like to admit here (I'm one of those who worship "The Sunset Tree" and desperately need to hear the other albums, which I've bought all of for my wife, a huge fan -- but I am not, yet).
(5.) It's a thin book but a an amazingly heavy read that is as deep about the love for music as any other you can find. I REALLY hope it doesn't get lost in the shuffle -- and you DO NOT need to love metal to love it (I'm fussy about metal, only like a small percentage in my listening diet, and don't worship the "hip" metal bands.)
It might be hard to find this book locally, so have it ordered to a bookstore or order it over the Internet. My guess is Sonic Boom and Easy Street will do their best to keep it in stock -- and I could see people in the scene having panel discussions of it if they have a chance to read it (always hard to do these days, it took me a couple weeks to find the time myself).
Again, thanks, Cory!