Description
Explore the vibrant and intricate world of music lyrics with 'The Grammar of Rock', a captivating examination of pop music's linguistic landscape by acclaimed author Alexander Theroux. This brand new edition dives deep into the quirky language of rock, analyzing notorious song titles, memorable lyrics, and the eclectic range of artists from legendary lyricists such as Ira Gershwin and Cole Porter to contemporary figures like Bob Dylan and Patti Smith. What sets 'The Grammar of Rock' apart is Theroux's sharp critique and humorous insights, showcasing the gems and gaffes of popular songs, while also shedding light on the genre's absurdities including clunker lines and the pitfalls of irony. With 352 engaging pages, this work not only celebrates musical brilliance but also explores the failings of songwriting in a refreshing and entertaining manner. Whether you're a music enthusiast, a lyric lover, or someone interested in the power of language, this book is a must-read. Perfect as a gift or a personal addition to your bookshelf, 'The Grammar of Rock' is your guide to understanding the artistry behind the words. Enjoy free shipping on this item, with delivery expected to take up to 6 weeks. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled, so choose wisely and immerse yourself in the musical odyssey that awaits.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781606996164
Year: 2012
Publisher: W W Norton & Company
Pages: 352
Description:
National Book Award nominee, critic and one of America's least compromising satirists, Alexander Theroux takes a comprehensive look at the colorful language of pop lyrics and the realm of rock music in general in The Grammar of Rock: silly song titles; maddening instrumentals; shrieking divas; clunker lines; the worst (and best) songs ever written; geniuses of the art; movie stars who should never have raised their voice in song but who were too shameless to refuse a mic; and the excesses of awful Christmas recordings. Praising (and critiquing) the gems of lyricists both highbrow and low, Theroux does due reverence to classic word-masters like Ira Gershwin, Jimmy Van Heusen, Cole Porter, and Sammy Cahn, lyricists as diverse as Hank Williams, Buck Ram, the Moody Blues, and Randy Newman, Dylan and the Beatles, of course, and more outrĂ© ones like the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Patti Smith, the Fall (even Ghostface Killa), but he considers stupid rhymes, as well ” nonsense lyrics, chop logic, the uses and abuses of irony, country music macho, verbal howlers, how voices sound alike and why, and much more. In a way that no one else has ever done, with his usual encyclopedic insights into the state of the modern lyric, Theroux focuses on the state of language ” the power of words and the nature of syntax ” in The Grammar of Rock. He analyzes its assaults on listeners' impulses by investigating singers' styles, pondering illogical lunacies in lyrics, and deconstructing the nature of diction and presentation in the language. This is that rare book of discernment and probing wit (and not exclusively one that is a critical defens
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781606996164
Year: 2012
Publisher: W W Norton & Company
Pages: 352
Description:
National Book Award nominee, critic and one of America's least compromising satirists, Alexander Theroux takes a comprehensive look at the colorful language of pop lyrics and the realm of rock music in general in The Grammar of Rock: silly song titles; maddening instrumentals; shrieking divas; clunker lines; the worst (and best) songs ever written; geniuses of the art; movie stars who should never have raised their voice in song but who were too shameless to refuse a mic; and the excesses of awful Christmas recordings. Praising (and critiquing) the gems of lyricists both highbrow and low, Theroux does due reverence to classic word-masters like Ira Gershwin, Jimmy Van Heusen, Cole Porter, and Sammy Cahn, lyricists as diverse as Hank Williams, Buck Ram, the Moody Blues, and Randy Newman, Dylan and the Beatles, of course, and more outrĂ© ones like the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Patti Smith, the Fall (even Ghostface Killa), but he considers stupid rhymes, as well ” nonsense lyrics, chop logic, the uses and abuses of irony, country music macho, verbal howlers, how voices sound alike and why, and much more. In a way that no one else has ever done, with his usual encyclopedic insights into the state of the modern lyric, Theroux focuses on the state of language ” the power of words and the nature of syntax ” in The Grammar of Rock. He analyzes its assaults on listeners' impulses by investigating singers' styles, pondering illogical lunacies in lyrics, and deconstructing the nature of diction and presentation in the language. This is that rare book of discernment and probing wit (and not exclusively one that is a critical defens