Dave Marsh

Kick Out the Jams collects many of Dave Marsh's writing from 1982 until 2017, including reviews, commentaries, and tributes.

While certainly not comprehensive enough to be an actual history of music over this period, it is broad enough to offer a very good historical outline. What probably will separate some readers based largely on age is the fact these are reprints of the original pieces. I make this comment because for some younger readers this might not offer enough context, since for them some of it is, indeed, history. The pieces that overlap with the time they paid attention to music may speak to them far more. For me, being ancient-ish, I was already 24 when the earliest essay was written, so this is like a trip down memory lane for me.

The great thing about Marsh is that he has always given his opinions rather than pretend there is such a thing as objective journalism. He doesn't necessarily give his opinions as definitive facts, at least not usually with seriousness, so he does acknowledge different perspectives, but his work lends itself to both exuberant agreement and vigorous disagreement. Either way, you generally come away with a better appreciation of the artist, work, or importance than you started with. And I enjoy that aspect.

Highly recommended for both a glimpse back at what music journalism once, in some places, was and a nostalgic trip for many of us. Some pieces will make you chuckle, some will bring a tear to your eye. In other words, it will touch you.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.… (altro)

I'm a bit biased in my five star rating of this book, being as huge a Who fan as I am. Nevertheless, I do believe that this book deserves all five stars in spite of its faults.

[a:Dave Marsh|103219|Dave Marsh|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg]'s biography on The Who is often seen as the definitive Who text, though some would argue in greater favor of [a:Richard Barnes|22926|Richard Barnes|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg]'s [b:Maximum R B]. Where [a:Richard Barnes|22926|Richard Barnes|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg] tends to focus a great deal more on [a:Pete Townshend|282494|Pete Townshend|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207769044p2/282494.jpg] than the rest of the band in his account (and quite naturally, as he was and remains good friends with the fellow) [a:Dave Marsh|103219|Dave Marsh|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg] takes a wider view, and even delves a bit into Roger Daltrey's solo projects as the book goes on.

[a:Dave Marsh|103219|Dave Marsh|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg] takes sparingly from press interviews throughout the course of the book, relies on first-hand interviews where he can, and even quotes snippets from [a:Irish Jack]'s unpublished memoir of the Mod period in England. From the very beginning of the book the passion [a:Dave Marsh|103219|Dave Marsh|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg] has for the band is apparent, and it rings true through his explanations of topics as disparate as the history of pirate radio, the difference's between the British and American music business, and the legal ramifications of change in copyright law through the Who's career. That [a:Dave Marsh|103219|Dave Marsh|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg] was thorough should go without saying. This book has remained tantamount to a Who Bible for as long as it has for good reason.

The fault with the book is the fault that would lie in any biography of a band - it just doesn't go deep enough, and indeed, it is impossible for it to go deep enough because what makes up the individual players in a band is deeper than it is possible for a single book to go into - without being terrifyingly long and tediously detailed. The one fault that can be drawn with this book, and rightfully so, is that the author seems to lose interest in the Who after Keith Moon's death. Face Dances and It's Hard are dealt with only in passing, and in a single chapter. The band's farewell tour is dealt with in a matter of paragraphs, and rather shrugged off when he could have gone down with more insight. Similarly, problems with The Kids are Alright could have been addressed more thoroughly though I reckon [b:Twilight of the Gods|653382|Twilight of the Gods|Christopher Bulis|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1206757709s/653382.jpg|639491] will go into that a bit better.

Nevertheless, this book is grand and a must-read by anyone with a keen interest in the band and the music industry in general from the 60s through the 80s.… (altro)

Stupid and worthless opinions that seem to inflate the images of silly music and pan the creative, good stuff. This book like too many other books and radio shows seems to value music based on sales and so the great talents are overlooked, and when noticed at all such artists' worst efforts seem to be given the higher ratings. That's how I find it anyway--my most valued artists herein are debased and found wanting, while junk gets the 5 stars. There's also a bias for American music, but that could well be my own glasses.… (altro)