Re: [bomp] RE: Boston Rock & Roll

[Blair Buscareno <blairb@xxxxxxx>]

Joe Viglione wrote:
> Dear bomp list:
>
> It would be refreshing to see people discuss Brett's
> book and agree or disagree with criticism by utilizing
> his book.  
    I see nothing wrong with this point.  Heck, this encourages book 
sales.  That works.  Personally, I have about 10 other books on tap to 
read before I can even think about picking up Milano's.  And, quite 
honestly, there are plenty of other rock'n'roll books I'm more 
interested in reading.  If I'm going to read a rock'n'roll book, I want 
it to be mainly about the rock'n'roll I'm interested in.  Joe, nothing 
against you, but if you write a book telling me all about Jon Butcher, 
I'm probably not going to be all that interested in that, either.  
Milano's book evidently spends some time talking about stuff I like and 
other pages on things I don't much care for.  I'm the reader, so I get 
to choose whether it's worth my time and money.  I'm more interested in 
a history of Bomp than I am of the Boston scene.  And I *love* lots of 
Boston bands.  But, as with any town, there are plenty of bands I have 
no interest in.  Despite the fact that my tastes may have a fair amount 
of intersection with Milano's, there's enough that I have no interest in 
that I'd probably just borrow a friend's copy, if I ever even had time 
for it.
    Joe, it seems like what you've written above is basically saying, 
"Buy the book."  Your review, on the other hand, basically says that the 
book isn't worth the reader's time.  Really, one reads / listens to / 
watches a review to get an idea of whether one should spend one's money 
on a product.  (Some of us may write just to share our opinions, but I 
think most of us who have done so for any length of time have had people 
tell us they bought something on the basis of our recommendations.  
Would those people have bought that product if we said we didn't like 
it?  Probably not.)  To that end, I think you would agree that we should 
get some other opinions from people who *have* read the book.  I 
searched  for this - "sound of our town" "brett milano" reviews - and 
found the following:
http://7fff.com/ - a blog review
http://www.thenoiseboard.com/index.php?showtopic=171922&st=25 - The 
Noise board, with a few reader mentions, but not a full review

This book's pretty new, so I expect more reviews to come in over time.  
I hope some Bompers will read the book and let us know what they think.

Some press Brett did (not a review!):
http://www.bostonmusicspotlight.com/article.php?id=567

There's also the editorial reviews - including one from Jeff Tamarkin - 
at the book's Amazon.com listing, but since that's an editorial review 
probably meant to sell the book, I won't include it.


> This helps Brett, this keeps things
> focused, attacking the messenger reminds me of a young
> lady in New York waiting to get back to Boston. She is
> in the military.  She made a condescending remark
> about Michael Moore. 
>
> I asked "Did you see the movie?"
>
> She said "I don't have to - it's Michael Moore."
>
> There you have it.  I felt badly that this young lady
> couldn't wait to be shipped off to Iraq - she said it
> was "a buddy thing" to be with the other soldiers.
> The bigger picture just was beyond her thought
> process.

While I agree that one should read the book - and in her case, see the 
movie - it should be pointed out that many soldiers go to Iraq because 
they know right down to their core that they've gotta have their 
buddies' backs.  Hell, many re-enlist despite their opinions of the 
political angle, just because they don't want to walk out on their 
buddies.  Personally, I think that's pretty damned admirable.  I may 
disagree with her for putting down Michael Moore w/out seeing the movie, 
but I can understand - even admire - her reason for going to and staying 
in Iraq.  I can even understand her putting down Michael Moore without 
seeing the movie:  Seeing the film might make it even harder for her to 
do what she knows she needs to do.


Finally, Joe, I don't think you should be surprised that people on this 
list jumped down your throat.  There's history.  You yourself wanted 
part of the history edited in the past, so that a record of it couldn't 
be found.  However, many people on the list still remember.  I don't 
know you, so this isn't a personal attack.  This is just a gentle 
reminder that there's a reason many people here aren't in your corner.

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