The Rock and Roll Chemist

A blog about music, books, writing, fitness, sports, and life.

[rnrchemist]

Every once in a while, I'm able to read and review a book that just blows me away not only in terms of enjoyment but in quality. LENNONOLOGY is one of those books. The amount of research that went into the book is incredible, as is the amount of new material contained within. This is one I can't recommend highly enough if you're a fan of John Lennon and/or the Beatles. Here's my review so you can see for yourself --> https://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-lennonology-strange-days.html

[rnrchemist]

I gave this book a fresh re-reading for this review. Cynthia Lennon had a front row seat to John's life during the most important decade of his life and she recounts the talented yet flawed and complex man she was once married to. Warning: if you're a Lennon sycophant who buys into Yoko's post-1980 myth-making, this isn't the book for you. Read my review here --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-john-john-lennon.html

[rnrchemist]

The latest article in my series of musician/band profiles is of one of the greatest guitarists of the last 25 years, Graham Coxon. Click on the link below to go read it --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2017/03/graham-coxon.html

[rnrchemist]

My latest book review is for this new book that's a fun trip through the past, told via the memories of the lucky people who saw the Beatles live and in concert. Click the link below to go to the review --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-beatles-i-was-there.html

[rnrchemist]

This was a very interesting one...I've read so many books about the Beatles over the last 25 years that it has to really cover a new angle or offer up something new for me to be interested. When I first got this book I was a bit skeptical but I'm glad that turned out to be unfounded. The author, a history professor, looks at not what has been written about the Beatles, but *how* it's been written, all the while evaluating the quality of the various works. Sounds unusual but the book was fascinating and is well worth the read for any serious fan! You can read my review at the link below --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-beatles-and-historians.html

[rnrchemist]

As one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters of his generation, it was about time that Johnny Marr wrote his memoirs, and they do not disappoint. While the first half of the book detailing his life up to the Smiths' split in 1987 is the best part, the entire book is essential for any fan of the man and his music. My review can be read at the link below --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-set-boy-free-johnny-marr.html

[rnrchemist]

My newest book review is of this warm, intimate, and charming biography of Janis Joplin written by her younger sister Laura. You can read it at the link below --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-love-janis.html

[rnrchemist]

A pretty good new book takes a scholarly look at the various avant garde influences that made their way into the Beatles' music in the 1960s. Click the link below for my review --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-beatles-and-avant-garde.html

[rnrchemist]

My newest book review is on a book that at first looked very interesting to me, but turned out to be a massive disappointment. What should've been a fresh, new look at Lennon and McCartney's friendship in the decade after the Beatles ended up being a limp rehash of what's already known, focusing far too much on Lennon and hardly at all on McCartney. Warning: I get pretty mean in my review, too...this book made me angry with how bad it was! You can read what I thought about it at the link below --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-come-together-lennon-and.html

[rnrchemist]

Better late than never! My review of the excellent Billy Joel concert I went to in Boston a few weeks ago. You can read my review at the link below --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/08/concert-review-billy-joel-at-fenway.html

[rnrchemist]

This is the absolute ultimate reference book on Pink Floyd's career. Everything they ever did during each day of their career is chronicled here. If you're a Floyd fan, you need this book. My book review is at the link below! http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-complete-pink-floyd.html

[rnrchemist]

Some random thoughts as my wife and I get ready to take our kids to their first Major League Baseball game next week. http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/07/take-me-out-to-ballgame.html

[rnrchemist]

Here's my review of Paul McCartney's concert in Hershey the other night...a fantastic performance! http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/07/rockshow-part-2-paul-mccartney-live-at.html

[rnrchemist]

My book review of the hilarious and thought-provoking quasi-autobiography form the one of kind genius that was Frank Zappa. Review is at the link below. Enjoy! http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-real-frank-zappa-book.html

[rnrchemist]

The long awaited (by some, I hope!) next entry in my series of articles where I try to choose the ONE song from each of my favorite bands that I feel encapsulates everything I love about them. Hope you enjoy it!

[rnrchemist]

Commissioned by his estate, this tribute to the late, legendary Keith Moon of the Who is a nice little book and a fitting appreciation of the man who revolutionized rock drumming and was to the drums what Hendrix was to the guitar. You can read my review of the book at the link below! http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-tribute-to-keith-moon-there.html

[rnrchemist]

Since its publication in 1981, Shout! has been one of the most polarizing Beatles books ever written. I had long agreed with the assessment of most fellow fans, but it had been so long since I'd read it that I decided to give it another chance and read it afresh before writing this review. Additionally, having just recently reviewed (and mostly enjoyed) author Philip Norman's biographies of both John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it only seemed fitting to go back to the book that first gave him notoriety in the Beatles fan community all those years ago. Did my opinion change? Read my review at the link below to see! http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-shout-beatles-in-their.html