A Kinks book I have just found on Amazon

[colb]

I was just searching on Amazon for books on Genesis and The Kinks and I came across a series called "The Alan's Archive Guide To The Music Of....."

There are quite a few of them and they are a bit meandering and verbose but nevertheless interesting.

They list and discuss every album, official and bootleg by the groups.

I have downloaded books on Genesis, The Kinks, The Stones and a couple of others.

They are mostly £5.99 each, apart from a couple at £2.99 and a few at £3.99, including one by a group I just cannot understand, Dire Straits.  If forced to, at gunpoint, I could listen to "Sultans Of Swing" but there is not one other songs of theirs I can listen to, they dont just leave me told, they repulse me, but hey they were and are very popular so I am sure my opinion of them is not high on their list of items to be worried about

Anyhow, anyone who collects books on The Kinks might want to have a look at them.

You can buy a sampler book with a chapter from each book for £1.77.

[martin53]

Alan does a great job I came across "The Alan's Archive Guide To The Music Of....." a couple of months ago. Excellent!

[colb]

I have bought a few of them. The latest one released is Cat Stevens, always loved his music, saw him live many years ago and he was superb.

[martin53]

Cat Stevens is one of the all time greats.

[mellie]

Colb - I’m amused that you are “repulsed” by Dire Straits. What is it that repulses you?

[colb]

Mellie, I know my my dislike of Dire Straits is illogical. Repulsed is maybe too strong a word, they just leave me cold. I just don't like their songs, think they take themselves far too seriously and don't like Mark Knopler's guitar playing. They are just one of those bands that leave me trying to work out how they became so popular.
I love rock music and feel the same way about The Foo Fighters, I don't like any of their songs and cannot work out how they are so popular, but I have seem Dave Grohl getting interviewed and he sounds really nice and genuine and he was one of Lemmy's best friends so can't be all bad .
So I don't actively dislike The Foo Fighters but I have a passionate dislike of Dire Straits, I love Steely Dan but didn't buy their "Gaucho" album for years cos Knopler played on a track, illogical I know, stupid I know and childish certainly but it's the way I feelI just have a blind spot for Dire Straits but they sold millions and made millions so I doubt they stay awake at night worrying about me not liking them

[mellie]

This cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh. With everything going on, I needed it.

I try to be open to all music, but there are tons of bands/artists that just don’t do anything for me. More like no reaction occurs, as opposed to a negative reaction. However, I am repulsed by Wilco. I loved their early work. Loved! Their musical style changed over time. Generally, I’m okay with artists changing direction/genres. I don’t need them to put out the same album for 30 years. For some reason, I can’t stand their work after ~2006. My body reacts...negatively. It’s almost like a panic attack & I have to turn it off. Because I loved their early work so much, I’ve tried repeatedly to “get into” their later stuff, but my body won’t have it. It’s ridiculous.

[martin53]

I LOVE Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler! The songs are beautifully crafted, positive and have the unmistakeable Mark Knopfler Finger Picking Guitar Style which became his trademark. The band had the right momentum as they appeared at a time when Punk had died, the Disco Wave was slowly fading away and the market was ready for something good, new and fresh. All that plus quality songs explain their popularity.

Foo Fighters leave me cold. Nevertheless I like their „Big Me“, „Learn To Fly “ and „Next Year“ very much. Excellent songs. Dave Grohl is a smart person to be interviewed. I would love to see him as an actor in the foreseeable future, the Foo Fighters videos are funny.

And I extremely dislike the prima donna combo KISS. Any band can play better than them. There’s only one song I take to - „I Was Made For Loving You“ (memories...). However Paul Stanley is one of the most intelligent guys when it comes down to be interviewed. Well-read, down-to-earth and knowing perfectly well what he is talking about.