Just got back from spending a week in the north-eastern part of Holland with Alice and Bastiaan, where we'd rented a small cottage just outside the middle of nowhere. The peace and quiet resulted in a lot of, apparently much needed, sleep, but I also found time to wade through '
Big bosoms and Square Jaws', the new
Russ Meyer biography by Jimmy McDonough (
Crown). Having passed on Meyer's way too expensive autobio at the time, this is a welcome, and affordable, substitute, not to mention the fact that this goes beyond Russ' own, uh, chestbeating and delivers dissident POV's as well. The story remains a fascinating one of course. I figure you all know the basic out-line, but this book contains a wealth of new (at least to me) information as well. Besides, McDonough is pretty much on the ball often relating Meyer's work to rock'n'roll rather than cinema, plus his writing style is often funny and always to the point. So yes, this gets both thumbs up, even if the pictures are somewhat undersized.
During our trip the carstereo had the
Fleshtones' latest '
beachhead' (
Yep Roc) on heavy rotation. Maybe not the knock-out punch one would have hoped for, what with their thirtieth anniversary due next year, but still a pretty solid offering. Those expecting something new obviously don't have a clue, but longtime fans will agree that '
Bigger And Better', '
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty' and '
I Am What I Am' will make fine additions to the live set. Fingers crossed that Joe Bonomo's long promised book on the band will be ready for next year's festivities.
Just got back from spending a week in the north-eastern part of Holland with Alice and Bastiaan, where we'd rented a small cottage just outside the middle of nowhere. The peace and quiet resulted in a lot of, apparently much needed, sleep, but I also found time to wade through 'Big bosoms and Square Jaws', the new Russ Meyer biography by Jimmy McDonough (Crown). Having passed on Meyer's way too expensive autobio at the time, this is a welcome, and affordable, substitute, not to mention the fact that this goes beyond Russ' own, uh, chestbeating and delivers dissident POV's as well. The story remains a fascinating one of course. I figure you all know the basic out-line, but this book contains a wealth of new (at least to me) information as well. Besides, McDonough is pretty much on the ball often relating Meyer's work to rock'n'roll rather than cinema, plus his writing style is often funny and always to the point. So yes, this gets both thumbs up, even if the pictures are somewhat undersized. 
During our trip the carstereo had the Fleshtones' latest 'beachhead' (Yep Roc) on heavy rotation. Maybe not the knock-out punch one would have hoped for, what with their thirtieth anniversary due next year, but still a pretty solid offering. Those expecting something new obviously don't have a clue, but longtime fans will agree that 'Bigger And Better', 'Pretty, Pretty, Pretty' and 'I Am What I Am' will make fine additions to the live set. Fingers crossed that Joe Bonomo's long promised book on the band will be ready for next year's festivities.
No comments:
Post a Comment