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Love Goes To Buildings On Fire: Five Years In New York That Changed Music Forever by Will Hermes
storiesofsilva's review
4.0
This is a really great, fascinating, complete overview of the 1973-1977 New York music scene. Going into this book, I thought it would only give a cursory description of the more well-known venues and artists, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did Hermes cover almost every genre of music present in New York at the time year-by-year, but he also detailed important cultural and political changes of the time. (For example, he would go from describing a concert at CBGB's to street artists working on their masterpiece and even to the New York Mayoral elections.)
I would offer two caveats:
1) you should probably be somewhat familiar with the music mentioned in the book, because when Hermes mentions that a young Thurston Moore attended several shows that he talks about, you should probably realize that this was a major inspiration to Sonic Youth
2) be ready for a pretty fast-changing narrative. Hermes tries to keep everything in chronological order, which means a lot of jumping back and forth between music scenes, artists, dates, etc.
I recommend listening to Spotify playlists of all the material mentioned in the book to complete your experience reading "Love Goes to Buildings On Fire".
I would offer two caveats:
1) you should probably be somewhat familiar with the music mentioned in the book, because when Hermes mentions that a young Thurston Moore attended several shows that he talks about, you should probably realize that this was a major inspiration to Sonic Youth
2) be ready for a pretty fast-changing narrative. Hermes tries to keep everything in chronological order, which means a lot of jumping back and forth between music scenes, artists, dates, etc.
I recommend listening to Spotify playlists of all the material mentioned in the book to complete your experience reading "Love Goes to Buildings On Fire".
rld1727's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the format of this one. I’ve read a lot about a number of the people in this book, but never in a way that really drove home what was happening at the same time. The choppiness that some other reviewer’s have mentioned was a huge positive for me—it added to the sense of time and chronology in a way that I’ve not encountered before. Extremely cool read!
loujoseph's review
4.0
I liked that it covered everything- i've heard plenty of books about ny punk from the 70s and some about the beginnings of hip-hop but it was really interesting to weave everything together- salsa, jazz, classical, even bruce springsteen and bob dylan and others passing through. (that stuff helped make patti smith make more sense to me now.) the author inserted himself in there just enough for some perspective without making it all about himself- a tricky line to walk. also liked that he mentioned things like going to see led zeppelin (of course you'd go if you could, no matter what's going on in your city..) would have liked the epilogue to be a little more in depth, maybe more about why punk died in the city, spread around the county and then came back in the 00's, (he makes is sound like it just re-appeared for no reason) but, a minor complaint.
benjamin_oc's review
4.0
Will Hermes’s Love Goes to Buildings on Fire surveys the music created in New York City from 1973 to 1977. Punk, salsa, disco, classical, hip hop, jazz, avant garde, rock—Hermes gets into all of it. While it isn’t an exhaustive history of any single genre, it is a fascinating portrait of a city fostering a creative boom as it literally falls apart.
amalady's review
3.0
a very comprehensive approach to 70s NYC scene, music, writing, art, poetry, dance, street life, etc. Tied much music history together for me.
jamesonfink's review
4.0
This is practically a reference book for those looking to explore the music scene in New York from the early to late 70s. I wish I would have jotted down notes of bands, musicians, and songs while reading. (Idiot.) It gives equal consideration to jazz, salsa, hip hop, and more in great detail. Love Goes to Buildings on Fire, of course delves into CBGB so there's plenty about Patti Smith and Talking Heads.
Would be a five-star rating but I didn't enjoy the format of the book where one page(ish) would focus on a musician or genre/scene then completely shift gears to a totally different area. Too manic and jumpy; would rather of had these vignettes strung together. It was interesting to note the author grew up in New York City at the time and had many first-person memories. They, however, seemed shoehorned in. I'd be interested in reading them as a separate treatment.
Would be a five-star rating but I didn't enjoy the format of the book where one page(ish) would focus on a musician or genre/scene then completely shift gears to a totally different area. Too manic and jumpy; would rather of had these vignettes strung together. It was interesting to note the author grew up in New York City at the time and had many first-person memories. They, however, seemed shoehorned in. I'd be interested in reading them as a separate treatment.
bahoulie's review
2.0
From Slate contributors best books 2012
This man has written for Rolling Stone for years. I expected the story of the NYC music scene 1973-1977 to be woven into a truly interesting tale. Instead it was just: this artist played with that artist at such and such a venue. Next. Super disappointing. Gave up about 1/2 way through.
This man has written for Rolling Stone for years. I expected the story of the NYC music scene 1973-1977 to be woven into a truly interesting tale. Instead it was just: this artist played with that artist at such and such a venue. Next. Super disappointing. Gave up about 1/2 way through.