Fails to Stir It Up
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Undoubtebly one of the most iconic figures of the twentieth century, Bob Marley's rise from his Trench Town roots to the release of Catch a Fire on Island Records is covered here in Christopher Farley's biographical account. Whilst the author's love and interest in his subject is not in question, having read this book I feel that the reader does not become fully engaged with who Bob Marley really is. Farley is a little too narrative with his account with Bob Marley's life and fails to really explore the psyche of Bob Marley. Having read this book I feel I am more aware of the conditions in which Bob Marley grew up and his troubles at breaking into the music industry but am still left wanting as to who the man was behind the music and what his views were on the social struggles that he so frequently wrote about.
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BIG TINGS A GWAN FOR YOUNG BOB
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Well-written, entertaining, illuminating, engrossing and intelligent, this is a must-have book for anyone who loves reggae music, and for anyone who wants to find out more about the formative years of the man behind the myth.
This book will doubtless enter into the pantheon of great music biographies. Farley brings to his subject a deftness of touch and a fluid, anecdotal style, not to mention a gargantuan knowledge of the socio-political context of the music, together with a razor-sharp clarity of vision.
Farley is clearly in awe of his subject, but does not genuflect before him, retaining the correct critical and aesthetic distance. He also feels every lilting rhythm and harmonious melody of the music which he writes about, and manages to convey that passion with aplomb.
Farley's grasp of the material is exemplary, and the narrative he gives us is concise yet powerful. We are left at the end wanting him to write the subsequent chapters in the Marley life, a chapter we are far more familiar with.
Out of deference to the memory of a true musical genius and a towering social and racial luminary, and also Farley's consummate skill as a biographer, big tings deserve to gwan for this book!
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