So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star: How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer's Life

Rating:
Summary: Amazing book!
Review: This is a great book and an easy read! I was very familiar with both Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic, so the book was especially interesting for me. However, even if I never heard a note from either group I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I thought I knew everything about the music business, but I was wrong! This book is not a "downer" by any means though. It's exiting, funny, surprising, and educational all the way through. I'm no writer, so if my review sucks I'm sorry. I just wanted to say how much I loved this book! Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: "photo", "tough", "toe"
Review: This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. Ever since I read this book, I've been concentrating on and critiquing the drums when I hear a song playing on the radio now. I never really isolated the song's drumming before this book. I also find myself wondering if the bands whose songs I hear on the radio are happy with their selection of singles being released or their whole situation at their labels.

The internal dialogue at the photo session (and also throughout the entire book, for that matter) was one of my favorite parts of the book. I was reading it in a waiting room and was laughing when they called my name. In the interest of protecting future laughter and discovery for those who haven't read the book yet, I will only say it had to do with "photo", "tough", and "toe."

Beware of reading the first chapter - you won't be able to put it down. He has such a talent for cleverly putting thoughts and feelings about life after college that and truly wanting to make it.

(Also, I'm guessing that your Sound-scan numbers obsession has now grown to include the star ratings of your book. Here's to another 5-star!)

Rating:
Summary: Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll...
Review: Well, not really. But one out of three isn't bad. Unlike many tell all rock books, this book is smartly written and really gives the reader an insight into the inner workings of what it takes to get an artist's work heard on the radio. This book talks about all the work, financial cost, and luck involved in getting to the top. (not to mention talent!) Just being good is not enough. Jacob walks us through his own thoughts and insecurities as he goes from playing in bars to the top of the charts and back. If you are looking for the down and dirty party world of rock, this is not the book you are looking for. If you want to know the workings of the music industry from the drummer's eye view, than this is your book!

Rating:
Summary: THE Best Rock Bio I've Read
Review: What a great book! A very entertaining and well-written look at the record industry via Semisonic's drummer. Slichter's wildy amusing anecdotes from the road and the process of scoring a hit single are detailed vividly in this book. And what is amazing is that there is nary one story about drugs, groupies or any other decadence on the road - yet it still managed to hold my interest! Slichter is the Woody Allen of rock, spending much of his time consumed with doubt and fear regarding his success, his looks, etc - a total neurotic! This book inspired me to break out my Feeling Strangely Fine CD and rip it to my ipod! This CD was the soundtrack to my college graduation and ensuing move to NYC in '98 and I forgot just how great it is! I also puchased both the other Semisonic CDs on Amazon - go Jake!