Rating: 
Summary: Getting to the heart of wining is more like it!
Review: I bought Mr. Blume's first book, "6 Steps To Successful Songwriting" and absolutely loved it!! So when I saw this book in the bookstore one day, I didn't hesitate to pick it up. I don't know what Mr. Blume's intentions were when he wrote this book, but it came across to me as nothing more than a b***h session on the problems he encountered before becoming a successful songwriter. Unlike his first book, this one had very few (if any) examples and advice on songwriting. If you're looking for a book that's basically a diary of a songwriter, then this is a great book. If you're looking for a book on how to write songs or hoping for a great follow-up to his first book, don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Missing the Mark
Review: I bought this book in the hopes that the author would have suggestions for creative blocks, specific to writing songs. I have read and used Writing Down the Bones and The Artists' Way as a means to combat writing blocks. Blume's book was really misleading and it is not like Writing Down the Bones. It misses the mark when it comes to being a creative guide for writing songs.
There are some useful tips about organizing songs and work material. A few good exercises on setting goals, but I did not find his writing exercises very original or inspiring.
If anything, the book only confirmed that I was going in the right direction, but I was hoping for a more creative guide. I suggest The Artists' Way, over this book, for anyone who is trying to unblock their creativity when it comes to writing new lyrics and searching for new ideas.
Also, he defends writing songs for Brittney Spears and The Backstreet Boys.....not in good taste, nor do I think those songs are the height of creative genius.
Rating:
Summary: Should have been titled "_ Steps to MY Songwriting Success"
Review: I LOVED this book - spent the whole weekend reading and kept getting ideas for new songs as I read. Very inspiring and encouraging. But you need to know that although it includes exercises and lessons this is not a "How To" book. It explores issues of opening yourself up to your fullest creativity, overcoming writers' block, rewriting, and it tells what it's really like to work as a professional songwriter. The chapters about how to get a staff writing deal, finding your identity as an artist, finding a market for your songs, and what to do if your songs are "better than the crap on the radio" were things I really needed to know. I found the book to be very honest and thought provoking. Loved reading about the author's personal experiences and learned much about how to deal with similar situations. The goal setting exercises are helping me to overcome my own roadblocks to success better than anything else I've found. If you need to learn how to structure and craft a song read 6 Steps to Songwriting Success. It's the best songwriting book available for that. But if you're looking for inspiration and lessons that go beneath the surface you'll love this book. The book's message is to be who you are and that you can be successful by writing songs that really come from your heart.
Rating: 
Summary: INSPIRING !!!!
Review: I LOVED this book - spent the whole weekend reading and kept getting ideas for new songs as I read. Very inspiring and encouraging. But you need to know that although it includes exercises and lessons this is not a "How To" book. It explores issues of opening yourself up to your fullest creativity, overcoming writers' block, rewriting, and it tells what it's really like to work as a professional songwriter. The chapters about how to get a staff writing deal, finding your identity as an artist, finding a market for your songs, and what to do if your songs are "better than the crap on the radio" were things I really needed to know. I found the book to be very honest and thought provoking. Loved reading about the author's personal experiences and learned much about how to deal with similar situations. The goal setting exercises are helping me to overcome my own roadblocks to success better than anything else I've found. If you need to learn how to structure and craft a song read 6 Steps to Songwriting Success. It's the best songwriting book available for that. But if you're looking for inspiration and lessons that go beneath the surface you'll love this book. The book's message is to be who you are and that you can be successful by writing songs that really come from your heart.
Rating:
Summary: The exercizes are everything!
Review: I received this book as a gift and it was a truly wonderful gift because it gave me so much hope and inspiration (in addition to information) about writing songs. It tells stories of the author's struggle and eventual success -- and it shows that success is possible with perseverence and hard work. I enjoyed reading about that -- but the real power of this book lies in the exercises. After reading it all the way through, I went back and did most of the exercises; every one of them seemed to spark another song idea or turn on another light bulb. This book tells how much more there is to songwriting than just writing songs -- and how it is possible to make my songs much better. I have also read the author's "6 Steps to Songwriting Success" book and it is excellent for those who want to study the craft and the business.
Rating:
Summary: VERY INSPIRING
Review: I stayed up all night and read this book but now I'm slowly re-reading it and doing the excellent exercises. I keep starting new songs as I'm reading so it's taking a while -- but that's a good thing. This is NOT a "how to" book -- but gives a glimpse into how the author achieved different goals in his career -- often when the doors were tightly shut. I highly recommend this book and found it both interesting and very inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: VERY INSPIRING
Review: I stayed up all night and read this book but now I'm slowly re-reading it and doing the excellent exercises. I keep starting new songs as I'm reading so it's taking a while -- but that's a good thing. This is NOT a "how to" book -- but gives a glimpse into how the author achieved different goals in his career -- often when the doors were tightly shut. I highly recommend this book and found it both interesting and very inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommend this
Review: I thought this book was excellent at giving "inside" information about topics you don't usually learn about. For example: how much to bring in to a collaboration; what to do if you write songs that aren't "commercial," rewriting, believing in yourself, contests, etc. This is not a book that literally will teach you how to write songs. (That's not it's intent. For that, get this author's 6 Steps book - it's the best.) But I enjoyed it very much and found much useful and interesting information.
Rating:
Summary: A "MUST" HAVE
Review: The book was a quick read and I totally enjoyed it - but things really shifted for me when I went back and did the exercises. I wrote two of my best songs as a result of one of the exercises. The author's insights about "Reaction Songs" "Holds" and "Independent Pluggers" really opened my eyes. It gave me a whole new perspective on where the bar is - just how good it has to be and on finding a market for my songs. This book is excellent for someone who knows songwriting basics and is looking to get to the next level.
(PS. If you need to learn the basics, this author's 6 Steps book is definitely the best.)
Rating:
Summary: Shameless
Review: This book is a shameless plug for his other book,which he mentions and footnotes to every other page, as well as his workshops, and CDs. It is not a book about how to write songs, it is a book about a person you've never heard of who writes songs, many of which you've never heard. Truly a waste of time.
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