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I was already feeling burnt out on rock lit by the time Continuum started publishing their 33 1/3 series, so it took me a long time to connect with it. Plus Loveless didn’t change my life, and I’d like to never read another word about Pet Sounds. As the series has evolved, though, it’s drawn me in–In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was an interesting case study on the relationship between artist and fan, and Paul’s Boutique had some funny stories about the Beastie Boys being messed up on drugs.
As with most 33 1/3 books, you have to be pretty into the band in order to really get into the book, but I’d recommend that even nonfans check it out just for the part where Dulli lays down the vocals for like half the record in one session while out of his mind on cocaine in an attempt to impress a stripper. Any dude who uses, “Angel, come closer / So the stink of your lies / Sinks into my memory,” as a pickup line is some piece of work.
