Dean Wareham’s indie rock memoir, Black Postcards, was reviewed by two big-deal book review sections this past weekend.
The LA Times handed the book a mostly poor review. The reviewer botched the lyrics to the song “IHOP”, which, of course, makes it easier to reject the entire review out of hand. The reviewer’s assertion that Wareham seems to have written the book to settle “old scores” just seems flat out wrong to me.
The New York Times, on the other hand, had the good taste to have the book reviewed by Liz Phair. Liz Phair! Also a veteran on the 90’s indie rock scene, Phair’s review comes across as very knowledgeable and well written. I didn’t notice the byline until the end of the (very positive) review, and I was stunned. I hope that they’ll be sending more work Ms. Phair’s way soon.
You can read my review of Black Postcards at Largehearted Boy.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I just read that NYT review, and it’s the first decent thing Liz Phair has written in at least ten years. Bravo, Ms. Phair, I can’t wait for the remastered deluxe edition of Exile in Guyville!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Agreed. But the Liz Phair of old might still be in there somehwere.
Best reaction: Flash back to 1994 and tell me that the Exile in Guyville girl would be writing a review of the book by that guy from Galaxie 500 for no less than the Gray Lady of the NY Times, and I would have tried to take away your crack. — Pinky’s Paperhaus
April 7th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Wow, what a flattering sketch the NYT provided her, she must be thrilled.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Yeah, not so hot. Hopefully the Wall Street Journal’s pixel artist will do a better job.