Traveling Music : The Soundtrack to My Life and Times
by Neil Peart
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Book Summary Information
Author: Neil PeartEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-09-01
ISBN: 1550226649
Number of pages: 440
Publisher: ECW Press
Book Reviews of Traveling Music : The Soundtrack to My Life and Times
Book Review: An interesting individual
Summary: 4 Stars
I've admired Neil Peart for years, not only because he's the amazing drummer of an excellent band, but because he's such an interesting individual as well. And not only is he the writer of a couple of bestsellers, but he's the group lyricist also, an unusual duty for a drummer. Neil's the type of person one might think lives an existence of perfection, bordering unadulterated fantasy, until one learns of the tragedy that had so rudely entered into his life a while back. Losing a spouse and a child within a year of each other is more than enough for anyone to have to experience. Life holds the intricate ability to shine brightly one day, but cast absolute darkness the next. It's good to see that Neil was eventually able to get his life back together, and new love into it as well. He's definitely a survivor.
`Traveling Music' speaks a little of that adjustment, where his earlier book, `Ghost Rider', had left off. But this story is more about his life between stage shows, and what he does to occupy himself after the music's over. Neil captivatingly describes his motorcycle jaunts across America, Africa as well. His keen judgment has taught him that roughing it can bring him to respect the good life, when he returns to it, even more. It's amazing that he opts to sit atop his bike instead of riding in the band bus or airplane, and sometimes takes it upon himself to travel to the next show.
Viewing the book before purchasing it, I immediately discovered how interesting it would be to read about an individual such as Neil, talking about the CDs in his stereo while driving around in his new sports car. I wish more professional musicians would do that, and provide us with their opinions on the music of others as they live their lives.
I only had a couple of problems with the book. At one point, when Neil spoke of a fellow traveler, and how unintelligent he perceived the man to be ... I had trouble with that. He belittled him because of his blatant opinion on homosexuality. Granted, the individual he described did come across as a tad slow witted, but I feel that people should be more tolerant of other people's beliefs and opinions, especially when religion is involved. We all have a right to our own beliefs, and everybody should respect that.
The other thing was the music Neil spoke of, and played in his car stereo. I enjoyed it when he talked of great talent that often went unnoticed, or unappreciated, such as Vertical Horizon and the Tragically Hip, especially the latter, as I'm a big fan of the Hip, and have been for years. He spoke of, and played many CDs of Frank Sinatra. In fact, he went on and on about Old Blue Eyes, and others as well, such as the boy band, 98°, Madonna, and the Beach Boys. He also wrote of performers I enjoy a lot, such as The Who, Linkin Park, Coldplay, and Jeff Buckley. I just couldn't help feeling, especially because he's such a talented musician from a progressive rock band, that he pays way too much attention to pop music. His taste came across as somewhat shallow to me. Though there's nothing wrong with the entertainers he spoke of, he didn't seem to be aware of the fact that there's so much real talent out there today, extraordinarily deep talent. Neil appears to be missing the boat on it all. Madonna? C'mon Neil, what about Sarah McLachlan, Norah Jones, Dianna Krall? Oh ... They're not Pop. Though all music can be considered traveling music, Neil's selection is more what one might hear on an AM radio, not the diverse CD player of an alleged tasteful, progressive rock musician.
I did find it quite interesting, though, to read about his admiration for the drumming of Keith Moon, Buddy Rich, and others. But what about the drumming of Matt Cameron, Matt Sorum, Steve Gadd, Dan Gottlieb, etc.?
But all things considered, the book was a fairly good read. It made me look forward to the next Rush concert all the more, and seeing an awesome band once again, whose members work together as a fine-tuned machine, even though the drummer doesn't appear to have much to do with the other members once the show is over.
Summary of Traveling Music : The Soundtrack to My Life and Times
The music of Frank Sinatra, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and many other artists provides the score to the reflections of a musician on the road in this memoir of Neil Peart's travels from Los Angeles to Big Bend National Park. The emotional associations and stories behind each album Peart plays guide his recollections of his childhood on Lake Ontario, the first bands that he performed with, and his travels with the band Rush. The evocative and resonant writing vividly captures the meanderings of a musical mind, leading rock enthusiasts to discover inside information about Rush and the musical inspirations of a rock legend.
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