The Smiths' Meat is Murder: 5 (33 1/3)

I've loved all of the 33 1/3 books I've read so far - ...The Village Green Preservation Society, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Forever Changes, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Sign'O'the Times, Endtroducing... - but this is my favourite one thus far. Joe Pernice is a sometime poet and the driving force behind some of the greatest records of the last decade - from his work with Scud Mountain Boys (Big Star meets The Smiths with a knowledge of alt-country), on to his solo work, his band The Pernice Brothers and the Chap-Skyline side-project worth investigating for his New Order cover. As other reviews have pointed out this isn't a track by track analysis as some of the 33 1/3 books are - if you want that kind of music writing, best read a Smiths book by Johnny Rogan. Pernice writes an autobiographical piece located in the US in the 1980s - a stunning reminder of that history and the spirit of the age. Meat is Murder is the background to his life, or his life is the background to Meat is Murder as he falls in love and someone's beaten up and he learns to play bass and I smoke cos I hope for an early death and he suffers the high school ritual...Pernice does mention the record lots, whether nodding to lines from MIM in a style akin to Douglas Coupland's Smiths-allusions in 'Girlfriend in a Coma' , or to posit the importance of the Smiths in his life. The scene where his mother misunderstands them is hilarious and reminded me of a time when my parents were shocked and made me play There is a Light...at a barbie - couldn't quite believe what they were hearing (though I suspect the Moz resonated - coming from the same dull 1960s and films like Billy Liar and Saturday Night Sunday Morning). Meat is Murder proves to be a revelation to Joe as he forms a band and begins to connect with others and connects with his fantasy, Alison...& Pernice and other characters display anglophile aspects that show how similar we are - if anyone wants to know why the Smiths are universal, look no further. Pernice mentions other British acts too - The Cure, The Clash, Japan, Kate Bush, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Furs...but The Smiths ruled!!! This book around Meat is Murder is a bold move for this series and shows that music criticism can really be anything - on the strength of this I hope Joe attempts a novel soon. Just 70-something pages long, but had me having Proustian recollections of a High School I never went to. This sits well alongside the aforementioned Coupland book, early Bret Easton Ellis, & 'Bright Lights Big City.' My favourite 33 1/3 book so far...would love to write one myself, possibly on Sulk. Or Songs to Remember. Or Cut. Or A Trip to Marineville. Or Fire of Love. Or..."I've seen this happen in other people's lives and now it's happening in mine..."

well written and comprehensive account of this great album

Thank you

Great little story

Like other reviewers, I'm a fan of the 33 1/3 series, although I'm picky about the eras I am interested in. Of all the ones I've read, this is the most abstracted from the actual subject title. Its a story, a kind of teenage angsty affair which could almost be a script for Permanent Record or an 80's teen flick. Maybe that's exactly what Joe Pernice was trying to achieve..if so....full Mark's. I picked up the Siouxsie and the Banshees Peep Show one the other day and started reading the intro. It seemed to be taking that album at a wacky angle. Maybe the editors think people have got bored with the more straight ahead delve into the music...which let's face it..is what I buy the books for. I hope this is not going to be the new trend. As a short story this one...I get it...an album can soundtrack your life...but the album doesn't get a major role in this movie. Possibly the wrong book cover was added during printing. Someone else reviewed this and made comparisons with Morrissey's own stab at writing a novel. Perhaps Joe was paying tribute to the Mozzer...or maybe taking the P*as. Joe's is a lot easier to read with less literary acrobatics. There are passing references to Smith's songs and the sublime bass lines of Andy Rourke (I'm with you on that). I noticed the cover price is £6.99 not the usual £9.99 for it. Everyone seems to be charging £9.99. Perhaps that's an indication of the perceived value of it..or a deception or some complacency on behalf of retail world. To be fair, the author does point out on the very first page that it is a work of fiction, and it is the black sheep of the 33 1/33 family. That Joke isn't funny anymore........Caveat Emptor.....

Unfortunately this book is not of the 33/3 series standard which is normally great. The author has decided to write a small semi autobiographical novel, which is on par with Morrisseys "List of the Last". The story is set in Boston, its set during his college years, and is pretty dull, ring any bells? The album "Meat is Murder" is hardly referenced, nor the band The Smiths. This is such a shame as the album is such s gem. It was the only Smiths album to reach No.1 in the UK album charts, and for me was never bettered.

Being a fan of other books in this series, this really disappointed me. This is a work of fiction and only includes passing mentions of the album it was meant to be about. The author has a good writing style, but it felt to me that he'd written a short story/novella, then was given the chance to have it published so bolted in a few Smiths references to meet the criterion of his remit from the publishers. Not what I was expecting!

I am not a fan of Joe Pernice's music needing to like the book too. I'm not a fan of the music. The book though really is excellent. People write reviews of funny novels saying how often they laughed but I don't agree. This book though was hilarious. Don't expect a run-down of the songs as in my 2nd favourite of this series, on 'There's A Riot Goin' On'. It's not so specific. It's more a better version of the still good 33 1/3 book on 'Let It Be' (By Replacements.)