Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music Paperback – 1 April 2000

Molto interessante per chi ama musica particolare, e non solo dal lato dell'ascolto ma anche da quello della sua storia. Quasi tutti i musicisti di cui si parla qui dentro sono un gusto acquisito e spesso sgradevoli per un orecchio non allenato, uno su tutti Jandek (che anche l'autore del libro trova inascoltabile), e conoscerne la storia è una buona introduzione all'ascolto. Il libro non è dettagliato quanto si vorrebbe, ma la nutrita bibliografia alla fine rivela spunti interessanti. Da un punto di vista stilistico, Chusid scrive con ironia e humor, il che rende la lettura scorrevole, piacevole e per nulla accademica. Per chi conoscesse la radio indipendente americana WFMU, Chusid è uno degli speaker storici. D'altronde, se avete un po' di esperienza con la WFMU potrete trovare più accessibile la musica di cui si parla qui dentro.Che io sappia l'unica edizione di questo libro è quella in inglese, quindi è quella che otterrete. Dato che il libro è stato pensato in parallelo ad una raccolta di CD e a un sito [...] prenderlo da solo senza questi ultimi è limitante. Siate avvertiti che se pure il libro vi piacerà facilmente detesterete una buona frazione dei musicisti di cui parla. Mettiamola così: perché siate interessati all'uno e agli altri dovete avere un rapporto personale e particolare con la musica in senso lato e con chi la fa. Da quello che ho visto su internet, quasi tutti quelli che apprezzano l'outsider music sono a loro volta musicisti. Una certa apertura mentale è necessaria in ogni caso, e se mai farete ascoltare quei CD ad amici meno disponibili di voi le reazioni tipiche saranno "questa musica è noiosa/fastidiosa/fa ridere/è fatta male". Se dopo tutte questa avvertenze questo genere ancora vi incuriosisce invece di scoraggiarvi potreste aver trovato qualcuno dei vostri futuri artisti preferiti. Benvenuti all'outsider music.PS Mi piacerebbe conoscere qualcuno che condivide la mia passione per questo genere, quindi se il libro e i CD vi sono piaciuti vi invito a contattarmi!

I have been familiar with Irwin Chusid since I was listening to his "Attrocious Music Show" on New Jersey's WFMU - a pioneering independent free-form radio station. Listening to his show opened my ears and my mind to an alternative universe of "outsider music", which is the subject of this book, and its companion CD's.Chusid is a good story teller with a great sense of humor. The book is a very funny read. Unlike some other compilations or books on the subject matter, however, Chusid does not sneer with a superior attitude, but rather he has a sincere admiration for these individualists, who in countless different ways pursued their unique muses. This book is a celebration of their curious achievements. A couple of these are fairly well known (Tiny Tim, Daniel Johnston), whereas others are totally obscure, and in one case no recordings have ever surfaced. More than a few of these artists have been challenged with mental health problems to various degrees. Almost all have been thoroughly rejected and ignored by the music industry, but they all persevered and followed their own muses. Chusid clearly has done a lot of work to research this obscure subject matter.Despite this commonality, the music and the biographies span an incredible diversity. This is one of the main appealing aspects of outsider art; that the scope is so much broader than the average consumer of commercial media will experience.Long-time admirers of outsider art, such as myself, will very much enjoy this book and CD's. Newcomers to the subject will find it a very useful guide for an introduction. Even people with only a passing interest will find this an amusing read.There is an accompanying 2 volume CD featuring many of the artists discussed in the book, and it is a crucial complement.  Songs in the Key of Z, Vol. 1-2 . Please see my review of the CD - http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews?ie=UTF8&action=preview .Both the book and CD are very highly recommended. Songs in the Key of Z, Vol. 1-2

I've been wanting this for ages after finding the album which accompanies this on Spotify. The best, maybe only book about outsider music. I've only read the first 2 chapters, really enjoying it so far.

This book is truly a rarity. Chusid vividly tells the tales of the most incompetant, inept musicians in history with a genuine love and affection that makes this book a true joy to read. It may be my very favorite book of all time.The concept of "outsider music" is one that I have embraced for years. While I don't deny liking some classical music and traditional album rock (Dire Straits, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc.), I have always had a place in my heart for the struggling artists that just don't seem to (and never will) get it (like The Shaggs), others that DO get it, they just mock the norm (Brave Combo, PDQ Bach, etc.) and that peculiar group that are seemingly from Mars (Jandek, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy), that possibly get it, but are a so far beyond the norm that nobody pays attention to them.This book is an unabashed celebration of ineptitude and (seeming) insanity. It is not to be missed, but when purchasing please make sure to buy the CD as well so you can grasp what he is talking about. Of particular note is the section on the famous MSR Song-Poems (where you send them $100 and your lyrics and they record your song) which, to me is the ultimate in outsider music.I couldn't put it down. I can't recommend it strongly enough. Buy this book. Do it now!

While this book is a bit old and some of the outsiders are not exactly obscure (Syd Barrett, Captain Beefheart), it's comprehensive and fun. I like that he acknowledges the nuttiness factor frankly and with humor but in an affectionate way that we fans of this genre tend to have. I don't think it comes off as too snarky or condescending, and that's tough to do in this area. I think that those of us who love this stuff (and not everyone loves say, Daniel Johnston) will dig this.He also puts the 'outsider' genre in context, referencing Art Brut and publications like Raw Vision, which is a nice way to frame this instead of just saying this is for jaded hipsters to laugh at. I happen to find Daniel Johnston quite moving in his own odd way. For many, he's an acquired taste.Overall, I think this is just the right take on this subject.