Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on Jan 8, 2012 15:37:04 GMT
“ELOQUENT BASILISK” by Ken Brooks
Taking its name from the fabled lizard that could kill with one glance and a reference by Patricia Kennealy 'Eloquent Basilisk' gives a modern perspective to Jim Morrison and The Doors and attempts to re-evaluate all their work.
Opening with a recollection by the author of a brief meeting with Jim at the Roundhouse and a regret that he had not paid more attention.
Then moving twenty years into the future as Brooks pays his respects to the Paris Jim Morrison knew before taking off on a chronological journey through the history of The Doors and their six crucial studio dates with destiny.
Examining the links with the thoughts behind the music and those that inspired such thoughts Brooks analyses, in slightly more interesting detail than the similar but dull ‘Artistic Vision’, every Doors song.
Touching on many of the events that followed Jim’s death such as the Doors trio, Rays solo projects, Apocalypse Now and the Doors movie Brooks looks at the legacy of Jim Morrison and his influence on today’s music scene including the continuing strength of the band as a marketable commodity such as the recent Doors Box Set.
Its not a bad effort but sadly the book never seems to raise itself above the pack preferring to wallow in the same tried and tired formulae of its many predecessors.
Quoting several of the usual dubious sources in its background look at The Doors it disappoints on several levels.
First of all its superficial look at the poetry and songs of Jim Morrison and also its inability to look beyond the hype that has been built up around the band over the last twenty years by some of those closest to Jim.
Brooks looks more for the obvious and avoids the interesting so consigning his work to the myriad other books about Jim and The Doors that fail to really get to grips with a subject that deserves better.
The book contains no startling conclusions and contains little in the way of understanding as to why Jim was the way he was but is interesting enough to warrant a read.
Alex Patton Scorpywag Fanzine rating 7/10 worth a look
Taking its name from the fabled lizard that could kill with one glance and a reference by Patricia Kennealy 'Eloquent Basilisk' gives a modern perspective to Jim Morrison and The Doors and attempts to re-evaluate all their work.
Opening with a recollection by the author of a brief meeting with Jim at the Roundhouse and a regret that he had not paid more attention.
Then moving twenty years into the future as Brooks pays his respects to the Paris Jim Morrison knew before taking off on a chronological journey through the history of The Doors and their six crucial studio dates with destiny.
Examining the links with the thoughts behind the music and those that inspired such thoughts Brooks analyses, in slightly more interesting detail than the similar but dull ‘Artistic Vision’, every Doors song.
Touching on many of the events that followed Jim’s death such as the Doors trio, Rays solo projects, Apocalypse Now and the Doors movie Brooks looks at the legacy of Jim Morrison and his influence on today’s music scene including the continuing strength of the band as a marketable commodity such as the recent Doors Box Set.
Its not a bad effort but sadly the book never seems to raise itself above the pack preferring to wallow in the same tried and tired formulae of its many predecessors.
Quoting several of the usual dubious sources in its background look at The Doors it disappoints on several levels.
First of all its superficial look at the poetry and songs of Jim Morrison and also its inability to look beyond the hype that has been built up around the band over the last twenty years by some of those closest to Jim.
Brooks looks more for the obvious and avoids the interesting so consigning his work to the myriad other books about Jim and The Doors that fail to really get to grips with a subject that deserves better.
The book contains no startling conclusions and contains little in the way of understanding as to why Jim was the way he was but is interesting enough to warrant a read.
Alex Patton Scorpywag Fanzine rating 7/10 worth a look
