Rock On: An Office Power Ballad

Anyone who has spent hours pouring over record sleeves will love this comic memoir. Dan Kennedy skewers familiar corporate and rock stereotypes with hipster irony. He is not afraid to lament the end of the traditional record industry.

Honestly, after I got through the "name the executive" game, it just reminded me what a crappy time that was for everyone.

This reads like 200 pages of blog entries with strained-cute lists in between chapters. It reminded me of Office Space, slick rock 'n roll style. The author's meeting with the Donnas is a comedy of (his) errors, but other than that I'd recommend just listening to his NPR interview.

A happy little glimpse into the end times. Read a little choppy, but it was good for the vignettes and the humor.

When the author is simply describing the insanity that was Atlantic Records it's effortlessly great. When he's wrapped up in his own bullshit, it's whiny, ironic sludge. Still, if you worked for the Warner Music Group at the time (as I did), it's a must-read if only to play "spot the executive" to his evasive renaming of the key players

A book about record industry douchebags by....a record industry douchebag.

Nothing we didn't already know, but someone should let Dan Kennedy know that...well...he's the guy we all hate in our meetings. I'm just saying...

It had a few moments, and anyone in the "business" will recognize the archetypes he points out, but overall this just reminded me of everyone in the business who sucks.

I think I've fallen victim to too many stream of consciousness stories to really appreciate what the author is telling. I'm sure this is a good story - I wasn't in the right frame of mind to enjoy it.

Sadly the Gary Baseman cover art doesn't redeem this book.

Being someone who worked in the music industry for a long time AND someone who loves music in general I found this book lame and Dan Kennedy being "that guy". You know, the schmuck with the office who was more concerned with how expensive his desk accessories are and how nice his dress clothes (in the music industry?) are than music. Music is like bleach to those people (ie. they could be selling anything anywhere) and it's sad he lasted as long as he did before he got the boot.

I read this book the same day I saw `the devil wears prada.` There are a few similarities. A neophyte to the business starts out, has some success, has a few adventures, and thens gets out. In `prada` the heroine comes out on top because she chooses to leave the business. In `Rock On` Dan Kennedy is ousted by the bigwigs who are trying to keep the music biz profit margin equal to what it was in the 80`s.

I know this is a memoir, but I`d either like to see more conflict, or have more dirt on the executives. As it was I felt as if I were on a 7 day tour of the music biz, and barely got 1 hour per stop off the bus.

A fun, quick read, but could have had more meat.

Todd Hanson from The Onion calls this book "Hilarious". Todd clearly didn't read this book. It's not funny, it's not interesting. It's a jaded guy with questionable self confidence giving a running commentary on a brief encounter in the music business. He worked for Warner for 18 months. Can you think of any single 18-month period in your life that is worthy of a book? I'm hoping the security guard at the front desk at Warner writes a book about what it's like to watch famous people walk in and out the door. That'll be amazing. Hilarious.