Rising Stars and Visionaries
“COME AS YOU ARE: THE STORY OF NIRVANA”
By Michael Azerrad
Doubleday, $15
* * * 1/2
It might seem early to devote so many pages to a band that didn’t become famous till two years ago, but this is no typical quickie pop bio. Azerrad’s exhaustive, evenhanded account of the rise of this year’s Times critics-poll winner is the rare tome that really takes you inside both the business and soul of rock ‘n’ roll, providing the lurid details and lucid pop criticism too.
It’s “authorized” and laudatory, but more respectful of Kurt Cobain’s talent than his character; it takes an unflinching look at drug use, and isn’t afraid to call Cobain on hypocrisy or even an occasional lame lyric. Anyone in a fledgling band could stand to read its threats and promises of what happens when slackers become stars.
Items in this periodic survey of pop-related books, videocassettes and laser discs are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).
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