Massive Swelling [Hardcover]

 

 

Create your own review

Why do I dig this book? It's because the names "Joey McIntyre" of the New Kids and "Mark E. Smith" of The Fall were but pages apart. I could only imagine the hapless aging New Kid (McIntyre) cowering in terror at the sight of a wizened Mancunian bloke (Smith) shambling towards him and murmuring some bollocks about co-optation by the media.
Seriously, Mark E. Smith as described by Ms. Wilson, is a sorry portrait. It reminded me of the day I fell out of love with a local hero celebrity of mine: Mark Ashwill of the Spitters. Ashwill and his band were so engergetic in their prime that I always went to a show just to be in their "halo." I expected every show to be an epiphanous "life-changing" experience. The last time I saw their flailing frames on stage, it was just that: life-changing. It just wasn't the epiphany I expected.
This last show I saw was at the Continental, on 3rd Av. and St. Mark's in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The other three original Spitters - besides Mark - were absent. Whether they were dismissed or they departed on their own, I'll never know. In thier place were a bassist and a drummer: Both young, skinny and nervous. They visibly reared away as Ashwill careened about: replicating his old physical shtick for the umpteenth time. They couldn't complete a single song. Ashwill would bark and rant, hurl his mic stand at the crowd (Punk RAWK, dude... ungh.) He slammed into the drum kit and bellowed, "EVERYTHING'S BREAKING! EVERYTHING'S BREAKING!" He continued howling that phrase even after he tore the XLR cable out of the mic. Towards the end, he met the crowds stare with a hang-dog expression that asked: This isn't even fun for you, is it? I looked to my left and my right and we all had the same sad mask, as if to say: Just end this.
The Spitters shambled off the stage with no applause, cheering, jeering or hisses. Only a wash of feedback to announce the show was over. Canned music came over the PA as some of the crowd wandered to the bar and others stepped out into the night. None of us had anything positive or negative to say about the show. None of us said a word, but it was clear we were heart broken.
That show was the last time I went down to the Village for pleasure or excitement. I'm not gonna be pretentioius and say rock died that day, but that was definitely the day I fell out of love with it.
Three years later, Mark Ashwill died of lung cancer. I was completely unaware of his condition until I read an obituary for him in the Village Voice. Rock music lost all its glamour for me long before his death, that night at the Continental. I still think it's fun, but I no longer wish to bask in any celebrity halo: Whether it's a Local Hero or an International Superstar.

It is embarassing how seriously Americans take the culture of celebrity and the media. One of the many reasons we are the world laughing stock. This book is finny, sad and an oh so improtant look at ourselves as Americans and as people. I am a grubby little nobody unfamous person, so I guess this reviwew won't get read anyway.

In the world of super-hype and fame worship, in a time when all you have to do to prove yourself 'worthy' is to become famous sounds a voice of reason. That voice belongs to Cintra Wilson. Her book is a biting, honest, hilarious and overall amazing look at what the culture of fame has done to us as a society. From the seemingly innocent to the downright scary, all aspects of the need for fame and fortune is brought to light.
Cintra has no fear of stepping on toes or calling things what they really are. This is a great book for anyone who wants to see beyond the marketing and understand what the world of Hollywood is really all about.

"Celebrity is a virulent killer of fundamental human values, and unless Southern California goes up in a shiny moshroom cloud on Judgement Day, the only way to control it is to quit believing in it...
We must stop believing that famous people are better and more beautiful and interesting than other people. They're not. They're just like other human beings, only advertised, massively into major leading brands, like dog food or shaving cream."

-Cintra Wilson

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 38 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Two thumbs up.
Surprisingly witty and hilarious. A must read.

Published on Aug 26 2003 by Theresa

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I want to think that this book had more impact when it was published a whole 3 years ago. I found the experience of reading it to be painful after the first few pages of the... Read more

Published on July 28 2003 by A. Petrovato

5.0 out of 5 stars Waxing Off
This book inspires me to wax poetic like Eminem rapping while he gets "the boys" waxed!! I mean it, this is the full-theatrical release of something ol' Em might have spent... Read more

Published on July 10 2003 by barbarena

5.0 out of 5 stars Funniest book I've ever read
This book keep me laughing from start to finish. I found Ms. Wilson's writing style to be easy to read and visual.
Wish that she would write another book.

Published on Jun 11 2003 by Sandra

2.0 out of 5 stars Massively Unsatisfying
Cintra Wilson is a hilarious writer. There's no doubt about it. She takes on her topic with scathing snark. Read more

Published on April 25 2003

3.0 out of 5 stars All sorts of dropplings.
I give the book three out of five stars because of the easy reading, not for the quality of the material. Read more

Published on Mar 19 2003

1.0 out of 5 stars A Massive Mediocrity
Cindra Wilson hates Celine Dion and the New Kids on the Block. Gee, she sure has carved out a unique niche. Read more

Published on Mar 16 2003 by Justin Martin

5.0 out of 5 stars Merry Mocking Mencken-Moderne - Marvellous!
First reading H.L. Mencken - Prejudices, First Series - way back in grad school, I felt as though I were under rhetorical and ideational assault. Read more

Published on Feb 14 2003 by Paul Frandano

4.0 out of 5 stars Starts brilliantly, fades to black
Wilson's razor-sharp commentary cuts apart why-celebs such as Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand, examining how they became famous at the expense of our culture. Read more

Published on Aug 23 2002 by J. Gifford

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulosity, thy name is cintra wilson.
i missed out on this book when it was first released, and the fact that i stumbled upon it at all seems to have been the result of some sort of divine providence. Read more

Published on Aug 12 2002 by beppo38

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 38 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!