How Music Works Audiobook

" Excellent presentation of how the music industry works. Each chapter can be read in an independent fashion, so even if you're not music-savvy, but are interested in the business of music and the economics of the industry you can still get a lot out of this book. "

" David Byrne obviously has a great deal of knowledge about the music industry and imparts some of his learnings. IMO, this book would have been better as a memoir about the different aspects of music that he covers (performing, recording, collaborating, business earnings, making a scene) . When he speaks from his part, his voice is better and its a much more engaging book. When he gives the history of recorded music, he slips into a prosaic, book report tone. Granted, he claims he has a little bit of Asperger's (which could account for some of the tone), but he actually is much more engaging when speaking from his own experience. And frankly, that what makes him interesting in the first place! "

" Some chapters are better than others. He's got some good insights (no surprise) but gets bogged down in the business (also no surprise.) "

" Among other things, this is interesting wandering narrative showing how the physical constraints of the world (architecture, technology, instruments...) shapes music as we know it. Good mix of how much the author talks about his own music compared to how much he talks about other people's music and music in general. "

" I loved this book. Concise, clear, and honest, Byrne addresses the history of music, why it has evolved to sound like it does, options available to musicians today, why we like music, and the prejudices surrounding music and society's perceptions of "good" and "bad." "

" David Byrne's opinions about, well, How Music Works. He's got a lot of things to say about a lot of things, and they're all worth thinking about. "

" interesting, if a bit of a hodgepodge. The last chapter was dense and barely readable. "

" Can any book explain how music works? This is a decent effort by David Byrne. However, just put on "Naive Melody" and you will realize that, in the end, nothing has been explained. The mystery remains, thank goodness! "

" Great for music nerds. Hopefully someday they'll release a version of the book with links to the music and performances he's talking about. "

" Everything from how music is constructed to how it's transacted. This is a great manual for anyone with a curiosity, from someone who's thought about and seen it all. "

" One of the most fascinating looks at the creative process I have ever read. Byrne also explores the things that impact how and what we create. In his case music, in mine more design and concept. Heinous. "

" . a string of oddball, well-articulated asides about music - everything from the origin of song to what it's like to write songs with brian eno. "

" I'm not an avid talking heads fan, but enjoyed this journey into David Byrne's head. "

" Effortless, great balance of biographical fragment and essays in service of a strongly contextual framework for understanding music. "

" Some real interesting stuff about recording, roots of music, and his own connection with it "

" I approached this book expecting an autobiography, but instead found a lifetime of insight from a true American auteur. Byrne's discussion of his conclusions regarding music are truly illuminating. "

" Essay style exploration into origins of music, modern history of music and the musical career of david Byrne. What's not to like? "

" Some of this was really interesting, some of it dry as a textbook. Uneven, but with some delights. "

" excellent book with many interesting observations. "

" a rambling, sprawling book. this is what happens when musos think they're musicologists or ethnomusicologists and a book devolves into a this-is-how-i-made-music-work-for-me. the title is misleading and the content is just skin-deep. very disappointed. "