Authors and Bands
 

I keep wanting to ask this question but keep thinking it's already been asked, maybe even by me, a while ago. If it has, sorry, did the search but couln't find anything. So anyway ...

When reading certain authors, do you tend to want to listen to certain types of music? An obvious one would be something like listening to BeBop while reading one of the Beats. Obviously, this being a SY board, is there an author you associate with them? I know people mention PKD and William Gibson a lot, but I've only really seen how that might work for maybe two or three of their albums. What about other bands. Shellac, for example. Or authors like J.G Ballard or Irving Welsh? Anyway, I'm sure there's a question (or four) in there somewhere

joy division references j.g. ballard.

what other bands aside from sonic youth mention william gibson (aside from billy idol)? i'm interested.

My initial thought on this was 'well, I wouldn't associate any writer with the music I listen to - it takes a while to read a book, and I'll put on a fair few records in the meantime'. But then ... ah! But then I realised that I've been reading a lot of theological texts, and quite a bit about early > medieval society. And, strangely enough, I've been listening to a lot of early/ revivalist stuff, and also plenty of liturgical chants/ masses. Strange that you should make me notice that. Skills.

Stooges, The Fall-Irvine Welsh
Velvets, Stooges, Metal Machine Music, The Godz, Mingus-Lester Bangs
Phillip K. Dick-Throbbing Gristle
William S. Burroghs-Merzbow, Violent Onsen Geisha, Masonna, C.C.C.C., all that bondage ultra extreme japanoise

the only time i read and listen to music at the same time is on public transport and i put on my headphones to block out distracting sounds so i can concentrate on the book, i'm utterly incapable of multi-tasking and paying attention to two things at once is far beyond my abilities.

yeah i can rarely read and listen to music at the same time. i'm the same way with studying.

actually yeah me too, i usually read in quiet, but when i have listened to music, or if iwas listening to music, while reading, it would be that stuff.

Yeah, same.

Whitehouse and the Marquis de Sade
Girls Aloud and Hustler
The Cramps and any issue of "Psychotronic" film mag
Avril Lavinge and "Mein Kampf"

I can't listen to anything with lyrics while reading, it's too much for my head

Usually I read in silence but Miles, Sketches of Spain...I use to read with that on, beautiful record

Yes, lyrics will interfere with the written words you are reading, as far as I'm concerned I enjoy listening to classical music while reading or studying. Miles albums like Sketches of Spain or In a silent way should be great too indeed :)

i listen to whatever when i'm reading whatever.

sketches of spain is a great idea, i can definitley see that stimulating your imagination, kind of blue as well.

classical music is good for studying, berlioz, beethoven, xenakis, cage, glass, morricone, all mind opening sounds.

i think that what i read does influence what i listen to but only if its something that i really enjoy or feel strongly about. i guess an example of this would be listening to fucked up jazz or nyc ghosts and flowers after reading burroughs.

Yeah, or vice versa.

Burroughs seems really popular amongst people here. I suppose something like Ornette Coleman would work well with a book like The Naked Lunch, if only I liked Ornette Coleman.

If i'm reading stuff for work I tend to put instrumental music on, mostly jazz. If I'm reading a comic like Love and Rockets, then it'll probably be Black Flag, or something similar.

I don't particularly listen to music while reading, though occasionally Sun Ra and a good SF book can make some sense.

Michael Moorcock wrote lyrics for Hawkwind, but I wouldn't listen to them while reading, even him, as it would be too distracting.

Eno's better ambient stuff will work with just about anything.

Miles Davis was a good call too. Anything with more mood than aggressive rhythm or words is likely to be the way to go most of the time.

So as far as Sonic Youth goes, the SYRs would probably be my choice for most stuff. I couldn't possibly concentrate on a story with Kim going on about her underwear in the background.