Synopses & Reviews
Van Morrison is primal but sophisticated; he's accessible but inscrutable; he's a complex songwriter and a raw blues shouter; he's a steady influence on the musical scene but wildly unpredictable as well. It's these complex and often conflicting qualities that make him such a compelling subject for the Singer-Songwriter series. Journalist Erik Hage here eschews a cold, empirical study of structures and influence, and seeks instead more natural and intuitive means of appreciating all that is unique, eclectic, and surprising about Van Morrison's impressive output. In addition to covering almost all of Van Morrison's musical work and offering new readings of many iconic songs, Hage also provides a biographical introduction and a complete discography that can help listeners find new perspective on Morrison's body of work.
Synopsis
Van Morrison remains one of the most popular creative artists in music, and Erik Hage provides here an essential guide to his incredibly fluid musical identity.
About the Author
ERIK HAGE is a widely published music journalist and Assistant Professor of Journalism, Mass Media, and Cultural Criticism at SUNY Cobleskill. He is a contributing writer to The All-Music Guide to Rock (2002); The All-Music Guide to the Blues (2003); The All-Music Guide to Country (2003); and The All-Music Guide to Hip-Hop (2003). He has also penned several hundred entries for Allmusic.com, and is a columnist and feature writer for Metroland, the alternative newsweekly of New York State's "Capital Region." His column, "The Major Lift," provides a monthly analysis of the mainstream music industry.