Lost in Music

Re-reading the book while on holiday this year just reaffirmed to me how brilliant it is. Not just funny, but poignant in places and superbly observed all over.

Giles Smith is a big favourite of mine - his column on sport on TV in The Times (Monday, Thursday and Saturday) is essential reading, as are his columns in The Guardian (cars on Tuesday) and on TV in The Sunday Telegraph. Do yourself a favour and read Lost In Music followed by Midnight in the Garden of Evel Knievel. Both hugely uplifting.


Lost in music - Giles Smith   December 14, 2003
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I loved this book. If you are looking for a definitive history of music in the 1970s then look elsewhere. This is about fashioning our record collections - warts and all and about our individual tastes and prejudices. It's more than affectionate -it's loving, passionate and obsessive - just like many record collectors. A treasure and extremely funny. I passed it on to my daughter who liked it so much I had to get another copy because she didn't want to (refused!) give it back.


My Favorite Book   December 28, 2002
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Giles Smith's 'Lost in Music' is an incredible book. Sure, it's not Crime and Punishment, but it is the funniest, wittiest, and even most touching book written about pop music. If you remotely enjoyed Nick Hornsby's "High Fidelity," you'll flip over this book. It's a shame more people aren't aware of it.

The book is half Smith's autobiography as a music lover, and half incisive ruminations on various aspects of music (cd vs. vinyl, should or shouldn't one shag with the stereo on, etc.). And it's all golden. Anyone who's been in a band will laugh his ass off; this is like observational comedy for musicians.

Yet there is a true heart to the tale, and Smith has a knack for finding the truly meaningful in such minor events as Damon Albarn singing Christmas carols with his mother, meeting Ni(c)k Kershaw, or lip synching in the garage with friends who just don't get it ("That's NOT how they do it.").

I've been rambling, but do yourself a favor and buy this book. If you've ever put a musician's photo on your wall, contemplated speaker stands, or lied about what the first record you bought was, you'll read this book over and over again. I have.


an amusing and perceptive book   December 30, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Anyone who has ever really loved pop music will read this book and recognise themselves in the pages. Even if you don't like the bands or singers that Giles Smith lost so much sleep over, its definitely worth reading. I keep a copy of it as a 'comfort' book, as it bears repeated readings, and always cheers me up!