Review / Book Review
James Kennedy
Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock'n'Roll Underdog

Eye Books (2020) — T

James Kennedy – Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock'n'Roll Underdog cover artwork
James Kennedy – Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock'n'Roll Underdog — Eye Books, 2020

Noise Damage is the personal account of James Kennedy on his trials and tribulations navigating his evolution and experiences with the music industry, which saw him rise, become revered and headhunted before the phonographic industry ultimately crashed and imploded.

Familiarity with James Kennedy, his oeuvre or his band Kyshera is not a pre-requisite for being instantaneously drawn into the maelstrom that is Kennedy’s gripping story.

There is no doubt that anyone remotely into making music would be able to relate to Kennedy hustling his way to critical acclaim, which is paved with grim incidents, back stabbings, exposure to shady characters and a life without any resemblance of stability.

The fact that Kennedy finds a way to portray the ups and downs of his travails in an authentic manner without having to rely on gimmicky name dropping or outlandish hyperboles, adds depth and personality to his writings.

Peppered with tongue-in-cheek witticisms, valuable lessons are being delivered without running danger of sounding self-righteous or holier-than-thou.

An enjoyable, funny, emotional and painfully honest book that will appeal to both music enthusiasts as well as the uninitiated as it is an ode to magic of music and the way one’s life is enriched by it.

7.0 / 10 — T • March 1, 2021

James Kennedy – Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock'n'Roll Underdog cover artwork
James Kennedy – Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock'n'Roll Underdog — Eye Books, 2020

Recently-posted album reviews

Manicdotes

Eight Lives Down
Independent (2026)

The chemicals are rushing right out of the gate on this one. You start with a cigarette and dive straight into Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, to the lay person) to calm your nerves from that nicotine rush. This album starts off with a raucous acoustic punk number that will leave you craving more. So, it’s a good thing it’s only the first … Read more

Maruja

Pain to Power
Music For Nations (2025)

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS – “Look Down on Us”, “Born to Die”, “Break the Tension”, “Trenches” Ahead of their 100 Club appearance this September, Maruja’s latest release, 2025’s debut album Pain to Power – following a slew of six EPs, reveals awe-inspiring experimental rock clashed with muddy yet always melodious free jazz. Eclectic would be putting it mildly. In amongst all that, … Read more

Onelinedrawing

RAINBOWMACHINE
Iodine (2026)

I grew up listening to the acoustic side of onelinedrawing. Those stripped-down Jonah Matranga songs had a way of making everything else disappear, often needing little more than a guitar, a voice, and an honest melody to completely pull you in. That's still the version of onelinedrawing that immediately comes to mind for me, so with Matranga having been relatively … Read more