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

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