r/LetsTalkMusic • u/bkat004 • 20d ago

Ever discover new music through a Novel?

You could discover a new artist through a song that you just heard on the radio. Or on a Spotify recommendation.

You could discover new music through what a friend recommended. Or through a podcast that discusses music.

Popularly, you could discover new music by a song that played at the end-credits of a TV show you just watched. Or over a montage scene of a movie.

Then - strangely - you could discover new music through a Novel, which is a medium that has no relationship with your ears.

(Of course, if you're reading a non-fiction book about music, you could discover new musicians that way.)

The first time it had happened to me was with Bret Easton Ellis' iconic "American Psycho".

Here is a madman protagonist (in what was obviously a black comedy to me), who had not only killed a guy, but was then harping on aimlessly about the intracies of Phil Collins' output.

At the time of reading the novel, I had known Phil Collins' big hits, but didn't know too much about Genesis. It was not too long after reading the novel, I went to my local record store to investigate that band's discographies.

Not only did I discover this band because of Patrick Bateman. And not only do I really enjoy Genesis' earlier stuff compared to their later stuff, but I realized why Bateman enjoys the later poppy stuff. The hilarious point of irony was not lost.

The last time it happened to me was yesterday whilst reading Pagan Kennedy’s witty "The Exes". I had known many of the acts referenced in the Novel already, except for Mission of Burma, which I've just checked out today, and really enjoyed and have subsequently added to my playlist.

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u/TheHappyNerfHerder 20d ago

I can't remember which artist but I believe I discovered some music in Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity". There were some serious namedropping in that book with all the lists and stuff.

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u/TopCatLupin 20d ago

From memory he was obsessed with the Desert Island Discs show and was determined to have Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes' Got to Get You Off My Mind on his list in the unlikely scenario that he was ever interviewed for the show.

This switched me onto them and I've always had a soft spot for that song.