I've got the blues.

One of the reasons I haven't been doing all the things that I said I needed to do is that I've been reading this totally fascinating book called 'The History of the Blues' by Francis Davis.

The book is a few years old now, but I haven't become this engrossed in a book about music since I read 'England's Dreaming' by Jon Savage.

And in a strange way the two books are very similar - interdisciplinary in nature, detail oriented to say the least, but rendered in a narrative style that is just hard to walk away from.

And I know that some (my wife) will think this is crazy, but I see a lot of common ground in Punk and Blues.

(I may be crazy - I also see a lot of similarity between '80's speed metal and classic bluegrass)

But Punk and Blues are handmade, grassroots musical genres (originally at least) and they are the music of a dispossessed and desperate people - a cry for help with a little bit of FU thrown in for good measure. Blues and Punk, in their truest forms, are both honest, raw and moving.

And I like them both.

I actually thought I knew a lot about Blues music until I started reading Davis's book. I realize now just how little I did and do know.

But I guess that is why I love the book so much. If it had only told me what I thought I already knew or had just strengthened my preconceived notions, I probably would have just skimmed the book and set it aside. I love learning and I like being challenged so this is a book that appeals to me.

I plan to blog about this book and its many interesting points in the future.

On the other hand, many of you know that what I plan to do and what I actually do are not always the same thing...

Nevertheless, if you have even a passing interest in the blues, go get this book and read it.

The History of the Blues - Francis Davis

You won't be sorry.