Post by uptowndragon on Jun 9, 2010 11:05:21 GMT 7
28 Hari Jurnal Rock N Roll - Mohd Jayzuan
IF HIS LYRICS ARE AS GOOD HIS PROSE...
First Looks & Review: Dragon
Surprisingly Rentak Sejuta has never done a book review as yet although I personally read tons of music related books & magazines. So it was inevitable that we had to start sooner or later. Unfortunately, we have never been presented with a book by any publisher or distributor (hint, hint) to review ever since our inception 4 years ago. I guess we are too niche a news site for them to consider shoving books in our faces. After all how many music related books can there be, being released every month in Malaysia? So I thought, until a quick browse through the music section of Kinokuniya leads me to believe otherwise now.
So why the sudden desire to do a book review? It all happened on a chance meeting with quirky indie acoustic pop hopeful Mohd Jayzuan, who I have known for all a while in the indie music circuit, (but have not KNOWN at all) at the album launch of another indie hopeful, Ana Rafali. Only a week back, I had read in the papers, that this copper skinned, schoolboy like lad (he is not that young, he is 27) had just released a book - a journal to be exact - of his recent 28 day self discovery road trip. As any good journo would do, I pounced on him, about it, jokingly teasing him, that his book was released before an album release. After all he is a singer songwriter, and a decent one at that too, and his priorities should have been to knock out a few albums & EPs first.
Unfazed, this Rock N Roll dude, just grinned and quickly launched into his promo of his upcoming "book launch" at the Central Market Annexe this coming Saturday (4pm, 12/6/10) while explaining the inspiration for his new baby, which I soaked in with amazement. Before you know it, he had whisked out a copy and politely dictated that I should perhaps be kind enough to review it and feature it in Rentak Sejuta.
Which pretty much brings us here. After all, what better way to start a book review than from one that comes from our very own shores.
Now this is not the proper review but a lead up to the book, which I managed to read two chapters from, while traveling on the bus (yes, I do take the bus) back home, and I can say quite firmly; if his lyrics on his upcoming album is as any good as his prose here in his book... we will have another winner. If you don't get that, its a reverse way of saying that the book is better than "boleh tahan".
The bottom line is "28 Hari Jurnal Rock N Roll" has soul, heaps of it, and is written in a simple straightforward language, that any typical Malaysian with a government school education, should have no problems deciphering. It is poetic yet not overpowering, and is a breeze to read, and I can't wait to finish it. Which I will in another 2 or 3 more bus rides.
If you can't wait for the review, I suggest (and highly recommend) you just head on down to CM Annexe this Saturday, and purchase it right off Mohd Jayzuan himself. Its RM15 a copy, and we know the normally skint MJ (not the King of Pop) would appreciate the money, so that he can head on out on another road trip to bring you book #2 (hopefully after the release of an album ). Who knows he may give you an autograph too. And you can offer to buy him dinner, which he will certainly appreciate. He loves nasi lemak kukus. By the way does anyone know where to get lokceng here in KL?
Stay tuned.
MJ on Myspace: www.myspace.com/mjhome
MJ on Blogspot: mohdjayzuan.blogspot.com
IF HIS LYRICS ARE AS GOOD HIS PROSE...
First Looks & Review: Dragon
Surprisingly Rentak Sejuta has never done a book review as yet although I personally read tons of music related books & magazines. So it was inevitable that we had to start sooner or later. Unfortunately, we have never been presented with a book by any publisher or distributor (hint, hint) to review ever since our inception 4 years ago. I guess we are too niche a news site for them to consider shoving books in our faces. After all how many music related books can there be, being released every month in Malaysia? So I thought, until a quick browse through the music section of Kinokuniya leads me to believe otherwise now.
So why the sudden desire to do a book review? It all happened on a chance meeting with quirky indie acoustic pop hopeful Mohd Jayzuan, who I have known for all a while in the indie music circuit, (but have not KNOWN at all) at the album launch of another indie hopeful, Ana Rafali. Only a week back, I had read in the papers, that this copper skinned, schoolboy like lad (he is not that young, he is 27) had just released a book - a journal to be exact - of his recent 28 day self discovery road trip. As any good journo would do, I pounced on him, about it, jokingly teasing him, that his book was released before an album release. After all he is a singer songwriter, and a decent one at that too, and his priorities should have been to knock out a few albums & EPs first.
Unfazed, this Rock N Roll dude, just grinned and quickly launched into his promo of his upcoming "book launch" at the Central Market Annexe this coming Saturday (4pm, 12/6/10) while explaining the inspiration for his new baby, which I soaked in with amazement. Before you know it, he had whisked out a copy and politely dictated that I should perhaps be kind enough to review it and feature it in Rentak Sejuta.
Which pretty much brings us here. After all, what better way to start a book review than from one that comes from our very own shores.
Now this is not the proper review but a lead up to the book, which I managed to read two chapters from, while traveling on the bus (yes, I do take the bus) back home, and I can say quite firmly; if his lyrics on his upcoming album is as any good as his prose here in his book... we will have another winner. If you don't get that, its a reverse way of saying that the book is better than "boleh tahan".
The bottom line is "28 Hari Jurnal Rock N Roll" has soul, heaps of it, and is written in a simple straightforward language, that any typical Malaysian with a government school education, should have no problems deciphering. It is poetic yet not overpowering, and is a breeze to read, and I can't wait to finish it. Which I will in another 2 or 3 more bus rides.
If you can't wait for the review, I suggest (and highly recommend) you just head on down to CM Annexe this Saturday, and purchase it right off Mohd Jayzuan himself. Its RM15 a copy, and we know the normally skint MJ (not the King of Pop) would appreciate the money, so that he can head on out on another road trip to bring you book #2 (hopefully after the release of an album ). Who knows he may give you an autograph too. And you can offer to buy him dinner, which he will certainly appreciate. He loves nasi lemak kukus. By the way does anyone know where to get lokceng here in KL?
Stay tuned.
MJ on Myspace: www.myspace.com/mjhome
MJ on Blogspot: mohdjayzuan.blogspot.com
