Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music

Some great and very unusual musicians and singers, but unfortunately Hasil Atkins was not mentioned in this book and that was disappointing

I have been familiar with Irwin Chusid since I was listening to his "Attrocious Music Show" on New Jersey's WFMU - a pioneering independent free-form radio station. Listening to his show opened my ears and my mind to an alternative universe of "outsider music", which is the subject of this book, and its companion CD's.Chusid is a good story teller with a great sense of humor. The book is a very funny read. Unlike some other compilations or books on the subject matter, however, Chusid does not sneer with a superior attitude, but rather he has a sincere admiration for these individualists, who in countless different ways pursued their unique muses. This book is a celebration of their curious achievements. A couple of these are fairly well known (Tiny Tim, Daniel Johnston), whereas others are totally obscure, and in one case no recordings have ever surfaced. More than a few of these artists have been challenged with mental health problems to various degrees. Almost all have been thoroughly rejected and ignored by the music industry, but they all persevered and followed their own muses. Chusid clearly has done a lot of work to research this obscure subject matter.Despite this commonality, the music and the biographies span an incredible diversity. This is one of the main appealing aspects of outsider art; that the scope is so much broader than the average consumer of commercial media will experience.Long-time admirers of outsider art, such as myself, will very much enjoy this book and CD's. Newcomers to the subject will find it a very useful guide for an introduction. Even people with only a passing interest will find this an amusing read.There is an accompanying 2 volume CD featuring many of the artists discussed in the book, and it is a crucial complement.  Songs in the Key of Z, Vol. 1-2 . Please see my review of the CD - http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews?ie=UTF8&action=preview .Both the book and CD are very highly recommended.

This book is truly a rarity. Chusid vividly tells the tales of the most incompetant, inept musicians in history with a genuine love and affection that makes this book a true joy to read. It may be my very favorite book of all time.The concept of "outsider music" is one that I have embraced for years. While I don't deny liking some classical music and traditional album rock (Dire Straits, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc.), I have always had a place in my heart for the struggling artists that just don't seem to (and never will) get it (like The Shaggs), others that DO get it, they just mock the norm (Brave Combo, PDQ Bach, etc.) and that peculiar group that are seemingly from Mars (Jandek, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy), that possibly get it, but are a so far beyond the norm that nobody pays attention to them.This book is an unabashed celebration of ineptitude and (seeming) insanity. It is not to be missed, but when purchasing please make sure to buy the CD as well so you can grasp what he is talking about. Of particular note is the section on the famous MSR Song-Poems (where you send them $100 and your lyrics and they record your song) which, to me is the ultimate in outsider music.I couldn't put it down. I can't recommend it strongly enough. Buy this book. Do it now!

While this book is a bit old and some of the outsiders are not exactly obscure (Syd Barrett, Captain Beefheart), it's comprehensive and fun. I like that he acknowledges the nuttiness factor frankly and with humor but in an affectionate way that we fans of this genre tend to have. I don't think it comes off as too snarky or condescending, and that's tough to do in this area. I think that those of us who love this stuff (and not everyone loves say, Daniel Johnston) will dig this.He also puts the 'outsider' genre in context, referencing Art Brut and publications like Raw Vision, which is a nice way to frame this instead of just saying this is for jaded hipsters to laugh at. I happen to find Daniel Johnston quite moving in his own odd way. For many, he's an acquired taste.Overall, I think this is just the right take on this subject.

Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music is such a great idea it's a shame it's not a better book. That's not to say that those interested in learning more about outsider musicians such as Harry Partch, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy and others won't be interested in this sometimes fun and often chatty read. The book is decently researched and does a good job of surveying the landscape of oddball musicians and the chapter on Robert Graettinger is particularly well done. However, author Irwin Chusid shows a heavy hand when it comes to writing about mental illness, something many of these artists have in common. Among many sour notes he hits here, he calls the certifiably nuts Wild Man Fischer a "lithium fugitive" and a winner of the "Triple Crown" of mental illnesses -- manic depressive, paranoid and schizophrenic. You don't have to be a mental health advocate to find Chusid's har-har-haring at the expense of someone a day or two away from eating out of a garbage can to be pretty offensive and just plain moronic, kind of like a nerdy record store bully. Yes, Chusid is trying to be funny, but he's no Vice writer, so more often than not his humor just comes off as simply retrograde and unthoughtful. For those interested in seeing how powerful and moving the life stories of outsider and mentally-ill musicians can be, seek out the excellent Roky Erickson documentary "You're Gonna Miss Me" as well as the doc on Daniel Johnston. Both have a sense of humor about mental illness, but they also show the suffering behind it as well. The whole picture is more interesting than what Chusid is able to conjure up here.

Bought this for my 13 year old grandson. He is an "old soul" - very interested in music. He loves to learn about the musicians who were "out there". Daniel Johnston is one of his favorites. He really likes several in this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It's urbane, amusing and avoids being unkind to the artists featured within. There are 3 CDs to accompany it, now also available to stream. You could start by listening to Shooby or the Legendary Stardust Cowboy and if they float your boat, you'll probably enjoy this book and most of the other wonderful talents featured within. David Bowie covered the Stardust Cowboy on his Heathens platter and possibly borrowed 'stardust' for Ziggy. If that doesn't intrigue you, this is not for you. Move on citizen.

Wow. This book is a real eye opener. Very passionate and knowledgeable on an area of music that so many never come across. I loved the stories & got into some of the music too though I am an adventurous soul anyway. This is a fabulous book. The CD to accompany it is brilliant too and I've had that for years. READ THIS BOOK & ENJOY THE OBSCURITY!!!

This is a really smart book. All the main entries are worth a good look and the short profiles of other worthy artists at the back is useful too. Worth it for the chapter on Jandek alone (it had me in stiches but I still wanted to know more.)

Excellent overview of the eccentric fringe of recorded music. Have a read, preview the acts on Youtube and then buy the albums from Amazon. Tiny Tim's version of 'I Got You Babe' is nothing short of genius.

Great transaction, no problems at all