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  • Girl in a Band

  • A Memoir
  • Written by: Kim Gordon
  • Narrated by: Kim Gordon
  • Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (34 ratings)

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Girl in a Band

Written by: Kim Gordon
Narrated by: Kim Gordon
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Publisher's Summary

Kim Gordon, founding member of Sonic Youth, fashion icon, and role model for a generation of women, now tells her story - a memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll, written with the lyricism and haunting beauty of Patti Smith's Just Kids.

Often described as aloof, Kim Gordon opens up as never before in Girl in a Band. Telling the story of her family, growing up in California in the '60s and '70s, her life in visual art, her move to New York City, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music, and her band, Girl in a Band is a rich and beautifully written memoir.

Gordon takes us back to the lost New York of the 1980s and '90s that gave rise to Sonic Youth, and the alternative revolution in popular music. The band helped build a vocabulary of music - paving the way for Nirvana, Hole, Smashing Pumpkins, and many other acts. But at its core, Girl in a Band examines the route from girl to woman in uncharted territory, music, art career, what partnership means - and what happens when that identity dissolves.

Evocative and edgy, filled with the sights and sounds of a changing world and a transformative life, Girl in a Band is the fascinating chronicle of a remarkable journey and an extraordinary artist.

©2015 Kim Gordon (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about Girl in a Band

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    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful and breezy

I enjoyed hearing about Kim’s life through her own voice and words. An easy listen. This book flew by and was very entertaining to hear about the incredible life and lives she touched.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A personal history that offers depth

Writing this as a fan of Gordon's music and art, as well as Sonic Youth. Hearing this story play out offered some understanding of what happened to a band that has been important to me, growing up in the 80s and continues to engage with their music.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I like Sonic Youth...

I grew up with Sonic Youth and always felt they were capable of crafting awesome music, yet purposely churned out filler as art. What a luxury. Same here. KG's monotone description of her life as a rock star while trying to keep her roots in art, the stresses of being a mom while walking red carpets, and traveling the globe. Being able to choose a life of art is a luxury and privilege most will never have.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Interesting, but didn't love it

There are some interesting stories in this book, but I can't say I loved it, especially after hearing a bunch of amazing music bios lately that I loved (Bruce Springsteen, Jewel, Willie Nelson). I wanted to like this book but her attitude kind of put me off.

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