Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam
by Mark Levine
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 66)
Read in August, 2008
The emergence of metal in the Middle East/North Africa is interesting and important and should be documented. Having said that, there were things about this book that irked me. The author is an academic and it shows--a recurring theme in the book is the menace of "neoliberal globalization", although the author's main evidence for said menace is untestable hearsay like "The trilingual texture of the conversation symbolized one of Abid's key points, which is that Iran is becoming ...more
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Read in August, 2008
This is a pretty interesting book that shows a different side of the countries written about (Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, and Iran). I don't know much about the rock scene in America, let alone in these countries. But most of us in the west certainly don't imagine Muslims rocking out to metal. The book was fairly interesting, but would have been more interesting if I were a musician or if I liked heavy metal.
I'm a bigger fan of traditional Middle Eastern music lik...more
I'm a bigger fan of traditional Middle Eastern music lik...more
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Since I am working for a while in Egypt this is somewhat interesting, but it isn't something someone would read for fun.
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Not surprisingly, since I am in Egypt, the fifty or so pages in the chapter about Egypt specifically are the most interesting (so far).
I was amused to read, "On the way we passed the local Hardee's - which, as in New Jersey when I was growing up - has become the place for Cairo's metal population to meet after dark. At 1:00 a.m. on any given nigh...more
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Not surprisingly, since I am in Egypt, the fifty or so pages in the chapter about Egypt specifically are the most interesting (so far).
I was amused to read, "On the way we passed the local Hardee's - which, as in New Jersey when I was growing up - has become the place for Cairo's metal population to meet after dark. At 1:00 a.m. on any given nigh...more
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Read in August, 2008
I thought this was a fascinating social critique on metal (and other music) and the role it plays in middle eastern societies. What was really eye opening was the amount of persecution metal, hip hop, and sometimes all forms of music undergo in all of the countries that were discussed in this book. From the more liberal regions like Dubai to the stifling regimes of countries like Iran, this book paints a vivid picture of the challenges musicians face in islamic cultures. I would recommend thi...more
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Read in September, 2008
Interesting book regarding heavy metal and rap music and its popularity in Islamic countries in Africa and the Middle East. Some of these people who play/listen to this music have to do so under secrecy or danger to their well being because of religious leaders and governments who brand them as Satanists or against God. Jail, beatings and persacution may come their way. Now, that's dedication.
The problem is LeVine seems almost like a cheerleader for the cause rather than just being a journali...more
The problem is LeVine seems almost like a cheerleader for the cause rather than just being a journali...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Scott by:
Robin Hopkinsrecommends it for: crckt, zach
I'm still reading it but I can comfortably give it four stars before I'm done. I would have given it five but I think the guy's political outlook veers a bit too sharply into the "modern liberal (aka bourgeois) democracy will fix things" camp, and tails religion a bit too much. But I tell you what...the human connections he makes with the metal heads, hip hop kids, punks and goths all over the Muslim world are a revelation. This is a view of the Muslim world that is not bogged down in ...more
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Tertarik karena judulnya. Mulai baca beberapa halaman awal. Lumayan menarik, cerita tentang perkembangan musik heavy metal di dunia Islam. Sayang gak ada cerita tentang di Indonesia, padahal Indonesia kan negara dengan jumlah muslim terbesar di dunia. Kalo udah kelar, nanti akan gw email si penulis, dan tawarkan untuk edisi revisi nanti masuk cerita perkembangan heavy metal di Indonesia. Banyak koq temen2 yg siap jadi nara sumber.
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3 comments
I'm not much for non-fiction, to be honest. This caught my eye, though. I figured, I don't know as much about Islam as I should, but I certainly know a lot about Heavy Metal. The concept was interesting.
Anyway, so far it's pretty good. I can easily set it down for a while, but pick it back up w/o missing a beat.
I gave up. I think I just need to admit I'm not a reader of non-fiction. I have yet to finish one.
Anyway, so far it's pretty good. I can easily set it down for a while, but pick it back up w/o missing a beat.
I gave up. I think I just need to admit I'm not a reader of non-fiction. I have yet to finish one.
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Oddly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I should have. The writing wasn't great and I do have little interest in hearing about the author's foray into recording a nu-metal song with several Muslim musicians.
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recommended to Becky by:
Random House newsletter
Caught my interest...
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