I don't I've ever listened to such a raw and unfiltered music biography. Viv Albertine gives a detailed account of her life, even if some details don't cast her in a flattering light.
Sometimes the most interesting biographers in any scene are those on the periphery; they have fewer scores to settle and no reputation to protect. Viv Albertine was in the midst of punk and new wave, and was in The Slits, a band far too interesting to make much money.
But make no mistake, this isn't just about punk. It's a full biography and its often these other sections that are the most memorable.
The most overriding feeling from this book is grimness. There's never any celebration, not much joy, and Viv herself is often admirable but not often likeable. Yet Viv's unvarnished style feels honest and direct, and it's this that makes her book so compelling.
