Mirit Eliraz

"Band Together" provides great insight into the inner workings of the four title bands. Mirit Eliraz does a good job of picking apart exactly what it is that defines each of these bands and sets them apart from other, less successful bands. She puts a lot of emphasis on the idea of friendship and an innate chemistry between the band members. They just "click," and they depend on each other. Members of each band admit that they would be nothing without their counterparts. The book flows very logically, and it is easy to follow. I found this book very interesting and a good read for anyone interested in music, particularly fans of U2, R.E.M., Radiohead, and/or the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

One slight issue I have with "Band Together" is that Eliraz' assertions sometimes contradict one another. For example, she states in the beginning of the book that friendship is one of the main constants that glues each band together; however, much of the book focuses on the turbulent relationships between band members. These friendships were very rocky at times, even to the point of band members not speaking to one another while recording or on tour. Although Eliraz points out that these rough times were reflected in their music, I still think that it is a bit contradictory from the general idea put forth at the beginning of the book. However, this is not a prevalent issue, and the overall effect of the book is positive. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book, especially because I am familiar with/fans of the bands involved.… (meer)