Under The Radar

There's a nice review of Reno in the current issue of Under the Radar. It's not online and relatively short, so here it is in full:

8/10 stars

by Paul Bullock

In the end, death comes to us all. But the incremental approach of the Grim Reaper through popular song is a phenomenon that has just recently crept into the imaginations of music journalists. I SHOT A MAN IN RENO takes a decidedly academic path toward this subject and the professional distance provides for a smart and scholarly read. It's a tragical history tour of the last hundred-plus years of Western songwriting. From "St. James Infirmary," around "Dead Man's Curve," to the city of Compton, Thomson takes us on a macabre, morbid and often hilarious ride. By the time you reach the epilogue of The 40 Greatest Death Records, you'll be ready to discuss the importance of "Leader of the Pack" and "Cop Killer."It's another fine book from Continuum who, along with their 33 1/3 Series, is reshaping the way we read about music.