A Cure for Gravity: A Musical Pilgrimage

Even if you're not a fan of Joe Jackson, you'll find this book a fascinating read. Most celebrity autobiographies are a litany of sex, drugs, and self-serving anecdotes, but this book focuses on the journey of becoming a true musician. It is self-effacing, funny, and filled with wonderful philosophical observations. It's one of the best books I've read all year.

This was a very interesting book both in terms of its content and in the approach that Joe Jackson chose to write it. At first, one may suspect that this would be another story of his successful music career as he rode through the fame and glitter. I was somewhat surprised and delighted that he avoided this all-too-predictable approach. We really don't need him to explain what we, as fans, already know. This is the story of the man named David Jackson and his experiences that shaped his persona into becoming the pop star Joe Jackson that we all later came to know him as. His story is very interesting because of the interesting perspectives through which he viewed his environment; the world of music; his peers; and the deeper meanings of life that come with the wisdom of a slightly older age. As a long time Joe Jackson fan, I was always interested in how he was able to take the different approaches to music that he did. Aside from the first two releases by the Joe Jackson Band, he never did the same thing twice. As he mentioned toward the end of the book: "I was at a crossroads. Where did I want to go? Did I want to continue doing the same thing and become a Pop cartoon character or, instead, grow up in the public eye?" The answer is obvious. I've always respected Joe Jackson as a very talented and entertaining performer. When I finished reading this fascinating story, I came to see that David Jackson is also a thoughtful and intelligent human being.

This book is one of those great surprises that you discover once in a blue moon. It is a memoir of Jackson's early years--from birth to the release of his first album. It is often hilarious in its description of near escapes from rioting skin heads and sad in its descriptions of how a young boy in a working class area who chooses to learn the violin is harrassed and bullied and taunted by hardnuts--the same ones, as Jackson writes, that he hears on tv complaining that the arts are unnecessary luxuries and students should be taught marketable skills and not about music. But what made this memoir special for me is Jackson's love of music in all its forms. For him, the existence of music is unexplainable. Where could something so beautiful and awsome come from? And for Jackson good music is good music. He is no snob. Quite correctly, he assails those who would put down classical music in favour of rock and pop as snobs. As more than one artist in the pop arena has discovered, there is much more openness and diversity to be found in the classical field than in rock. And thus Jackson, a graduate and fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (apparently Simon Rattle was there at the same time), has returned to his roots, which were in classical music. He writes as well as anyone I have read on what music can mean to us. A great read.

If you've read the reviews thus far, you can see this book has been well received by all for it's humor, intimacy, honesty, and that fact that it's a very well written book, obviously written entirely by Joe himself. I couldn't agree more!I would disagree with the only two negative comments I've read thus far. First, the apparent claim that Joe is being pretentious ... "The latter trait [being pretentious] is evidenced early in A Cure for Gravity, and often slows down the flow of the book, as Jackson eschews the linear autobiographical route for sometimes lengthy digressions into a form of music criticism..."On the contrary, as Joe says himself, the book is as much or more about music and his relationship with music than simply a factual account of his life. I, for one, am as interested in this information as I am a simple blow-by-blow account of the events of his life. And as a writing style, I enjoy an occasional digression or "flash forward" which provide context and enhance points the author is trying to make.Secondly, as for the comment that Joe "hates... Brian Eno", I suggest the reviewer reread the passage in which Joe disagrees with a single statement of Brian Eno's and makes a point of saying that there are certainly some things Brian Eno could be commended for.What I enjoyed most about the book is getting to know much more about Joe Jackson, the person, than anything else I've ever read since it's his words, not the interpretation or opinion of others. It has answered many questions I've always had about the man, besides being good fun to read. If you think you like Joe Jackson, the man, you'll love this book!

Joe Jackson defined music for many fans, particularly in the 30-45 age group. We developed with him from the early pop days into more introspective, searching concepts and, ultimately, into experimentation with grander musical explorations. In this book, he drops his guard and finally invites us to share the development of his musical identity. As in his music, his searches through uncharted territory don't always work perfectly, but the results are funny, engaging, and consistently readable. Very highly recommended for anyone who has enjoyed the music.