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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Although the essay begins by talking about the _______, the narrator changes the subject to a group called Count Five.

2. In writing about the value of old horror movies, Bangs suggests that _____ is just a restriction mean to keep people from enjoying themselves.

3. Bangs argues that "Keep the Faith" could be used to make people immune from _____ torture and brainwashing.

4. Bangs suggests that the genre of rock and roll is naturally ______ and thus musical illiteracy is consistent with rock and roll.

5. The narrator agonizes over buying Count Five's record _____ because it is mediocre but he eventually comes to love it.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bang argue is the recipe for making rock and roll good again, according to his essay?

2. Why does Bangs speak so highly of the Van Morrison album, "Astral Weeks," in his essay?

3. What happens when Bangs decides to chase his landlady back to her apartment as he is playing the saxophone?

4. What does Bangs believe to be the meaning of the song "Give It To Me" by The Troggs?

5. What is the assessment of "Fun House" that Bangs makes after listening to the album the first and the second time?

6. What does Clark believe about the trend of glam rock when it is discussed with Bangs?

7. What does Bangs believe the reasoning behind Iggy Pop's diving into the audience and other stage antics?

8. What are the reactions that Lester Bangs has in reaction to the album he buys from the band, Count Five?

9. What does Lester Bangs not like about the way that music shifted in the 1960s, according to his essays?

10. Who are some of the famous guitarists whose careers were launched by the Yardbirds rock band?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Like so many other music critics, Bangs has stories of run-ins with the law which make it into his columns.

Part 1: Why do you think Bangs decides that he won't stop playing his sax, and then gets in trouble for it?

Part 2: Do you think there is a reputation that a music critic has to uphold in order to be seen as valid?

Part 3: How do you think a music critic or a musician should behave?

Essay Topic 2

Bangs dismisses Chicago because, while he hates the music, he knows it will be popular to the general public.

Part 1: Do you think that all popular bands are unable to create good music?

Part 2: Why do you think popularity is so offensive to Bangs in his viewpoint?

Part 3: How do you think you would review a band that is popular but that was not suited to your tastes?

Essay Topic 3

Bangs writes about the Clash as they were one of the first bands who really wanted to make a difference in the world.

Part 1: Do you think that the Clash actually wanted to make a difference in the world?

Part 2: How do you think Bangs really feels about the music of the Clash?

Part 3: What are your opinions of the Clash based on what you've read in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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