Metaphysical Graffiti: Deep Cuts in the Philosophy of Rock

The Rolling Stones. The Who. Pink Floyd. Bob Dylan. Bruce Springsteen. Jimmy Buffett. These are all musicians, and they’re all the subject of philosophical musings delving deep into mythology, history, sociology, and the morality of modern life. Metaphysical Graffiti collects articles about these musicians and more, exploring aspects of their music and personal ethos through the lens of the classic philosophers.

This book is the definition of hit and miss, as some of the articles — like the one pondering Jimmy Buffett and luck/providence — are well worth the price of admission, while others simply drone on and on, taking iconic songs and making them the only highlights of lackluster analytical pieces.

Although many of these artists and works are iconic, they suffer under the microscope, as several authors struggle to make their point, content only to namedrop philosophers and draw vague conclusions. Juxtaposition is frequently employed, but insight is often lacking, and a fair amount of these articles feel like self-indulgent navel-gazing rather than intriguing discussions.

I’m a huge fan of this And Philosophy series usually, but this one feels more like a missed opportunity than a seized one.