[Brown] deftly brings readers along on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance in his raw and melodic memoir ... Told with brilliant writing, this story is filled with introspection and both laugh-out-loud and cringeworthy moments.
Bang Bang Crash doesn’t always keep a steady beat, and sometimes it hits more rim than skin. Nevertheless, it offers a stylish portrait of a life in search of a deeper rhythm.
Brown delivers a well-written rock memoir that evades the usual clichés ... The author also writes seriously without taking himself too much so ... Both former and aspiring rockers will find plenty to reflect on in Brown’s reminiscences.
He chronicles his path in episodic style, and in its most dynamic spots the narrative blossoms into a punchy portrait hinting at a deep-rooted passion for writing ... Unfortunately, these events fail to coalesce, and when he finally lands a spot at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop... it’s hard not to long for a touch more tension. Budding writers and former musicians who’ve long hung up their instruments are likely to find some resonance, but others will be underwhelmed.
