Soul Mining: A Musical Life

If you're considering this book, then you are probably a fan of both Daniel Lanois' music and his production techniques with artists such as Bob Dylan, U2, Peter Gabriel and Willie Nelson. I approached this work from the perspective of a recording musician first, and a fan of Daniel's solo work second. While I am a fan of the artists he has produced, I feel his solo work is much more engaging and emblematic of his talents as a musician and producer than when he is forced to work within the confines of other artist's projects. With that said, this is a great book and a very interesting read. First, this is NOT a "how to" manual on how to achieve certain studio sounds or how to record instruments. By the very nature of a book such as this there are some passing references to recording and mixing techniques and explanations on how certain songs and sounds evolved, but that is not the main thrust of this book. The best way I can sum it up is to liken it to sitting at a bar or restaurant with Daniel and having him tell stories about his past as they come to mind. Individual stories are relayed in their entirety but the book itself is not linear, hopping from year to year, continent to continent as the storyline sees fit. Stories and chapters are punctuated by lyrics from Daniel's solo work, framed in such a way as to give the reader a look at the back story of each song. The real gold in this book lies in between the lines. If you really dig deep into what he is saying and start to connect the dots, you really CAN get a glimpse into the mind of the master and get a sense of how he thinks in the studio. Read this book, watch "Here Is What Is", and read all the other interviews Daniel has done with countless magazines and you can piece together a fairly clear picture of Daniel Lanois the musician and Daniel Lanois the producer (although he says he hates the term "producer"!). At the end of the day, this is a very entertaining and quick read which will have you putting your Lanois, U2 and Dylan CDs on the stereo and listening with fresh ears. Enjoy it -- I did!!

A fascinating look into glimpses of Daniel Lanois' life, thoughts, and techniques. Daniel Lanois' Musical Life reveals a polymath artist and technologist driven by philosophy, creative experimentation, and a deep understanding not just of music and music technology, but also human behavior and psychology. He and his friends and musical partners are responsible for numerous inventions in technique, improvements to the user interfaces of recording equipment, and recording techniques driven by both science and ineffable spirit. The person revealed in this book seems to be infused with a deep humility and a sense of reverence for life and all of creation, as well as the Creator.Lanois, the man who says he learned early to never ask for the crumbs when the table of opportunity presents itself, but instead to bring the main course himself and offers the rest of us a story to emulate, a pathway from abject poverty to a stunning success and accomplishment.This book also reveals just how much radical and creative thinking goes into getting some of the best performances out of some of the most ornery and difficult artist in the history of recorded music. Some stories are hilarious (nailing Peter Gabriel's writing room door shut, effectively imprisoning him and separating him from his telephone and forcing him to work), some are surprising (Lanois spent some of his early years as a multi-instrumentalist for a traveling burlesque act).A great read that enriched my life.

Danny is a genius that is obvious here in the book he tells thrstory of how his genius developed and what hes done with it and that it hasn't ended yet and where it will keep going to if you are an artist of any type this book is inspiring

Nice philosophical insights and absolutely amazing stories of records Lanois made at the peak of his career. I wish it would have gone even deeper and longer but good read for anyone who makes records or music for a living.

Wish there was more info on equiptment and recording tips. But the book was pretty interesting.

Interesting history of a music lover, and the production process

Lanois is a musical alchemist and it turns out his alchemy or magic is the product of working your ass off for very long time. I burned through the book with all the music and musicians of my early twenties. I bought Acadie when it was released and thought Robbie Robertson's album was one of the all time greatest. I have Black Dub and have spread it far and wide. Cool guy. Cool life. Very good juju.

Lanois writes with poetry and soul. His words are musical in themselves and lay out the joy as well as the pain of a lifelong attempt to create music that matters. I am inspired to dig deeper, master my tools, and go "Soul Mining"! The book should be mandatory reading for any musician, sound engineer, or "producer." I will read it again.

This book gives context, background and insight into the huge repertoire of Daniel Lanois' work spanning several decades, during which he has produced some of the world's leading musicians' finest work. This is not a chronological account of a his life or musical career, rather an insight into the mind and soul of an artist. Stories and anecdotes about Dan's early life in Hamilton, Ontario are interspersed with rich accounts of the creative process, emotional journey and technical experimentation from which his distinctive sound has developed.I enjoyed reading this book as much as I have enjoyed his music. Despite being a fan of his work for some three decades, I knew little of the man himself, who occasionally steps into the spotlight, but whose true skill lies in drawing out the best musicianship and performances of others. The book has only served to deepen my appreciation of his music (if that were possible). Like his songs, his writing is understated, melodic and human. With minimal words he evokes a sense of time, place and spirit that 'takes you there' - whether it's to the cellar-studio in his mother's house, a journey by motorcycle through the USA with his brother Bob, exploring sounds and techniques whilst recording with Eno and U2, or strumming along with Bob Dylan in his kitchen over a beer or two.There is always a risk that when you find out more about the person whose work you admire that knowledge of the creator may disappoint. Fear not - Dan comes across as the artist, craftsman and sensitive individual that you might expect: spiritual, questioning, generous. Whilst recognising his own skills and value when working with other musicians, his humility and utter absence of ego is a joy - as is his delightfully understated sense of humour.I loved this book and could not put it down so must give it a five-star rating. I would recommend "Soul Mining' to anyone who loves Daniel Lanois' music and would like to meet the man who created it; to any musician or producer who is interested in the processes involved in creating distinctive sounds through the exploration of different instruments and recording techniques; and for anyone with an interest in the mindset, influences, motivation and soul of an artist.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you enjoyed Bob Dylan's autobio you will certainly enjoy this. An amazing artist and incredibly humble to boot.

Soul Mining a Musical Life was one of the most wonderful books I have ever read about recording even for those of us like myself who are not immersed in the lore of studio recording. It makes you want to rush out and experiment with unorthodox recording equipment and instruments.The book also gave an insight into the back ground of this very special man and the way he was inspired.I entered this magical world of sound, wildness and dreams and left enriched.

Superb writing!

An OK book if you're a Lanois super-fan but very uneven and omits a lot of significant details. Doesn't even mention his early Canadian producing with Martha and the Muffins, Parachute Club etc. and glosses over a lot of details e.g. in the Dylan section says "basically what Dylan says in his book is correct" so you have to go read Dylan's book to find out about things like Lanois outbursts and throwing a guitar across a room. Perhaps it's natural that he doesn't want to include anything unflattering or "uncool" but it means you have to take everything else with a grain of salt as you don't know what he's conveniently omitting or how one-sided his accounts are. A light read so not a huge time investment but ultimately could have used some editing and Lanois is too guarded for us to get an authentic glimpse into his process or psyche.