SPILL BOOK REVIEW: DON PYLE – ROUGH DESCRIPTION: LOVE LETTERS AND GHOST STORIES FROM A LIFE IN MUSIC

DON PYLE – ROUGH DESCRIPTION: LOVE LETTERS AND GHOST STORIES FROM A LIFE IN MUSIC

ECW PRESS

BOOK REVIEW BY GERROD HARRIS

Don Pyle remains a consistent figure among Toronto’s vibrant creative communities as a musician, photographer, and author. This is one of the central pieces at the heart of his third book, Rough Description: Love Letters And Ghost Stories From A Life In Music. In this memoir, Pyle reflects on a life of misadventure that can only come from playing in a band as he shares stories about Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, his love of punk rock, and collaborations with Steve Albini and Dallas Good.

Rough Description: Love Letters And Ghost Stories From A Life In Music is centred around a series of moments that feel defining to Pyle as both a person and an artist. While not organized in chronological order, there are recollections of acquaintances, friends, and family, paying respect for those who’ve passed, alongside reminiscing about the Toronto punk scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Between this, Pyle takes plenty of time to discuss making music and performing with a range of projects, providing a very real and, if you’re a musician or a creative of any degree, relatable walkthrough of the many ups and downs that come with pursuing your artistic desires.

Pyle’s voice as a writer is one of utmost honesty, providing a genuine recollection of past events. His willingness to share triumphs alongside moments of insecurity, doubt, and discomfort supports this. Furthermore, early on in Rough Description, Pyle writes about his sexuality, often in relation to his adolescence and young adulthood within the framework of Toronto in the ‘80s. Through this lens, Pyle discusses the importance of community. As such, Rough Description reads as not only a collection of Pyle’s stories, but as a greater narrative that explores finding acceptance and community throughout Toronto counterculture.

As the title reads, Rough Description truly is a love story to a life well lived in music. Pyle writes with a level of authenticity that is rare, giving his collection of stories a vivid perspective. Through his writing, Pyle is able to curate a selection of snapshots and relationships through explorations and reflections that are equally vulnerable as they are humorous. Most importantly, Rough Description is a reminder that all we are at any point is a culmination of our stories and experiences; ultimately serving as a disruption to the mythology that asserts memoirs are only for the ultra-famous. Rather, Pyle delivers something far more real and incredibly meaningful.

ISBN-10: 1770417133
ISBN-13:‎ 978-1778525872

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