By Doug Boilesen, 2025
The addition of this book to PhonoLiterature is basically because of its title.
The book is part of the indie comics genre from the 1990's and includes Jeff LeVine's first six issues of his comic book "No Hope" (lifesyles of the poor and bored). Levine lived in the Bay area, self-published his comics, and then published this book with some additional material. I lived in Oakland, California for a decade in the 1980's, and don't share the author's despair, but as a perspective and chronicle of the time I can relate to the author's personality and humor.
There is only one comic in this book which actually has a record player in it, but "like a broken record" is a metaphor embedded in popular culture and therefore an important connection in Phonographia.
"The Days Go By Like Broken Records" by Jeff LeVine, San Francisco: Slave Labor Graphics, 1995.
Perhaps listening to music, courtesy of recorded sound on a phonograph, can make the difference in one's day...or for LeVine almost make "life seem worthwhile."
