As witness to and participant in the graying of the first generation of rock 'n' roll fans, Richard Meltzer is well equipped to confront the reality of our shared mortality. A sublime and moving collection of essays by a master of style, Autumn Rhythm is a clear-eyed gape into the Abyss that is equal parts candor, courage, humor, and desperation.From deconstructing the "geezer wardrobe" to the wacked-out notion of one's legacy to the inevitable loss of pets, parents, and lovers, Autumn Rhythm is an unflinching staring contest with the One Thing We All Have In Common from a writer whose work has always been grounded in the syncopation of sound and sense.