Music reviews and criticism Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC A Sound Mind
Book Synopsis''Exhilarating'' - Sunday Times''Funny and moving'' - Jarvis CockerMusic critic and writer Paul Morley weaves together memoir and history in a spiralling tale that establishes classical music as the most rebellious genre of all. Paul Morley had stopped being surprised by modern pop music and found himself retreating into the sounds of artists he loved when, as an emerging music journalist in the 70s, he wrote for NME. But not wishing to give in to dreary nostalgia, endlessly circling back to the bands he wrote about in the past, he went searching for something new, rare and wondrous and found it in classical music. A soaring polemic, a grumpy reflection on modern rock, and a fan's love note, A Sound Mind rejects the idea that classical music is establishment; old; a drag. Instead, the book reveals this genre to be the most exciting and varied in music. A Sound Mind is a multi-layered memoir of Morley's shifting musical tastes, but it is also a compeTrade ReviewAn alternately funny and moving book about the most important art form on Planet Earth. Destined to become a classic (pun intended) -- Jarvis CockerAn exhilarating shredding of received wisdom, provocatively casting pop music on the side of the stagnant and conservative – a bit last century – while stressing classical music’s dynamic revolutionary potential … Morley remains a brilliant conductor – of music, of ideas, of inexplicable flashes of lightning. He knows the score -- Victoria Segal * Sunday Times *In this boundary-pushing book, the music journalist charts his increasing immersion in classical music – not as a lurch towards “maturity”, but a recognition of its revolutions and revelations -- Best Music Books of the Year * Sunday Times *His passion for centuries of music – both celebrated and obscure – is infectious * Irish Independent *
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group Perfect Sound Whatever
Book Synopsis*The Sunday Times Bestseller*The brand new memoir from James Acaster: cult comedian, bestselling author of Classic Scrapes, undercover cop, receiver of cabbages.PERFECT SOUND WHATEVER is a love letter to the healing power of music, and how one man''s obsessive quest saw him defeat the bullshit of one year with the beauty of another. Because that one man is James Acaster, it also includes tales of befouling himself in a Los Angeles steakhouse, stealing a cookie from Clint Eastwood, and giving drunk, unsolicited pep talks to urinating strangers. January, 2017James Acaster wakes up heartbroken and alone in New York, his relationship over, a day of disastrous meetings leading him to wonder if comedy is really what he wants to be doing any more. A constant comfort in James''s life has been music, but he''s not listened to anything new for a very long time. Idly browsing ''best of the year'' lists, it dawns on him that 2016 mTrade ReviewImmensely comforting - a witty and wise account of the rejuvenating effect of opening yourself up the the creativity of others. * Record Collector *Loved James Acaster's memoir / epic listicle that posits his theory that 2016 was the best year for music. His dry wit I expected, but was impressed by the real life stories of so many musicians the world over. Paints a striking picture of what it means to be a modern musician. * Edgar Wright *honest, unaffected, poignant - and, yes, entertaining * Chortle *James is a phenomenally talented comedian and his music taste is second only to mine. * Romesh Ranganathan *If, as the pundits say, comedy is like jazz then I'm against it. I didn't drill power chords and feedback techniques just to go fannying about looking for the melody. James Acaster, though, is a bit of an outlier. He's a music wonk with a sense of the ridiculous and his controversial theory that 2016 was the greatest year for music ever is off by a mere five decades. Interesting take, though. * David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap *
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc DAngelos Voodoo
Book SynopsisVoodoo, D''Angelo''s much-anticipated 2000 release, set the standard for the musical cycle ordained as neo-soul, a label the singer and songwriter would reject more than a decade later. The album is a product of heightened emotions and fused sensibilities; an amalgam of soul, rock, jazz, gospel, hip-hop, and Afrobeats. D''Angelo put to music his own pleasures and insecurities as a man-child in the promised land. It was both a tribute to his musical heroes: Prince, Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye, J Dilla...and a deconstruction of rhythm and blues itself. Despite nearly universal acclaim, the sonic expansiveness of Voodoo proved too nebulous for airplay on many radio stations, seeping outside the accepted lines of commercial R&B music. Voodoo was Black, it was definitely magic, and it was nearly overshadowed by a four-minute music video featuring D''Angelo''s sweat-glistened six-pack abs. The Video created an accentuated moment when the shaman lost control of the spell he Trade ReviewA part of the influential ‘33 1/3 Series’ ... Filmmaker and writer Faith Pennick’s new book is a pop culture passion project that digs deep into music, race, masculinity, and the enduring power of one particular music video. * LSA Magazine *Table of ContentsTrack Listing Acknowledgments Note on Text What Is Past Is Prologue 1. The Spell Is Cast 2. Home Cooking 3. Finding the Groove 4. The Means of Survival 5. The Feminine Mystique 6. Video (Almost) Killed the R&B Star 7. Radio Silence Epilogue Notes Bibliography
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Earth Wind Fires Thats the Way of the World
Book SynopsisDwight E. Brooks deep dives into Earth, Wind & Fire''s That''s The Way of the World. Alongside interview material from members Phillip Bailey and Verdine White, he analyses how this album shattered musical barriers, transcended genres, and paid homage to African and American traditions.Understanding TTWOTW requires appreciating EWF founder Maurice White's multifaceted vision for his band. White created a band that performed various styles of music that sought to uplift humanity. His musicians personified a new form of Black masculinity rooted in dignity that embraced diverse spiritualities and healthy living. A complete understanding of TTWOTW also necessitates an awareness of American racial dynamics and changes in the popular music industry in the 1960s and ''70s.EWF's landmark album TTWOTW presented hopeful messages about the world that were sorely needed at the time. TTWOTW did not tell listeners exactly how to live, but instead how they caTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Foreword by Dr. William C. Banfield Prologue: That World Today 1. Yearnin’ 2. Learnin’ 3. Revolving Doors 4. Presenting… Earth, Wind, & Fire! 5. Break Throughs 6. Interludes 7. International Anthem Epilogue Endnotes
£9.49
Atria Books Dont Stop
£23.92
Bonnier Books Ltd Phew, Eh Readers?: The Life and Writing of Tom
Book SynopsisIdiosyncratic.Iconoclastic.Acerbic.Hilarious.The influence of Tom Hibbert's music writing across print, radio, TV and podcasts is incomparable. From his genre-defining work at Smash Hits to his 'Who the Hell ... ?' profiles for Q magazine and beyond, this book brings together many of Hibbert's funniest writings.Compiled by Barney Hoskyns and Jasper Murison-Bowie at Rock's Backpages, the archive of music journalism, Phew, Eh Readers? showcases some of Hibbert's greatest pieces. Presented thematically and chronologically, they highlight his marvellously eccentric perspective on life and popular culture.Many leading writers and journalists attest to Hibbert's genius. This compendium supplements his writing with new reflections on Tom from some of his peers, colleagues and admirers, including Mark Ellen, Bob Stanley, Tom Doyle, Chris Heath, Sylvia Patterson, along with his widow Allyce.Phew, Eh Readers? is a must-read homage to one of the most influential writers of our time, a man who left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape.Trade Review'The funniest and most revealing of all music journalists.' -- Neil Tennant
£18.70
de la Porte Publishing Born by the Thames
Book SynopsisThis volume marks the centenary of British composer Stephen Dodgson, bringing together interviews and specially commissioned articles on his musical output, reflections and anecdotes from friends and family, and a selection of the composer's own warmly erudite writings. An approachable, thoughtful book for the musician and curious layperson alike.
£12.34
Boydell & Brewer Ltd Bax: A Composer and his Times
Book SynopsisCompletely revised and updated from recently discovered archive material, Lewis Foreman's classic biography is the essential handbook to Bax and his contemporaries. Lewis Foreman's classic biography of the composer Arnold Bax (1883-1953) was first published in 1983. Documenting the life and times of a remarkable figure whose life touched a wide circle in England and Ireland, it was notable for having many of Bax's friends and contemporaries as sources, most of whom have since died. It also informed the remarkable revival of Bax's music and reputation which has taken place over the last twenty years. Now completely revised in the light of much new material including the huge archive of the pianist Harriet Cohen, Bax's mistress, which has only just become available for research, it is a notable portrait of a unique musical milieu. Bax's extensive musical output is now comprehensively recorded and widely known and here all the music is discussed from first hand acquaintance with all the revivals and recordings. This is the essential handbook to Bax and his period. LEWIS FOREMAN is a freelance author and advisor to record companies.Trade Review[Foreman's] big Bax biography...is surely his central achievement...The book established itself at the outset as the standard work on one of the most important and least understood British composers of his time...The new edition makes [it] more indispensable than ever. -- Calum MacDonald * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *Baxians everywhere owe Lewis Foreman a profound debt of gratitude and newcomers can rest assured that he is an absorbing and painstaking biographer...mandatory reading. -- Andrew Achenbach * GRAMOPHONE *A more wide-ranging study of Bax and his work than ever before...This book is a tour de force and the fitting culmination of a lifetime's dedicated research. -- Julian Haylock * CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE *One of the great biographies of an English composer just got even better. May it snare still more converts to this betwitching composer. * CLASSICAL MUSIC *For its contribution to the ongoing documentation of an extraordinary period of British musical creativity it is invaluable. * BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY NEWS *Foreman's latest effort is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Bax. * JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF MUSICOLOGY IN IRELAND *Highly recommended. * CHOICE *Table of Contents1883-1900: The Backround 1900-1905: The Royal Academy of Music 1905-1909: Many Influences 1909-1910: Ireland and Russia 1910-1911: Marriage 1912-1914: Rathgar and London 1914-1916: The Great War 1916-1918: Harriet Cohen 1918-1920: Peace and Success 1921-1923: Triumph 1924-1925: Crisis 1926-1928: New Directions 1928-1929: Dreams and Reality 1930-1932: Going Northern 1933-1936: Past Fifty 1937-1939: `I can't grow up' 1939-1945: The Second World War: Storrington 1945-1953: Last Years After 1953: Decline and Revival Appendix A: Dermot O'Byrne Appendix B: King Kojata Appendix C: The Happy Forest by Herbert Farjeon Appendix D: Bax's Symphonies at the Proms Appendix E: Felix Aprahamian's Foreward to the First Edition [1982]
£40.50
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) Café Tacvbas Re
Book SynopsisCarmelo Esterrich is Professor of Humanities and Cultural Studies at Columbia College Chicago, USA where he teaches interdisciplinary humanities and Latin American studies. He is author of Concrete and Countryside: The Urban and the Rural in 1950s Puerto Rican Culture (2018) and Star Wars Multiverse (2021), part of the Quick Takes: Movies and Popular Culture series.
£9.49
University of California Press Music and the Forms of Life
Book SynopsisInventors in the age of the Enlightenment created lifelike androids capable of playing music on real instruments. Music and the Forms of Lifeexamines the link between such simulated life and music, which began in the era's scientific literature and extended into a series of famous musical works by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Music invented auditory metaphors for the scientific elements of life (drive, pulse, sensibility, irritability, even metabolism), investigated the affinities and antagonisms between life and mechanism, and explored questions of whether and how mechanisms can come to life. The resulting changes in the conceptions of both life and music had wide cultural resonance at the time, and those concepts continued to evolve long after. A critical part of that evolution was a nineteenth-century shift in focus from moving androids to the projection of life in motion, culminating in the invention of cinema. Weaving together cultural and musical practices, Lawrence Kramer trTable of ContentsContents List of Musical Examples and Figures Introduction: Music and the Life of Statues 1 • From Clockwork to Pulsation I: Intensity and Drive 2 • From Clockwork to Pulsation II: Action and Feeling 3 • From Clockwork to Pulsation III: Metabolism 4 • 1812 Overtures: Wellington’s Victory and Live Action 5 • “Dear Listener” . . . : Music and the Invention of Subjectivity 6 • Waltzing Specters: Life, Perception, and Ravel’s “La Valse” 7 • The Musical Biome Epilogue: Sound and the Forms of Life Notes Index
£27.00
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Kendrick Lamars To Pimp a Butterfly
Book SynopsisBreaking the global record for streams in a single day, nearly 10 million people around the world tuned in to hear Kendrick Lamar's sophomore album in the hours after its release. To Pimp a Butterfly was widely hailed as an instant classic, garnering laudatory album reviews, many awards, and even a canonized place in Harvard's W. E. B. Du Bois archive. Why did this strangely compelling record stimulate the emotions and imaginations of listeners?This book takes a deep dive into the sounds, images, and lyrics of To Pimp a Butterfly to suggest that Kendrick appeals to the psyche of a nation in crisis and embraces the development of a radical political conscience. Kendrick breathes fresh life into the Black musical protest tradition and cultivates a platform for loving resistance. Combining funk, jazz, and spoken word, To Pimp a Butterfly's expansive sonic and lyrical geography brings a high level of innovation to rap music. More importantly, Kendrick's introspective and philosophical songs compel us to believe in a future where, perhaps, we gon' be alright.Table of ContentsPreface I. RAGE II. SPIRIT III. LOVE Afterword Special Thanks Notes
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing USA Duran Duran's Rio, Limited Edition: Celebrating
Book Synopsis
£14.24
The University of Chicago Press Musics Monisms Disarticulating Modernism
Book SynopsisDaniel Albright investigates musical phenomena through the lens of monism, the philosophical belief that things that appear to be two are actually one. Trade Review"This is vintage Albright, a work of original, engaging criticism shot through with interpretive flair and sparkling erudition. This is criticism born of boundless sympathy and enthusiasm, not just of deep understanding."-- "Stephen Hinton, Stanford University" "Music's Monisms celebrates the power of music to transcend the oppositions of verbal language and, indeed, of everyday life. Albright presents brilliantly original readings of major works in twentieth-century music. He takes on some of the most imposing figures in music history with a wonderfully humane, and wonderfully personal, touch."-- "Arman Schwartz, King's College London"
£30.00
Yale University Press More Real Life Rock
Book SynopsisA funny, fierce, and uninhibited musical chronicle of the convulsive recent past, from one of our finest cultural criticsTrade Review“Mr. Marcus is a world-class cultural spelunker . . . More Real Life Rock [is] a one-of-a-kind guide to rock music’s resonance in every aspect of our lives.”—David Kirby, Wall Street Journal “For decades, Greil Marcus has attempted to define the whole of American culture as his life’s work. From hip-hop to opera, from outer space to political unrest, from black to white, from a thousand years ago until tomorrow. This collection of essays, critiques, questions, and revelations shows how far a brilliant, active, open and observant mind can go toward understanding an amalgamated culture that has never understood itself.”—Walter Mosley“This new collection of Marcus’ long-running column continues his role as a great chronicler of the highways and byways of American culture. This book feels like reading the diary of a friend who had noticed things I’d missed and seen deeper into what I‘d noticed.”—Morgan Neville“The world is moving so fast that some days it feels impossible to stop, listen and look. In ten years, fifty years, or tomorrow, Greil Marcus’s Real Life Rock Top 10 will be there for you, pointing the way to things you missed, but even better, opening doors to new ways of thinking about everything you thought you knew.”—Stephanie Zacharek“Marcus’ enthusiasm is contagious; he doesn’t only share his knowledge, he wants you to go out and experience it firsthand. This record of short reviews and previews reads like a poetry volume and connects the dots between so many contemporary subjects.”—Christian Marclay“Marcus brings an acute, intellectually dexterous, aesthetically and politically informed attention to the music in question. These essays are an astounding contribution to both music and cultural history.”—Thomas Lutz, Los Angeles Review of Books
£17.99
Faber & Faber The Wichita Lineman Searching in the Sun for the
Book SynopsisThe sound of Wichita Lineman' was the sound of ecstatic solitude, but then its hero was the quintessential loner. What a great metaphor he was: a man who needed a woman more than he actually wanted her. Written in 1968 by Jimmy Webb, Wichita Lineman' is the first philosophical country song: a heartbreaking torch ballad still celebrated for its mercurial songwriting genius fifty years later. It was recorded by Glen Campbell in LA with a legendary group of musicians known as the Wrecking Crew', and something about the song's enigmatic mood seemed to capture the tensions in America at a moment of crisis. Fusing a dribble of bass, searing strings, tremolo guitar and Campbell's plaintive vocals, Webb's paean to the American West describes a telephone lineman's longing for an absent lover, who he hears singing in the wire' and like all good love songs, it's an SOS from the heart. Mixing close-listening, interviews and travelogue, Dylan Jones explores the legacy of a recor
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Parallels and Paradoxes Explorations in Music and
Book SynopsisStunning account of conversations between these two great intellectuals of our timeTrade Review‘A beautifully poised series of dialogues about literature, music and politics, and they're a testimony to the enormous gifts and courage of both men' * Tom Paulin, Guardian *‘Without question, the most original book of the year. A marvellous eavesdrop on the discourse of exchange between two great intellects' * Nadine Gordimer, TLS *‘A fascinating exchange of ideas on music, politics and literature' * Classic FM Magazine *‘An extraordinary meeting of minds in troubled times' * Financial Times *
£12.34
Simon & Schuster Untitled ML
Book Synopsis
£17.00
Primary Information Assembling a Black Counter Culture
Book Synopsis
£16.15
Profile Books Ltd On Bowie
Book SynopsisWhat made Bowie special? What made him the cultural icon he is today? And what made millions of people around the world tune into his peculiar wavelength and find exactly what they'd been looking for all along? These are the questions asked by Simon Critchley in this keen-eyed, moving and textured tribute to Bowie. Each of the two dozen deceptively short chapters looks at Bowie from a new angle, slowly unfolding the enigma that was his artistic life into a celebration of what made him unique. From the author's earliest childhood exposure to the bizarre musical and sexual contours of Ziggy Stardust right through to the supernova glow of Blackstar, and covering everything in between, Critchley traces the development of Bowie's music and lyrics to tell the story of how he tapped into zeitgeist - and into our hearts. Growing up in working-class suburban England, the young Critchley was instantly drawn to this creature from another planet, 'so sexual, so knowing, so strange'. Now a celebrated philosopher who Jonathan Lethem has called 'a figure of quite startling brilliance', Critchley draws on a plethora of cultural and philosophical touchpoints, as well as his own intensely personal response to the music, to paint an essential portrait of Bowie as songwriter, poet, performer and icon.Trade ReviewA magnificent and deceptively slim book, in which no essay takes longer to read than it would take to listen to a Bowie song, but in which there is a cumulative sense of revelation as regards what made Bowie special, and why it is that his work seems to yield more, the more time you spend there. The book is delightful, highly readable ... funny, moving and passionate -- Rick Moody * Salon *Simon Critchley beguiles as he illuminates. -- David MitchellSimon Critchley is a figure of quite startling brilliance, and I can never guess what he'll do next, only that it is sure to sustain and nourish my appetite for his voice. -- Jonathan Lethem
£8.54
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc ACDC at 50
Book SynopsisAuthored by acclaimed rock writer Martin Popoff, AC/DC at 50 provides a visually stunning and authoritative celebration of the legendary Aussie rockers on their 50th anniversary.Trade Review"Aesthetically stunning and expertly written, this book will spend years in your library only to be opened again and again. The best books are those we revisit: for reference, for nostalgia, for uncomplicated beauty. Martin Popoff and Motorbooks have laid plain the colossal musical history of AC/DC—and all under 200 pages. Now, that is a colossal accomplishment." * Screamer Magazine *"Through his compelling narrative, along with a vast collection of images, AC/DC At 50 is an enjoyable reading experience for super and casual fans alike. Popoff allows for AC/DC’s achievements and downfalls tell their story to great effect...has created a strong companion for truly understanding the legacy and cultural importance of AC/DC." * Spill Magazine *"...this book examines 50 career milestones...the best parts are lesser-known markers like an impromptu '77 set at NYC punk mecca CBGB's or discussing 1978's Powerage - Keith Richards' favorite AC/DC album!" * Vintage Guitar *"For those about to rock, er, read, here's a must-have book for AC/DC fans. Each of the 50 chapters is accompanied by photos and pictures of ephemera (posters, ticket stubs, backstage passes) from the era and a short essay from Popoff, whose eloquent commentary is not only informative but also often amusing." * antimusic.com *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTIONPART 1 BONFIRE 01 PROBLEM CHILD - AC/DC forms in Sydney 02 LOVE AT FIRST FEEL - Debut single, “Can I Sit Next to You, Girl” 03 ROCK ’N’ ROLL SINGER - Bon Scott joins 04 SHOW BUSINESS - Debut album, High Voltage 05 WAITING ROUND TO BE A MILLIONAIRE - The second album, T.N.T. 06 LONG WAY TO THE TOP - The international compilation version of High Voltage 07 LIVE WIRE - First dates outside Australia 08 GONNA BE SOME ROCKIN’ - The third Australian album, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 09 BAD BOY BOOGIE - The fourth album, Let There Be Rock 10 GIMME A BULLET - Cliff Williams replaces Mark Evans on bass 11 FIRST BLOOD - The first U.S. shows 12 SAFE IN NEW YORK CITY - AC/DC play CBGB 13 DECIBEL - AC/DC issue Powerage 14 LET THERE BE ROCK - First live album, If You Want Blood You’ve Got It 15 RISING POWER - The Mutt Lange–produced Highway to Hell 16 HAVE A DRINK ON ME - First RIAA certificationPART 2 GEORDIE 17 MISS ADVENTURE - Bon Scott dies 18 SEND FOR THE MAN - Malcolm offers Brian Johnson a job 19 BACK IN BUSINESS - AC/DC issue Back in Black 20 ALL SCREWED UP - Atlantic issues Dirty Deeds in North America 21 STAND UP - Headlining the second annual Monsters of Rock 22 FIRE YOUR GUNS - The eighth album, For Those About to Rock 23 BREAKING THE RULES - The self-produced Flick of the Switch 24 THIS HOUSE IS ON FIRE - First band to headline Monsters of Rock twice 25 GO DOWN - Headlining Rock in Rio 26 SHAKE YOUR FOUNDATIONS - AC/DC issue Fly on the Wall 27 WAR MACHINE - The soundtrack/hits release, Who Made Who 28 SYSTEMS DOWN - AC/DC issue Blow Up Your Video 29 TOUCH TOO MUCH - Malcolm enters rehab 30 THUNDERSTRUCK - The comeback album, The Razors EdgePART 3 LEGACY 31 MONEY MADE - Back in Black certified 10x platinum 32 GO ZONE - Headlining Russia’s first-ever open-air rock festival 33 KICKED IN THE TEETH - A second live album, simply called Live 34 RUFF STUFF - AC/DC issue Ballbreaker 35 UP TO MY NECK IN YOU - The Bonfire box set 36 ROCK THE BLUES AWAY - Fourteenth album, Stiff Upper Lip 37 SHOOT TO THRILL - AC/DC perform on SNL 38 SCHOOL DAYS - AC/DC play club shows and support The Rolling Stones 39 ROCK THE HOUSE - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction 40 SKIES ON FIRE - Performing at the Toronto Rocks benefit 41 ROCK ’N’ ROLL AIN’T NOISE POLLUTION - Fifteenth studio album, Black Ice 42 BOOGIE MAN - Columbia issues Backtracks box set 43 JAILBREAK - A third live album, Live at River PlatePART 4 MALCOLM 44 REALIZE - Ill health forces Malcolm aside; Phil Rudd gets fired 45 PLAY BALL - AC/DC issue Rock or Bust, their first album without Malcolm 46 NICK OF TIME - Performing at the Grammys 47 HELLS BELLS - Brian plays his last AC/DC show... to date 48 GUNS FOR HIRE - Twenty-three dates with Axl Rose as front man 49 THROUGH THE MISTS OF TIME - Rest in Peace, George and Malcolm Young 50 FLICK OF THE SWITCH - Seventeenth album, Power Up DISCOGRAPHY INDEX IMAGE CREDITS
£28.00
Bloomsbury Academic Erykah Badus New Amerykah Part Two Return of the Ankh
£12.00
Yale University Press The Guitar in Georgian England
Book SynopsisA fascinating social history of the guitar, reasserting its long-forgotten importance in Romantic EnglandTrade Review“It was puzzling that the guitar’s rich history during that period had been so largely neglected in scholarly research. Page’s new book not only fills this gap admirably...but also adds a novel dimension to the discussion of the guitar by investigating its multifaceted impact within the sociocultural and intellectual context of a revolutionary era...The Guitar in Georgian England will certainly inspire and shape future studies of the guitar.”—Panagiotis Poulopoulos, Galpin Society Journal “Page touches on many factors that impact on the life story of a musical instrument, and presents a social and musical history that will be of interest and use to readers well beyond the sphere of musicology.”—Jenny Nex, Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies
£30.88
University of California Press Create Produce Consume New Models for
Book SynopsisTrade Review"The music industry has changed dramatically in the past two decades. Bruenger . . . has written another very useful book for those seeking a framework for understanding those changes. . . . The underlying theme of the book is that music is not just about making and spending money but also about experiences that can change people's lives." * CHOICE *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Inception: Creation, Production, Reception 2. Production: Art, Science, Enterprise 3. Reception: Listeners, Fans, Consumers 4. Commodification: Product, Process, Culture 5. Monetization: Publishing, Performing, Recording 6. Location: Scenes, Venues, Labels 7. Diffusion: Here, There, Everywhere 8. Disruption: Pattern, Deviation, Adaptation 9. Connection: Artists, Audiences, Networks 10. Incorporation: Production, Monetization, Affiliation 11. Aggregation: Consumption, Production, Prediction 12. Simulation: Creation, Production, Consumption Notes Bibliography Index
£22.50
Bloomsbury Publishing USA The Avalanches Since I Left You
Book SynopsisCharles Fairchild is Associate Professor of Popular Music at the University of Sydney, Australia, and the author of Musician in the Museum (Bloomsbury, 2021), Sounds, Screens, and Speakers (Bloomsbury, 2019), Danger Mouse's The Grey Album (Bloomsbury, 2014), and Music, Radio and the Public Sphere (2012). His work focuses on cultural mediation in the music industry, focusing especially on the period from 1975 to the present, examining how intermediaries within different kinds of institutions shape the ways people consume and make meaning from music.
£20.40
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC David Bowies Low
Book SynopsisDavid Bowie is holed up in his Bel-Air mansion, drifting into paranoia and confusion. Bowie has long been haunted by the emotional work of the Die Brucke movement and the Expressionists. Berlin is their spiritual home, and Bowie adopts this city as his new sanctuary. Immediately he sets to work on "Low", his own expressionist mood-piece.Trade Review"'A brilliant series of pocket-sized books focussing on a classic album. Each one a work of real love.' NME"
£9.49
Rowman & Littlefield Shanties from the Seven Seas
Book Synopsis
£18.04
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Patti Smiths Horses
Book SynopsisDescribed, variously, as the perfect fusion of poetry and garage band rock and roll, Horses belongs as much to the world of literary and cultural criticism as it does to the realm of musicology. This book demonstrates how Horses transformed the possibilities of both poetry and rock music.Trade ReviewArmed with an amazing depth of knowledge and insight on Smith's life from childhood to the release of her debut masterpiece, Shaw contributes yet another stellar entry in this excellent series of books. -- Jer Fairall * Popmatters *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Janelle Monaes The ArchAndroid
Book SynopsisIn Janelle Monáe's full-length debut, the science fiction concept album The ArchAndroid, the android Cindi Mayweather is on the run from the authorities for the crime of loving a human. Living in 28th century Metropolis, Cindi fights for survival, soon realizing that she is in fact the prophesied ArchAndroid, a robot messiah meant to liberate the masses and lead them toward a wonderland where all can be free.Taking into account the literary merit of Monáe's astounding multimedia body of work, the political relevance of the science fictional themes and aesthetics she explores, and her role as an Atlanta-based pop cultural juggernaut, this book explores the lavish world building of Cindi's story, and the many literary, cinematic, and musical influences brought together to create it. Throughout, a history of Monáe's move to Atlanta, her signing with Bad Boy Records, and the trials of developing a full-length concept album in an industry devoted to the production of marketable singlTable of ContentsDance or Die: An Introduction 1. Tightrope 2. Neon Gumbo 3. Oh, Maker 4. Come Alive 5. Wondaland Conclusion: BaBopByeYa
£9.49
Gemini Books Group Ltd Harry Styles
Book SynopsisA colorful celebration of a truly modern star. Fully illustrated throughout, this handsome biography charts Styles's career to date, from X Factor audition to global acclaim
£21.25
Penguin Books Ltd 31 Songs
Book SynopsisFROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ABOUT A BOY 31 Songs is best-selling author Nicky Hornby''s ultimate desert island disksThrough thirty-one songs that he either loves or has loved, Nick Hornby tells us what music means to his life. These personal and passionate pieces - refreshingly free of pretension - are a celebration of the joy that certain songs have given him. Together with additional writings on music from his column in the new Yorker - seen in the UK for the first time - 31 Songs is for Hornby what many of us have always wanted: a soundtrack to accompany life.Winner of The National Book Critics Circle award, this funny and touchingly personal book is a must for music fans everywhere.''Original, well written and wholly lacking in pretension...as good a book about pop music as I have read in many years and the most accomplished of Hornby''s books so far'' Spectator''Funny
£10.44
HarperCollins Focus Night Train to Nashville
Book SynopsisSet against the backdrop of Jim Crow, Night Train to Nashville takes readers behind the curtain of one of music''s greatest untold stories during the era of segregation and Civil Rights.In another time and place, E. Gab Blackman and William Sousa Sou Bridgeforth might have been as close as brothers, but in 1950s Nashville they remained separated by the color of their skin. Gab, a visionary yet opportunistic radio executive, saw something no one else did: a vast and untapped market with the R&B scene exploding in Black clubs across the city. He defied his industry, culture, government, and even his own family to broadcast Black music to a national audience.Sou, the popular kingpin of Black Nashville and a grandson of slaves, led this movement into the second half of the twentieth century as his New Era Club on the Black side of town exploded in the aftermath of this new radio airplay. As the popularity of Black R&B grew, integr
£17.00
Cambridge University Press Gypsy and the Broadway Musical Madwoman
Book Synopsis
£17.00
Cambridge University Press Clara Schumann Studies
Book SynopsisRepresenting the latest research on Clara Schumann's social and musical contexts and her creative output, this book reconsiders the composer's songs and instrumental music, and her legacy as a pianist and teacher. It will be of interest to scholars and students of nineteenth-century music, cultural history and gender studies.Trade Review'… what the individual essays exemplify is a sense of academic diversity that underpins current ways of thinking about Schumann-Wieck and his world. In doing so, they break ground not only in relation to Clara Schumann, but in relation to women in music in general.' Juan Carlos Tellechea, Bibliographic ReviewsTable of Contents1. Clara and Robert Schumann's circles in Dresden: 'I take the liberty to request from you an invitation […] to your musical matinée' Anja Bunzel; 2. Disillusionment and patriotism: Clara and Robert Schumann in the wake of the 1848–1849 revolutions Susan Youens; 3. Softened,smudged, erased: Punctuation and continuity in Clara Schumann's Lieder Stephen Rodgers; 4. A way with words: Expressive declamation in Clara Schumann's songs Harald Krebs; 5. Clara Schumann and the nineteenth-century piano concerto Joe Davies; 6. Clara Schumann and Bach Susan Wollenberg; 7. Formal innovation and virtuosity in Clara Schumann's Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17 Nicole Grimes; 8. Contextualizing Clara Schumann's Romanzen Katharina Uhde and R. Larry Todd; 9. The young prophetess in performance Amanda Lalonde; 10. Clara Schumann's compositional and concertizing strategies, and Robert Schumann's piano sets Alexander Stefaniak; 11. Clara – Robert's posthumous androgyne Roe-Min Kok; 12. Clara Schumann, 'Clara Schumann', and the American press Jonathan Kregor; 13. Clara Schumann's legacy as a teacher Natasha Loges.
£23.74
McFarland & Co Inc The Sound of Cinema
Book Synopsis While some film scores crash through theater speakers to claim their place in memory, others are more unassuming. Either way, a film''s score is integral to successful world building. This book lifts the curtain on the elusive yet thrilling art form, examining the birth of the Hollywood film score, its turbulent evolution throughout the decades and the multidimensional challenges to musicians that lie ahead. The history of the film score is illuminated by extraordinary talents (like John Williams, Hans Zimmer and countless others). Beginning with vaudeville and silent cinema, chapters explore the wonders of early pioneers like Max Steiner and Bernard Herrmann, and continue through the careers of other soundtrack titans. Leading Hollywood film composers offer in this book fascinating perspectives on the art of film music composition, its ongoing relevance and its astonishing ability to enhance a filmmaker''s vision.Trade ReviewAccessible...vivid...ambitious in its scope...Sean Wilson is a trusted guide with an obvious passion for (and knowledge of) the subject...the detail here is pretty extraordinary, with fascinating asides and valuable insights"—BBC Music MagazineTable of Contents Acknowledgments Foreword: What Constitutes a Great Film Score? by Amon Warmann Preface One. Tremolo: The Onset of Film Music Two. Forte: The Romantic Era Takes Shape Three. Glissando: Jazz, Rock and Roll and the Slide Towards Experimentalism Four. Allegro: Star Wars and the Resurgence of the Symphonic Score Five. Atonal: The Role of Film Music in the Era of Franchising Six. Dissonance: Gender Disparity, Temp Scores and Rejected Scores Coda: The Future of Hollywood Film Scoring Chapter Notes Bibliography Index
£37.82
University of Texas Press Youre with Stupid
Book Synopsis2023 ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research, Association for Recorded Sound Collections An insider’s look at how Chicago’s underground music industry transformed indie rock in the 1990s. In the 1990s, Chicago was at the center of indie rock, propelling bands like the Smashing Pumpkins and Liz Phair to the national stage. The musical ecosystem from which these bands emerged, though, was expansive and diverse. Grunge players comingled with the electronic, jazz, psychedelic, and ambient music communities, and an inventive, collaborative group of local labels—kranky, Drag City, and Thrill Jockey, among others—embraced the new, evolving sound of indie “rock.” Bruce Adams, co-founder of kranky records, was there to bear witness. In You’re with Stupid, Adams offers an insider’s look at the role Chicago’s underground music industry played in the transformation of ind
£17.09
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) Cocteau Twins Blue Bell Knoll
Book SynopsisChris Tapley is based in Glasgow, Scotland. His writing has been published by The List, The Skinny, The Line of Best Fit, thi wurd magazine, the Scottish Writers' Centre, and commended for the Costa Short Story Award.
£9.49
Bonnier Books Ltd Bee Gees Children of the World
Book Synopsis***Nominated for the 2024 Penderyn Music Book Prize***A Times Book of the YearA Telegraph Book of the YearA Waterstones Book of the YearA Mojo Music Book of the YearA Classic Pop Book of the YearA Shindig Book of the YearAn Uncut Book of the Year Everyone has their favourite era of the Bee Gees' career, but so much is still unclear about this celebrated but often misunderstood band. This book will provide the perfect route in, pulling together every fascinating strand to tell the story of these pioneering, melancholic masters of pop. Uniquely, the Bee Gees' tale spans the entire modern pop era - they are the only group to have scored British top-ten singles in the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s - and includes world-conquering disco successes like 'Stayin' Alive' and 'More Than a Woman', both from the soundtrack of
£11.69
Collective Ink Fear of Music 2nd Edition
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£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Every Song Ever: Twenty Ways to Listen to Music
Book Synopsis'A remarkable new book ... goes leaping from Beethoven to Big Black, from Morton Feldman to Curtis Mayfield, identifying continuities while delighting in contrasts' Alex Ross, New YorkerFor the first time ever, we have all the music in the world to choose from. As Ben Ratliff, one of America's celebrated music critics, shows us, it's time to listen in a new way too. Opening our ears to unexpected connections, new experiences and little-known delights, this book will change the way you appreciate music forever. 'Masterly ... An instructive guide to opening one's mind and compiling a new kind of playlist ... succeeds brilliantly' John Clarke, Independent'Smart, provocative ... in every case informative' August Kleinzahler, The New York Times Book Review 'Like a trip into the world's coolest record store' David Browne, Rolling StoneTrade ReviewA music appreciation guide for our era ... Brilliant -- Dan Chiasson * New York Review of Books *A remarkable new book . . . [Ratliff] goes leaping from Beethoven to Big Black, from Morton Feldman to Curtis Mayfield, identifying continuities while delighting in contrasts -- Alex Ross * New Yorker *The spectacle of an active mind processing a world in constant flux . . . Maybe, as Ratliff beautifully argues, the brooding aggression of metal obscures a deeper melancholy -- Hua Hsu * New Yorker *Incisive . . . Thanks to Ratliff's vast knowledge, what could have been a dry academic exercise is more like a trip into the world's coolest record store -- David Browne * Rolling Stone *
£10.44
Watkins Media Limited Under My Thumb: Songs that hate women and the
Book SynopsisIn the majority of mainstream writing and discussions on music, women appear purely in relation to men as muses, groupies or fangirls, with our own experiences, ideas and arguments dismissed or ignored. But this hasn't stopped generations of women from loving, being moved by and critically appreciating music, even - and sometimes especially - when we feel we shouldn't. Under My Thumb: Songs that Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them is a study of misogyny in music through the eyes of women. It brings together stories from journalists, critics, musicians and fans about artists or songs we love (or used to love) despite their questionable or troubling gender politics, and looks at how these issues interact with race, class and sexuality. As much celebration as critique, this collection explores the joys, tensions, contradictions and complexities of women loving music - however that music may feel about them. Featuring: murder ballads, country, metal, hip hop, emo, indie, Phil Spector, David Bowie, Guns N' Roses, 2Pac, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, AC/DC, Elvis Costello, Jarvis Cocker, Kanye West, Swans, Eminem, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Combichrist and many more.Trade Review"Broad and interesting…a necessary and enlightening read." --The Wire
£9.49
Hachette Books The Number Ones
Book SynopsisWhen Tom Breihan launched his Stereogum column in early 2018, The Number Ones-a space in which he has been writing about every #1 hit in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, in chronological order-he figured he''d post capsule-size reviews for each song. But there was so much more to uncover. The column has taken on a life of its own, sparking online debate and occasional death threats.The Billboard Hot 100 began in 1958, and after four years of posting the column, Breihan is still in the early aughts. But readers no longer have to wait for his brilliant synthesis of what the history of #1s has meant to music and our culture. In The Number Ones, Breihan writes about twenty pivotal #1s throughout chart history, revealing a remarkably fluid and connected story of music that is as entertaining as it is enlightening.The Numbers Ones features the greatest pop artists of all time, from the Brill Building songwriters to the Beatles and the Beach Boys;
£14.44
OUP India On Elton John
Book SynopsisA lively and imaginative exploration of the career and music of the Rocket ManElton John is not only still standing, he is a living superlative, the ultimate record-breaking, award-winning survivor of the great era of pop and rock music that he helped to shape during his six decades in the music industry. Yet few of his numerous biographies and song guides take him as a historical subject worthy of scholarly study.In contrast, On Elton John approaches the artist seriously and analytically, while still couched in a highly accessible style. Author Matthew Restall offers a new way to explore Sir Elton''s career and music within the contexts of other artists and of sweeping shifts in popular culture during his lifetime. Each of the ten chapters is anchored to an Elton song, rooted in its pop culture history, and advances a clear argument, pairing him with figures ranging from Bernie (Bernie Taupin, his lyricist) to Bennie (of the Jets), from frenemy David Bowie to artists like Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, and Dua Lipa, from Diana (the princess) to Jesus (yes, that one). Restall contends that Sir Elton''s career offers us a novel way to see and understand the last half century of pop music and culture history--whether we call the era that of the album, of rock, of postmodernism, or of something else. The yellow brick road of Sir Elton''s career has been long, winding, and bumpy, but, as Restall argues, his success has come not just despite but because of those challenges. The artist''s transformations from Reg to Elton to Sir Elton to Uncle Elton, from ugly duckling to bedazzled swan, from the world''s biggest rock star to creator of the world''s largest AIDS fundraising organization, from tabloid punching bag to pop royalty, have all served as survival strategies that illuminate the era he has thereby navigated.A must-have for fans, On Elton John will appeal to a wide range of readers interested in music history, popular culture, and the social issues of our era.
£21.84
Faber & Faber Sweet Dreams
Book Synopsis*Includes an exclusive new chapter*'Excellent' Guardian'Hugely enjoyable' Irish Times'Dazzling' LRB 'Fascinating' New Statesman 'An absolute must-read' GQAn NME and BBC Culture Book of the Year 2020For a while, Sweet Dreams were made of this.From the testimony of the people who lived it, comes Dylan Jones' masterful history of the Blitz kids, synth-pop and the style press, from 1975 to 1985. 'Few music scenes have received more opprobrium than the New Romantics. A bunch of fame-grabbing clothes-horses? Certainly. But also, a progressive force that opened new routes for music while embracing most genders, ethnicities and sexual preferences.' MOJO 'Compelling reading for those who lived and breathed the indulgence of the era without realising its signific
£12.34
Globe Pequot Press Rock Camp
Book SynopsisWho doesn't want to be a rockstar? After years of producing rock tours throughout the world and working with icons like Roger Daltrey, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, and so many more, David Fishof wanted to capture the rock n' roll experience for everyone. He was inspired to create the one-of-a-kind Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, where over the past twenty-five years 6,000 campers and counselors have lived, played, and become family with rockstars. Campers get to meet and jam with their musical idolsincluding Joe Perry, Vince Neil, Jack Bruce, and Jeff Beckin such legendary venues like Abbey Road Studios in London, Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood, and Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.Rock Camp: An Oral History shares the history of the camp through interviews from the people who got to live out their dreams. Fishof gives a behind-the-scenes look at the origins, early struggles, and challenges he faced to meet the level of excellence he envisioned for the campers and rockers. With original ph
£25.50
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) Tropicália
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£14.24
University of California Press Mirror in the Sky
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£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing USA John Cales Paris 1919
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£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing USA Shoegaze
Book SynopsisRyan Pinkard is a writer, editor, and record collector from Colorado. He is the author of the 33 1/3 book about The National's Boxer (2022) and an editor on numerous other 33 1/3 titles.
£14.24
