No wavers & honky-tonkers. Brandy & Ty. Apple & Macca. The Beatles and more Beatles. Joy Division & New Order. The & The. Next week’s hand is full of winning pairs. Are you all in? Here comes the flop:
No New York: A Memoir Of No Wave And The Women Who Shaped The Scene
By Adele Bertei
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In 1975, a young queer singer from Cleveland meets Nan Goldin and joins her in New York’s bombed-out downtown, where something unprecedented is brewing. At Max’s Kansas City and CBGB, in derelict lofts and underground clubs, a generation of visionary women artists is rewriting the rules of creativity, sexuality, and power. Adele Bertei didn’t just witness the No Wave explosion — she ignited it. As Acetone organist for The Contortions and Brian Eno’s assistant, she was at the epicenter when punk collided with post-punk, when Lydia Lunch screamed her first songs, when Kathy Acker was penning her transgressive novels, when Kathryn Bigelow was making her first films. No New York reveals the untold story of the boundary-pushing women who made No Wave possible: Goldin capturing flash-lit portraits of gender fluidity, Barbara Kruger deconstructing media, Kiki Smith exploring the body’s mysteries, Lizzie Borden challenging cinema itself. While mainstream culture wallowed in sexism and homophobia, these artists created something fluid, fierce, and transgressive. Raw and gripping, No New York takes readers deep into the artistic and sexual experimentation of an era when everyone read Jean Genet, quoted Antonin Artaud, and believed true expression mattered more than money or fame.”
Gary Stewart: I Am From The Honky Tonks
By Jimmy McDonough
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In the mid-’70s, Gary Stewart’s crazed hits, including She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles) and Drinkin’ Thing, rocketed him to the top of the charts, earning him the admiration of Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers and Tanya Tucker. Within a few years, he had flamed out and all but vanished from the music scene. Until Jimmy McDonough barged his way into the spooky Florida double-wide Stewart was hiding out in, beginning a nearly 40-year obsession with the musician. Gary Stewart: I Am From The Honky Tonks ― the ninth and final biography from McDonough, best-selling author of the Neil Young bio Shakey and America’s great chronicler of the weird, wild, and wondrous ― is the outrageous tale of a true country outlaw. This is a story of sex, drugs, and honky-tonk, told in McDonough’s inimitable, two-fisted style, the unique combination of oral history, vivid prose, and personal experience. It’s an epic tale of a wild Kentucky family who surfed success and rear-ended disaster in drug-soaked, ’70s Florida. At its core is the tempestuous, tragic love story of Stewart and his wife Mary Lou that will leave you haunted long after you turn the last page. This is the definitive telling of the life of the late, great honky-tonk legend, based on hundreds of hours of interviews with Gary, Mary Lou, family members, band members, producers, cohorts, dealers, and fellow stars such as Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Dickey Betts, Dean Dillon and Charley Pride. This intense and exhaustive 544-page book reveals the complete, untold, and torrid history of a man who lived life as if “the plane could crash tomorrow.”
Phases: A Memoir
By Brandy
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The iconic, multiplatinum, Grammy–winning performer Brandy brings us a raw, intimate portrait of her life, charting her journey from Mississippi churches to Hollywood spotlights From the moment she first sang at church in McComb, Brandy knew her voice was special. At 14 she landed her first record deal. At 15 her first album went platinum. At 16 she was starring in the hit sitcom Moesha and became the first Black actress to play Cinderella on screen alongside fairy godmother Whitney Houston. Yet as the accolades piled up, so too did the pressure to maintain a flawless image. To onlookers, she had crafted the blueprint for the teenage “it” girl. But behind closed doors she was struggling. Delving into the humble roots of her decades-spanning career, her early struggles with bullies and insecurities as a high schooler, and finally her inspirational journey to reclaim her sense of self and her autonomy as a woman in Hollywood and in music, this memoir is an insightful meditation on Brandy’s life and how she rose to become the woman she is today. Told through a series of breathtaking vignettes and never-before-seen family photographs in a full-color insert, Phases is a fearless and remarkable story of hope, resilience and the strength it takes to make peace with the past.”
What Mattered Most: A Memoir
By Ty Herndon & David Ritz
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ty Herndon may be most known for his beautiful country songs, but behind the music Herndon’s own life could be the subject of a classic country ballad. His career began as a member of the band The Tennessee River Boys — the band that would later become Diamond Rio. He found solo success after signing to Epic Records and releasing the No. 1 hit What Mattered Most, launching a decades-long career as one of country music’s leading legends. But behind the fame, Herndon struggled with addiction, mental health issues, and his sexuality — the latter of which had no place in mainstream country in the ’90s, 2000’s and arguably through today. Facing a series of setbacks including an arrest, lawsuits and a drug relapse, all while struggling to maintain his secret, his spiral ultimately led to a suicide attempt. His subsequent successful stay in rehab led to the inspiration for his song God Or The Gun. Now, Herndon brings that song to life telling his full story for the first time. With profound introspection, brutal honesty, occasional humor and a lot of heart, Herndon shares how he fought against his demons and ultimately chose God over the gun.”
That Was Me: Paul McCartney’s Career & The Legacy Of The Beatles
By Richard D. Driver
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This book explores the phenomena of Paul McCartney‘s career and his legacy in popular music and culture. McCartney has lived an extraordinary life in popular music and popular culture. His careers as a Beatle, as a solo musician and band leader in Wings, and in areas outside music have varied tremendously and are well-documented. That Was Me: Paul McCartney’s Career And The Legacy Of The Beatles explores the impact of McCartney as a musician outside The Beatles, identifying the continued excitement in generations of fans and listeners, and his perennial efforts to perform and record music. Richard Driver argues that his solo career is multi-faceted and extremely diverse, ranging from breaking sharply with the style and output of The Beatles to experimenting in orchestral and operatic music and returning to music designed to emulate and reproduce the style, success, and popularity of The Beatles. Through McCartney we can literally and symbolically view and revisit the popular music phenomenon that was The Beatles, and popular music from the 1950s to today.”
Apple Of My Eye: The Story Of Apple Records And The End Of The Beatles
By Andrew Wild
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Beatles pioneered so much in the recording studio during their short time together that it’s easy to forget that they formed their own record company in April 1968. Their business plan: To find and fund new musical talent. By the end of the year Apple had signed James Taylor and struck lucky with Mary Hopkin. The much-admired Badfinger followed, along with albums by obvious associates (Billy Preston, Ravi Shankar, Yoko Ono) and not-so-obvious (John Tavener, Modern Jazz Quartet, Radha Krishna Temple) with mixed financial and artistic success. But The Beatles were not businessmen and the early optimism of shiny newness soon soured into chaos. Major acts such as 10cc and Crosby, Stills & Nash slipped through their fingers. Allen Klein was appointed to sort out the mess, but disenfranchised nearly everybody. Paul McCartney left The Beatles and sued the others. In 1975, The Beatles‘ partnership was legally terminated and Apple Records, a vanity label in all but name, was quietly put to sleep. Apple Of My Eye revisits each of the albums and singles released by Apple between 1968 and 1975, underpinned by the business and legal context of the last days of the world’s greatest band.”
The Selena Reader: Remembering The Queen Of Tejano
Edited by Larissa M. Mercado-López & Yndalecio Isaac Hinojosa
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Three decades after her death, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez remains a cherished figure of Mexican American popular culture, her music and celebrity resounding across the decades. This unique collection of creative and scholarly works traces Selena‘s lasting impact as an entertainer and focal point of community and identity. Assembling essays, memoir, short stories, and poems, The Selena Reader memorializes a beloved singer while also exploring the politics and personal meaning of what we remember. Her eloquent admirers tell us what they took from her lyrics and stage presence, the official and fan tributes, and the media and products she inspired. In one essay, Tejana coming-of-age is sharply refracted through the prism of Selena’s art and social status. Another piece considers how her body and distinctive clothing have shaped the author’s sense of queer self. Honey Andrews, the renowned Selena impersonator, shares vivid recollections of her hero. A father and daughter describe how their conversations about Selena changed their relationship and contributed to Chicana feminist consciousness in their lives. All told, this anthology amplifies the gratitude of generations who have loved, and learned from, Selena.”
Too Many Miles: On The Road With An Unofficial Rock & Roll Goodwill Ambassador
By Bobbo Byrnes
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Take a seat in the passenger side of the van, feel the hum of highway, and join Bobbo Byrnes on a globe-trotting, laugh-out-loud, sometimes heartbreaking ride through the underbelly and glory of rock ’n’ roll. Too Many Miles: On The Road With An Unofficial Rock & Roll Goodwill Ambassador is not just a tour memoir ― it’s a vivid, candid, and unforgettable portrait of life lived between gigs, airports, train stations, and midnight diners; a book for anyone who’s ever wanted to know what really happens after the curtain falls. Too Many Miles shifts effortlessly between riotous anecdotes and small, sharp moments of clarity: The intimacy of a tiny club, the absurdity of rock ’n’ roll politics, the surreal sameness of motels in cities with names you can hardly pronounce. What makes this memoir special is its human center. Behind the rock glitter and travelogue trappings is a chronicler of human connection: Fans who become family and the unexpected kindnesses that make long tours bearable. Byrnes is honest about the cost of the road ― the relationships put on hold, the homesickness, the moral compromises ― but he never loses his sense of wonder or his gratitude for a life that, despite the hardship, keeps offering up stories worth telling. Byrnes frames touring as a form of informal diplomacy: a messy, human way of bridging cultural divides that’s often hampered geopolitical tensions and how a guitar or a song can break down many divides. Byrnes writes with crisp pacing and a wry, conversational tone that makes you feel like you’re hearing these tales over a late-night drink.”
Joy Division & New Order: Album By Album
By Mayer Nissim
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Coming out of northern England in the late 1970s, few bands have had the impact and influence of Joy Division and New Order. Joy Division were formed in the slipstream of punk but, thanks to frontman Ian Curtis’s singular voice and Martin Hannett’s ambitious production, soon stretched beyond the genre’s sonic limits to create something dark and new. After Curtis’s heartbreaking suicide, the surviving members picked themselves up and created the future as New Order. Written by Mayer Nissim, Joy Division And New Order: Album By Album deep dives into both groups’ studio LPs, pulling together a comprehensive narrative of two of the most vital bands in pop history. From their rehearsals at TJ Davidson’s in Manchester to their No. 1 records, it takes you through their fallouts, reunions and fragmentations to their lasting legacy. This book includes extensive interviews with singer and guitarist Bernard Sumner and estranged bassist Peter Hook, alongside conversations with six key band collaborators: Graphic designer Peter Saville, Scissor Sisters frontwoman Ana Matronic, producer Stephen Street, recording engineer Michael Johnson and filmmakers Charles Sturridge and Grant Gee.”
The The: Every Album, Every Song
By Brian J. Robb
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The The was always a personal project for songwriter Matt Johnson. Started in 1979, when Johnson was a teenager, the post-punk outfit became central to the political and personal pop of the 1980s. Never a singles band — they managed seven top 40 singles, with 1989’s anti-Thatcher anthem The Beaten Generation reaching No. 18 — their albums were hits. Infected in 1986 reached No. 14, followed by 1989’s Mind Bomb at No. 4 and 1993’s Dusk at No. 2. Bandmembers included Johnny Marr and DC Collard with other collaborators including JG Thirlwell, Jools Holland, Neneh Cherry, Zeke Manyika and Sinead O’Connor — a who’s who of 1980s independent pop. A reluctant live musician, Johnson created Infected: The Movie instead of a world tour in 1986. The Mind Bomb band, including Marr, launched the 1989-’90 The The vs The World tour, while Dusk was supported by the 1993 Lonely Planet tour. Johnson appeared to retire following 2000’s Naked Self. Although he kept busy with a sideways move into scoring movies, it wasn’t until 2018 that The The returned to playing live with a Comeback Special tour. This was followed in 2024 with the new album Ensoulment and accompanying tour — almost a quarter of a century after the band’s last recorded music. In recent years, Johnson has been busier than ever with podcasts, an official bootleg series of CDs exploring rare material, and other idiosyncratic projects.”
Bulletproof: The Little Guide To BTS
By OH
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Few artists have seen global success close to that of K-pop boy band BTS, standing for Bangtan Sonyeondan (Bulletproof Boy Scouts) They have rocketed into superstardom as the world has fallen in love with its seven charismatic members and extensive discography. The “BTS effect” can hardly be understated — and its roots are many. Their catchy songs with meaningful messages and high-energy choreography are only a small part of the picture. The band’s loyal fans — the BTS Army — worship them for their charming and quirky personalities, genuine authenticity, and perhaps most importantly, their chemistry and relationship with each other. Packed with their best quotes, most surprising facts and hilarious moments, get to know the boys behind the band in this little book. Fans say you find BTS when you need them most — and now is your chance to get to know Jin, Suga, j-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source tinnitist.com ’
