Next Week in Music | May 18-24 • 8 New Books

I noticed that there’s another one of those 100 Best Novels Of All Time lists making the rounds. Maybe I should put together a list of the 100 Best Music Books Of All Time. I’ll get right on that — as soon as I get through this list of all next week’s upcoming titles. Will they make the grade? Read on and decide for yourself:

Killin’ Time: My Life And Music
By Clint Black

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Over 20 million records sold. 22 No. 1 career singles. 31 top ten singles. Nearly two dozen gold and platinum awards. Countless CMA and ACM awards. A Grammy Award. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When it comes to modern music, few artists have had a bigger or more lasting impact than Clint Black. Since bursting onto the country music scene in 1989 with Killin’ Time — the triple-platinum debut that delivered five consecutive No. 1 singles — Black has built a genre-defining career spanning nearly four decades. Having written the soundtrack of a generation, Clint now puts pen to paper to write, for the first time, the story of the man behind the music. In his memoir, Black shares the unfiltered, extraordinary account of his journey from a kid with a dream on the outskirts of Houston to a country music legend. From his near-death experiences as a young boy, to his decision to drop out of high school to pursue music, to countless years struggling as an unknown young artist, playing at any nightclub or hotel bar that would have him, Black’s path to success had more twists than the Texas two-step. Once fame hit and the stakes got higher, Black didn’t let the pressure of big crowds, big money, or big labels steer him off course. By writing from the heart and sticking to his guns, he built a legacy on his own terms. These values proved to be Black’s north star navigating superstardom, including a difficult lawsuit against his ex-manager Bill Ham; subsequently founding his own record label; recording with heroes such as Jimmy Buffett, Merle Haggard and Eric Idle; his whirlwind romance and everlasting marriage with actress Lisa Hartman Black; and most recently, a critical issue with a cervical spine injury, which threatened the very thing that made him a star: His voice. With vivid, deeply personal stories — all told with Black’s signature charm — he recounts how his steadfast dedication to his beliefs and his passion for music led him to success after success, and through storm after storm.”

Journey’s End: Siouxsie & The Banshees 1987-1996
By Laurence Hedges

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With Jon Klein and Martin McCarrick now full-blown members, Siouxsie And The Banshees embark on one of their most creative and ambitious odysseys, culminating in the multidimensional complexities of the 1988 album Peepshow. Both lyrically and musically, the Banshees continue to confound expectation with their progressively sophisticated and erudite artistry, yielding the groundbreaking single Peek-A-Boo and propelling the Banshees to No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Live, they continue to be a breathtaking entity; the theatricality of their stage shows paralleling the grandiosity of their songs. However, the revolving door of personnel changes again threatens to derail the band, this time in the form of their (mis)management, until Tim Collins starts to unpick and stabilise the Banshees’ shambolic financial affairs. Amplifying the strained relations, the first major rupture between founder members Siouxsie and Steven Severin, while on tour, leads to the Banshees’ hiatus between the end of the Peepshow gigs in December 1988 and the release of Kiss Them For Me in May 1991, taking them to the top of the Modern Rock Tracks chart for the second time in a noticeable divergence from their volatile chart fortunes in the U.K. Invited to play the inaugural Lollapalooza tour in 1991 alongside bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction and Butthole Surfers, the Banshees consolidate their growing popularity in the U.S. and go down a storm! Convening for two more studio albums, Superstition (1991) and The Rapture (1995), as well as 1992’s Twice Upon A Time: The Singles compilation album, the Banshees go to Hollywood, co-writing the song Face To Face with Danny Efman for the 1992 Tim Burton film Batman Returns. With breaks between activities becoming increasingly prolonged, it begs the question: Have Siouxsie And The Banshees, a band that have stayed the course against often insurmountable odds since 1976, finally reached their journey’s end?”

Vocal Break
By Lauren Elkin

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “For millennia, women’s raised voices have been heard as unruly, uncivilized, dangerous. Women singing were cast as sirens: mythical creatures who lured sailors to their death. In Vocal Break, Lauren Elkin seamlessly blends memoir, feminist manifesto and cultural history to explore a plurality of female singing voices — and how women have used them to defy convention, genre, capitalism, racism and sexism. Drawing on her own experiences training as a young soprano in the 1990s, Elkin reflects on the way power and identity shape our voices, focusing on the women who most excited her when she was learning to sing. A vocal break refers to the place where the voice shifts from lower to higher registers and this is a book about what kind of meanings, and sounds, can be made there. Immersing readers in an eclectic soundscape, from musicals and pop music to art punk, what follows is a full-throated tour of women’s voices, including Édith Piaf, Maria Callas, Cyndi Lauper, Kathleen Hanna, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Beyoncé, FKA Twigs and Billie Eilish. Reflecting on what makes women’s singing so powerful — to the point where others feel the need to control or manipulate it — Vocal Break is a joyous call to arms, a siren call: Girls to the front: NOW.”

The Rise And Rise Of Ariana Grande: The Stories Behind The Songs, Tours And Making Of An Icon
By Emily Zemler

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This is the complete, unfiltered story of Ariana Grande, exploring the songs, tours, acting roles and style of pop’s most iconic voices. From her Broadway beginnings and breakout role as Cat Valentine on Victorious to her celebrated portrayal of Glinda in Wicked, this guide chronicles Ariana’s journey from teenage dreamer to global phenomenon. Packed with rare photos, stunning illustrations, and behind-the-scenes insights, this vibrant book is your behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, triumphs, and challenges that have fuelled Ariana’s rise. Discover the stories behind chart-topping hits like 7 Rings, Thank U, Next and Problem, her albums from Yours Truly to Eternal Sunshine, as well as the creative inspirations behind her tours. From memorable onscreen roles to groundbreaking performances, see how Ariana has shaped global pop culture while staying true to her vision. With intimate insights into her personal journey, this book reveals how she has navigated loss, public scrutiny, and the pressures of fame with resilience and skill. This is the ultimate backstage pass into the world of Ariana Grande.”

Madonna’s Choreography
By Brigitte Gauthier

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Madonna has achieved pop icon status and has just celebrated 40 years on stage. No one had yet taken a comprehensive and analytical look at the power of her choreographic language. Madonna has turned dance into a weapon of seduction and empowerment. She has always been able to perceive the spirit of the times and surround herself with the best talents, while imposing a style characterized by eroticism, sensuality, and provocation. Madonna has played a leading role and been a pioneer. This book by Brigitte Gauthier is a breakthrough in the history of contemporary dance in the United States, from Martha Graham and the Judson School to hip hop, voguing, street dance, and parkour. Madonna is universal because her art is a clever patchwork of the most cutting-edge and original techniques of the American art scene. She has championed diversity and freedom.”

Like The Night (Rebound): Bob Dylan & The Road To The Manchester Free Trade Hall
By CP Lee

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “CP Lee’s highly acclaimed account of Bob Dylan’s pivotal 1966 concert at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall, the one where someone cried ‘Judas’ at Dylan for turning his back on folk music in favour of rock ‘n’ roll. It’s possibly the most famous concert of all time. CP Lee was there. In Like The Night, not only does he bring the concert to life in vivid detail, but he takes us into the fabric of the city of Manchester that Dylan rolled into, and the rolling ball of confrontation that had chased him half the way around the world. He brings us eyewitness accounts of the people who were there with him that night, and years later he engages in a quest to identify the person who made the infamous heckle. The book also includes a remarkable set of photos taken from the audience by a 17-year-old grammar school student at the time, Mark Makin.”

Revolution In The Head: The Beatles’ Records & The Sixties
By Ian MacDonald

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Revolution In The Head goes to the heart of The Beatles — their records. Drawing on his unique knowledge and experience to ‘read’ their tracks, Ian MacDonald offers a detailed examination of the 241 tracks the Fab Four wrote, placing them in their musical, cultural and social context and creating an engrossing classic of popular criticism. Fully updated to include material from The Beatles Live at The BBC and the Anthology series.”

Punk At Sea: A Rebellion Festival Photo Book
By Michiel Blijboom

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “If you ever plan to visit Blackpool, make sure it’s in the first days of August. Not that all of a sudden the sea turns light blue due to the rays of golden sun, but the fact is that the town really is more colourful than ever in that period. The reason: Rebellion, the annual punk festival in and around the not so aptly titled Winter Gardens. For four days in a row, Blackpool is the beating heart of everything punk and punk-ish. No future? Doesn’t go for Rebellion, as it has been alive and kicking since 1996! This photo book is to celebrate the festival’s 30th birthday and 50 years of punk! You can flick through the 130- image packed -pages and enjoy the event, completely earplug-free. Having seen it all, even the most avid Michael Bublé-fan would have to admit that PUNK is FUN! A celebration of punk, people, and the seaside at Blackpool, in candid pictures. What more could you ask for?”