New books on Blondie, Voivod, Motown, Kendrick Lamar and pub-rock. That’s all she (or he, or they, or whoever) wrote. And really, what more could you (or she, or he, or they, or whoever) want? Read all about ’em:
Voïvod | Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse Of Voïvod
By Jeff Wagner
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Always Moving — The Strange Multiverse of Voïvod celebrates over 40 years of chaos, cosmos, and creation from your favorite metal mutants. Author Jeff Wagner dives deep with band members, managers, producers, label reps, family, and fellow musicians to tell the full Voïvod saga in an epic oral history, paired with his own narrative. At 540 pages (with a 12-page color spread!), this massive tome covers every mutation, every tragedy, and every triumph.”
Blondie: Touched By The Presence
By Gary Lachman
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Not many members of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame are also recognized authorities on the western inner tradition. Gary Lachman is. In 1978, Blondie released the Top 10 hit, (I am Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear. Gary Lachman (then Gary Valentine) had written the song for his girlfriend after a series of shared dreams and telepathic experiences they had. Thus started his life-long obsession with the potentials of consciousness. In this memoir, Gary recounts how he went from being a successful rock ’n’ roller to a writer on consciousness. He shares encounters with rockers such as The Ramones, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Iggy Pop and counter-culture figures like Timothy Leary, William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. Living with Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein on New York’s Bowery, a block from the birthplace of punk rock, CBGB, Gary discovered occultism via a follower of Aleister Crowley. Post rock ’n’ roll, Gary’s occult studies brought him to the Golden Dawn, Manly P. Hall, Gnosticism and a stint in Crowley’s O.T.O. He details his time in the Fourth Way, including a visit to the site of Gurdjieff’s Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man in France, and his years studying philosophy and literature and working as a science writer, while managing a famous metaphysical bookshop at the height of the New Age. Excursions to Stonehenge, Avebury and Glastonbury in search of ley lines, and pilgrimages to Colin Wilson’s home in Cornwall, are a few of the highlights of this introspective, humorous account of a nascent writer’s struggle from rock ’n’ roll to individuation.”
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Motown Poetry Revue
Edited by Cherise Pollard, Yalonda JD Green, Curtis L. Crisler & Luanne Smith
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Motown, the crossover label, made R&B the soul of American popular culture. Join us in honoring the artists connected to Hitsville, USA, and 30 years’ worth of “The Sound of Young America.” We asked contributors to show us their knowledge of Motown, its history and its place amongst R&B, soul, and hip-hop. We invited them to pay homage to the greats: Martha And The Vandellas, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Rick James, The Pointer Sisters, Lionel Ritchie, Teena Marie, DeBarge, Erykah Badu, Toni Braxton, Queen Latifah, Diddy, Ne-Yo, Lil Yachty, Migos and so many more. This new poetry anthology is the result.”
Not Like Me: The Little Guide to Kendrick Lamar
By OH
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Kendrick Lamar isn’t just a rapper; he’s a visionary. From his breakout album good kid, m.A.A.d city to the genre-defining To Pimp A Butterfly and the introspective Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick has pushed the boundaries of hip-hop with his raw storytelling and fearless social commentary. His music explores race, identity, faith and the weight of success, earning him critical acclaim and a devoted global following. With 17 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award nomination, and a groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize, Kendrick has cemented his place among the greatest artists of all time. He has become a voice for the voiceless, challenging systems of inequality and empowering his audience to think, reflect and act. Whether through his stirring lyrics, his unmatched ability to blend complex musical genres or his dedication to truth and authenticity, Kendrick’s work has shaped not just the sound of a generation, but its very spirit. His influence stretches beyond music, shaping conversations on justice, culture and the power of words. The Little Guide to Kendrick Lamar is a tribute to his legacy, packed with his most iconic quotes, compelling insights, and fascinating facts about his life and work. Whether you’ve followed his journey from day one or are just discovering his artistry, this book is your guide to understanding his genius.”
Pub Rock In The UK And Australia: From The 1970s To The Twenty-First Century
By Andy Bennett & Jon Stratton
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This book critically examines two versions of the genre identified as pub rock as they evolved in the U.K. and Australia. Both developed in the communal spaces of pubs and both had their heyday in the mid‑ to‑late 1970s. Indeed, the two have so much in common that AC/DC, sometimes thought of as the quintessential Australian pub rock group, became hugely popular in the U.K., while other Australian groups such as The Sports, outliers of pub rock, also had success there. At the same time, U..K pub rockers like Graham Parker and The Rumour and Rockpile toured Australia. Three of Parker’s albums climbed to higher places on the Australian chart than on the U.K. chart. However, a great deal separated the two genres. In the U.K., pub rock is often misleadingly viewed as the insipid music which was violently replaced by the uproarious and rebellious punk sounds of Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Slits and the other do-it-yourself groups of 1977 and later. Many members of groups later identified as punk, including the Pistols and Clash, had previously played in groups identified as pub rock. In Australia, pub rock, played by groups including Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs, The Angels and Rose Tattoo, formed the basis for the mainstream guitar rock sound that dominated Australian popular music through the 1980s and into the 1990s.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source tinnitist.com ’
