It wouldn’t be a New Books roundup without a few tomes targeting Taylor, Chappell and Sabrina — from scholarly studies to quickie cash-ins. Of course, if the lives of the poppermost’s toppermost doesn’t shake your goove thing, you can also get cooking with the Grateful Dead, relive the end of The Fab Four and more. Read all about ’em:
Taylor’s Version: The Poetic And Musical Genius Of Taylor Swift
By Stephanie Burt
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “An original exploration and celebration of Taylor Swift, the world’s biggest music star, as taught at the world’s most prestigious university. One of the biggest stars in the world, Swift became so popular for many reasons — but first and last thanks to her songs. In Taylor’s Version, award-winning literary critic Stephanie Burt charts the extraordinary journey from Swift’s teen country debut to her most recent record-breaking achievement as the highest-grossing touring artist in the world. Based on her Harvard University course Taylor Swift And Her World, Burt offers the first serious study of Swift that pays close attention to her talent as a songwriter first and foremost. Drawing from musical and cultural criticism, poetry, economic theory, American history, as well as personal experience, Burt presents an insightful and heartfelt critical appreciation of Swift that delves into her life, her celebrity and her artistry. She explores how Swift’s musical and public persona reflect her life and her craft, at once intimate and relatable. She considers the international community Swift’s work has fostered, and she shows what makes Swift’s body of work so important across styles, genres and generations. Tracing a path through the eras, Taylor’s Version is a literary deep-dive into Swift’s particular form of genius, revealing the remarkable impact of her career and showing how her songs — how music itself — can change lives.”
Taylor Swift Chronicles
By Lindsey Smith
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “There has never been a phenomenon like Taylor Swift. But it is not just her music that makes her one of the most compelling figures in entertainment today. It is her big reputation full of generosity, compassion, connection to her fans, and business acumen that have made her so adored. Now, for the first time, Taylor’s life is explored through all of these hats (including the 22 hat!) — as a singer, songwriter, musician, businesswoman, philanthropist, and friend — to create a chronicle of someone who is not just talented, but also clever and kind. Readers can follow Taylor’s journey through intriguing sidebars about her many kindnesses, infographics about her collaborators, and timelines following her tours and albums, as well as a fascinating and in-depth biography. Lavishly illustrated with rare images, original ephemera, and exclusive artwork, this book is a treasure for Swifties of any age, both OG and newly anointed tortured poets.”
The Life, Style and Music of Chappell Roan: Pop Sensation And LGBTQ+ Icon
By Nick Levine
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Every now and then, an artist breaks out of the music industry and becomes a cultural femininomenon. With her powerful vocals, emotive lyrics, and captivating stage presence, Chappell Roan has quickly become a global superstar admired by millions. In this beautifully designed and well-researched book, we explore Chappell’s journey from small-town girl to international pop sensation, delving into her early life, the stories behind her lyrics, her musical influences, iconic fashion looks and the key moments that have shaped her glittering career. Author Nick Levine is a journalist who has interviewed Chappell twice for NME, and specializes in music, culture and LGBTQ issues. He’s interviewed some of the biggest names in pop including Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and many others. With behind-the-scenes stories and incredible photos of her most iconic moments, this is a celebration of Chappell’s dazzling world of drag, dreams, fearless self-expression and inspirational activism. This book is a one-way ticket to The Pink Pony Club and an essential gift for any fan.”
Chappell Roan: A Vibrant Journey Through The Career And Influence Of The Indie-Pop Superstar
By Harbert Day
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Chappell Roan is a 2025 Grammy winner for Best New Artist. The queer queen’s meteoric rise from small-town girl to pop icon is a story of self-discovery, resilience, and triumph. With a back-and-forth journey that resulted in your favorite artists’ favorite artist and a TikTok sensation hit after hit, there is much to discuss about how this Midwesterner paved her own path and made her voice loud in Hollywood. Featuring over 40 vibrant photographs, this book captures the star’s personal and professional journey, celebrating her talent, fierce creativity, and commitment to self-expression and LGBTQ+ representation. Find glimpses into her songwriting process as this book unveils how Roan stays true to her individuality in an industry often demanding conformity. From overcoming challenges as an emerging artist to crafting a distinct image and voice, Roan’s story of self-acceptance and resilience has inspired her fans to embrace their own identities without compromise. Filled with emotional depth, candid stories, and stunning visuals, this book is a celebration of how one artist is reshaping the pop world, and perfect for fans of Roan and music lovers alike.”
Sabrina Carpenter: A Vibrant Journey Through The Career And Influence Of A Pop Princess
By Selena Fragassi
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sabrina Carpenter won two Grammys in 2025 for Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n’ Sweet and Best Pop Solo Performance for Espresso. With a number of catchy singles featuring tongue-in-cheek lyricism, it is no surprise that Carpenter has made a name for herself as a modern pop princess. But did you know, before her rise on the music charts, Carpenter was also an actress on the Disney Channel? (It seems, while she was making a name for herself as an actress, she really was working late… cause she’s a singer.) With a rocket ship rise to fame, Carpenter is a visually dynamic biography of the star, documenting her first recording contract and her famous friends and relationships, and detailing one of the most talked about talents who has left “quite an impression” on Hollywood. Taking the path of a tortoise (as her mom liked to say), Sabrina’s slow rise to fame has taken a sharp incline over the span of one memorable year. This book offers a comprehensive look at the life and fame of the singer. Perfect for Sabrina fans and Gen Z enthusiasts, this book is your exclusive look at the pop princess taking over the world.”
1973: The Last Year The Beatles Were Fab
By John Blaney
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A decade is a long time in pop music. Fashions come and go in the blink of an eye. Most pop stars are lucky to last 18 months at the top. Yet in 1973 The Beatles collected 13 gold discs between them (seven gold albums and six gold singles). Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr released milestone albums in Band On The Run and Ringo. George Harrison released the followup to All Things Must Pass and John Lennon offered his followup to Imagine. Their contract with Alien Klein ended in litigation from both parties. Lennon and McCartney were being sued by ATV/Northern Songs, a publishing company they once thought they owned. Lennon was fighting deportation from the U.S. and a failing marriage. Despite the endless court cases, relationship breakdowns, financial and political pressures, and management problems, Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr managed to write and record some of the best solo albums of their careers and continued to rack up gold discs. They did all this while in competition with the greatest pop group the world has ever known — The Beatles, whose million-selling compilation albums 1962–1966 and 1967–1970 topped the charts. 1973: The Last Year The Beatles Were Fab tells the story of that landmark year. It was a a year of remarkable highs and lows. A year that could, and would, never be repeated.”
1984: The Year Pop Went Queer
By Ian Wade
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In 1984, pop came out of the closet — even if not all of the artists felt that they could — and, in the process, charted the course of the rest of the decade. In 1984: The Year Pop Went Queer, writer and musician Ian Wade charts where these artists, including Queen, George Michael, David Bowie, Pet Shop Boys, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Madonna — who all enjoyed chart success in 1984 — were during that epoch-making year. It studies the impact these groundbreaking musicians had before, during and after on the gay community and popular culture, and it demonstrates how they were able to break down barriers, raise consciousness and set in motion the first nascent ripples in a pond that are still being felt today. As a backdrop, it explores the strides made in the name of the cause and how the wider surrounding culture reacted with equal parts glee, bafflement and disgust.”
Becoming A Composer: My Music, My Life
By Errollyn Wallen
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “I am a composer,” says Errollyn Walen. “A composer of classical music. Quite honestly I am not quite sure how that happened to a girl born in Belize and brought up in Tottenham… It is clear that composing found me. It crept up on me and wouldn’t let me out of its grasp.” Now a leading international composer and a singer-songwriter, Wallen is as much at home in jazz and pop as in the classical world. Becoming A Composer offers an intriguing glimpse into the mind and motivation of a composer and covers aspects of Wallen’s sometimes troubled childhood, and her experiences of growing up as a black composer in the U.K. It includes a collection of observations, diaries following the progress of new works and essays and seeks to shed light on the way a composer sees and hears the world.”
Dead In The Kitchen: The Official Grateful Dead Cookbook
By Gabi Moskowitz
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Welcome to the show! Dead In The Kitchen is the official, authorized Grateful Dead cookbook, a well-crafted extension of the vibrant, communal, free-spirited energy that the band and their legacy have graced us with for decades. Featuring the band’s iconic artwork, logos, and illustrations, this beautifully designed book brings the unmistakable Grateful Dead aesthetic to life on every page, making it a must-have collectible for devoted fans. You’ll find recipes organized and inspired by not only the band’s timeless music, but also the loyal Deadheads that continue to find kindness and community amongst one another. With each recipe crafted to be simple and accessible for all, this is the perfect cookbook for novice cooks and seasoned pros alike. Find your flow in the kitchen as you create each flavorful dish and, if Jerry has taught us anything, don’t be afraid to improvise! This cookbook celebrates Grateful Dead on each page and encourages more connection through gathering together and enjoying delicious food that’s good for feeding the mind, body, and soul.”
Why Sound Matters
By Damon Krukowski
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From the joyous communal connections fostered through shared auditory experience to the devastating impact of noise pollution in the deep sea, musician and author Damon Krukowski urges readers to reconsider the significance of sound and its role in both our personal and collective well-being. He looks despairingly at how the multipronged efforts of urban dwellers to mitigate city noise have led to increased isolation, loss of community, and a sense of physical detachment from one’s surroundings. He considers the consequences of the commodification of sound in the digital era. And he looks at what’s at stake in trying to preserve the world’s dwindling quiet places. Interspersed with personal reflections from years of working in the music business, this book investigates sound’s role in the environment, its value as a material, its relationship to labor, and how it affects our interactions with one another. Krukowski invites you to hear the world anew and renew your relationship with one of our most precious natural resources. So listen up!”
On Loop: Black Sonic Politics In Oakland
By Alex Werth
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Chicago has house. Detroit has techno. But Oakland slaps. On Loop explores the role of Black dance music and sonic politics in recurring struggles over race and space in Oakland, California. Insisting on the centrality of sound in everyday social movements — from the mobilization of funk music and boogaloo dance during Black Power to the policing of the Hyphy movement in the 2000s — Alex Werth argues that Black dance music is not merely a soundtrack to or record of urban resistance. Rather, its very sound waves have animated looping clashes over development, dispossession, and Black freedom. Through studies of downtown nightclubs, Lake Merritt, and the Eastmont Mall — geographies rarely considered, yet critical to Oakland’s culture and politics — Werth reveals how the liberatory sonic politics of funk, hip-hop, and hyphy rap have been met with a repetitive “war on nuisance.” As both a means of empowerment and a magnet for policing, Black dance music has transformed not only Oakland’s nightlife, but also its streets, parks, and neighborhoods. On Loop is a rousing encounter with the sound that moves urban life.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source tinnitist.com ’
