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As any regular shopper already knows Twist & Shout carries one of
Denver's largest and most diverse sections of books relating to music
including biographies, art, criticism, reference books, and
counter-cultural scenes. To reflect this we will be featuring regular
reviews of new books we've received so be sure to check back regularly
to see what we have in store for you.
On the Many Deaths of Amanda Palmer edited by Rohan Kriwaczek
Following the death of indie pop-star Amanda Palmer her fans and
followers began posting anonymous texts on internet blogs and in
chat-rooms, taking the form of stories, poems, essays, stream-of-
consciousness explorations, each attempting in their own way to
attribute her death with some meaning through art. Over time these
writings, and the responses they generated, began to exhibit specific
shared qualities that marked them out as a unique genre in their own
right that, a genre that has come to be known as the Palmeresque. This
book originally set out to be the first major study of the Palmeresque,
however shortly after initial publication all copies of the book were
seized by the Boston Police Department due to the incriminating
content of Text Number Nine. The following investigation revealed a
complex web of deceit, manipulation and literary fraud that once again
raised the questions: who did kill Amanda Palmer; who were the real
authors of the texts; who is Tobias James? Finally, and under strict
restrictions, permission has been given for this amended edition to
published, together with an extensive appendix exploring these and
other issues.
Alice in Chains In the Studio by Jake Brown
Now, for the first time, within the pages of Alice in Chains: in the
Studio, fans get the first-hand account of how their favorite AIC
hit albums- including Dirt, Alice in Chains, Jar of Flies, and
others within the original line-up's catalog- were written and recorded,
recounted via exclusive interviews with band producers including Dave
Jerden and Toby Wright, engineers Bryan Carlstrom and others, and
interview material with band members, etc. A sure-fire hit with AIC
listeners old and new, Alice in Chains: in the Studio is truly
one of a kind, and a must-have for any true AIC fan!
I, Tina: My Life Story by Tina Turner
From Nutbush, Tennessee, to Hollywood stardom; from Ike’s Kings of
Rhythm to onstage with Mick Jagger and the Stones; and from the
lowest lows to the highest highs, Tina Turner has seen it, done it,
suffered it, and survived it all. In her monumental bestseller I,
Tina - the basis for the Academy Award-nominated motion
picture What's Love Got to Do with It—she tells it like it really
was . . . and really is. This book is a superstar's honest and intimate
account of struggle and pain, love and abuse, glory and tragedy, and
one of the greatest comebacks in music history.
Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman (paperback)
Q: What is this book about?
A: Well, that's difficult to say. I haven't read it yet--I've just picked it up
and casually glanced at the back cover. There clearly isn't a plot. I've
heard there's a lot of stuff about time travel in this book, and quite a
bit about violence and Garth Brooks and why Germans don't laugh
when they're inside grocery stores. Ralph Nader and Ralph Sampson
play significant roles. I think there are several pages about Rear Window
and college football and Mad Men and why Rivers Cuomo prefers
having sex with Asian women. Supposedly there's a chapter outlining
all the things the Unabomber was right about, but perhaps I'm
misinformed.
Q: Is there a larger theme?
A: Oh, something about reality. "What is reality," maybe? No, that's not
it. Not exactly. I get the sense that most of the core questions dwell on
the way media perception constructs a fake reality that ends up
becoming more meaningful than whatever actually happened. Also,
Lady Gaga.
Q: Should I read this book?
A: Probably. Do you see a clear relationship between the Branch
Davidian disaster and the recording of Nirvana's In Utero?
Does Barack Obama make you want to drink Pepsi? Does ABBA remind
you of AC/DC? If so, you probably don't need to read this book. You
probably wrote this book. But I suspect everybody else will totally love
it, except for the ones who totally hate it.
Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle by Richard Henderson (33 1/3 series)
The debut album from songwriter and pianist Van Dyke Parks, Song
Cycle first appeared in 1968 on Warner Brothers Records. Its
twelve songs led listeners through Joycean wordplay and sound
collages to reveal messages of dissent and personal loss, at odds with
Parks buoyant, riotously eclectic music. Monumentally ambitious and
equally expensive, Song Cycle resembled a film, possibly
Citizen Kane, more than the pop music of its day; like Kane, Parks'
masterwork was adored by critics yet all but ignored by paying
customers. In his efforts to plumb the mysteries of this quixotic record
and its subsequent fate, Richard Henderson interviews several of the
key figures involved with Song Cycle, notably Parks himself
and producer Lenny Waronker.
Bob Marley: The Untold Story by Chris Salewicz
"Chris Salewicz's account of the life of the late, great Robert Nesta
Marley contains a raft of never-before published interviews with scores
of people who knew the reggae singer. Indeed, Salewicz--a respected
journalist whose Joe Strummer biography is also well worth a read--got
to know Marley in 1979, and it's this authenticity that sets the book
apart from other biographies about the man and the legend. From
Bob's humble beginnings in Nine Miles to the years in Kingston and the
fame, fortune and untimely death in 1981, Bob Marley: The Untold
Story is the definitive account of the man and the myth." --Steve
Richards, The Independent
Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter by Randy L. Schmidt
Little Girl Blue is an intimate profile of Karen Carpenter, a girl
from a modest Connecticut upbringing who became a Southern
California superstar.
Karen was the instantly recognizable lead singer of the Carpenters. The
top-selling American musical act of the 1970s, they delivered the love
songs that defined a generation. Karen's velvety voice on a string of 16
consecutive Top 20 hits from 1970 to 1976 - including "Close to You,"
"We've Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," and
"Hurting Each Other" - propelled the duo to worldwide stardom and
record sales of more than 100 million. During their short musical
career, the Carpenters released ten studio albums, toured more than
200 days a year, taped five television specials, and won three Grammys
and an American Music Award.
But that's only a part of Karen's story. Little Girl Blue reveals
Karen's heartbreaking struggles with her mother, brother, and
husband; the intimate disclosures she made to her closest friends; her
love for playing drums and her frustrated quest for solo stardom; and
the ups and downs of her treatment for anorexia nervosa. After her
shocking death at 32 years of age in 1983, she became the proverbial
poster child for that disorder; but the other causes of her decline are
laid bare for the first time in this moving account.
Little Girl Blue is Karen Carpenter's definitive biography, based
on exclusive interviews with her innermost circle of girlfriends and
nearly 100 others, including professional associates, childhood friends,
and lovers. It tells a story as touching, warm, and involving as any of
Karen's greatest songs.
Five Hundred 45s by Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz
The 45 record sleeve has long been viewed as a medium for design
experimentation, a blank slate onto which designers could unleash
their creativity and ingenuity. From the 1950s to the 1980s, before the
45 was replaced by the CD, and then in the 1990s, when grunge
became the rage and 45s enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, 45
record-sleeve design combined photography, illustration, color, and
typography with innovative bravado. For this reason, vintage 45 record
sleeves today are sought-after collectibles by music buffs and
designers alike.
Compiled by well-known designers and authors Spencer Drate and
Judith Salavetz, Five Hundred 45s contains more than 500
examples of striking seven-inch record sleeve design across every
genre of music and its great musicians--all reproduced at full size.
This gorgeous book includes a foreword by Lenny Kaye, music critic
and guitarist for the Patti Smith Group, as well as essays offering
diverse perspectives on the subject by avid collectors, industry insiders,
and designers. The book is organized into thematic chapters, with a
mix of dynamic, visually inspiring pairings on every spread. A
discography at the back provides complete information for each sleeve,
rounding out this highly collectible volume.
Rock Paper Show: Flatstock Volume One
The first decade of the twenty-first century marked a highpoint at the
intersection of graphic design and music. Against the backdrop of the
digital music revolution, the rock poster has suddenly reemerged as an
art form, and as a memento or calling card of a remarkably talented
group of artists and design studios. Rock Paper Show: Flatstock
Volume One presents an editorial and visual history of Flatstock--
the American Poster Institute's ongoing, nomadic series of rock poster
exhibitions. Since its inception in 2002, Flatstock has evolved into the
definitive showcase for the most heralded and innovative poster artists
working today, among them Yee-Haw studio and Jason Munn, for
bands such as Modest Mouse, Wilco and Spoon. This deluxe volume
chronicles the first 20 Flatstock exhibitions, which took place in some
of the most exciting cities for music in America--from San Francisco
and Austin to Chicago and Seattle. Featuring 566 color photographs of
posters, as well as texts by important collectors, bands, critics and the
artists themselves, among them Rock Paper Show: Flatstock Volume
One takes the reader on a behind-the-scenes look at the places
and personalities at the heart of this vibrant and varied community.
An Education in Rebellion: The Biography of Nikki Sixx by Jake Brown
Time Magazine quipped at the start of the Millennium in their gossip
section that the Backstreet Boys might be transforming into the
Millennium's new Motley Crue now that "Nikki Sixx has mellowed
out..." Following an almost 3-decade education in rebellion as Hard
Rock's mad musical scientist - highlighted by a now-infamous (and
temporarily lethal) heroin overdose; relationships with some of
Hollywood's most luscious leading ladies, including Vanity, Playboy
Playmate Brandi Brandt, Baywatch star Donna D'Errico, and L.A. Ink star
Kat Von D; and an almost 30-year, multi-platinum run (selling over
80,000,000 records worldwide) as the creative center of hard rock's
most decadent and notorious rock band, Motley Crue, Nikki Sixx's
legacy among rock and metal fans worldwide is secure.
You Never Give Me Your Money by Peter Doggett
Acclaimed journalist Peter Doggett recounts the previously untold story of
the dramatic final chapter in the lives, loves, and legal battles of John,
Paul, George, and Ringo—aka The Beatles—from their breakup in 1969 to
the present day. Called “refreshingly straightforward and highly readable”
by The Daily Telegraph (London), You Never Give Me Your Money
is the dramatic and intimate story of the breakup and aftermath of The Fab
Four as it’s never been told before.
Lips Unsealed: A Memoir by Belinda Carlisle
The women of the iconic eighties band the Go-Go’s will always be
remembered as they appeared on the back of their debut record: sunny,
smiling, each soaking in her own private bubble bath with chocolates
and champagne. The photo is a perfect tribute to the fun, irreverent
brand of pop music that the Go-Go’s created, but it also conceals the
trials and secret demons that the members of the group—and, in
particular, its lead singer, Belinda Carlisle—struggled with on their rise
to stardom.
You Don't Know Me by Ray Charles Robinson Jr.
Ray Charles is an American music legend. A multiple Grammy Award-
winning composer, pianist, and singer with an inimitable vocal style
and a catalog of hits including "What I Say," "Georgia on My Mind,"
"Unchain My Heart," "I Can't Stop Loving You," and "America the
Beautiful," Ray Charles's music is loved by fans around the world.
Now his eldest son, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., shares an intimate
glimpse of the man behind the music, with never-before-told stories.
Going beyond the fame, the concerts, and the tours, Ray Jr. opens the
doors of his family home and reveals their private lives with fondness
and frankness.
He shares his father's grief and guilt over his little brother's death at
the age of five — as well of moments of personal joy, like watching his
father run his hands over the Christmas presents under their tree while
singing softly to himself. He tells of how Ray overcame the challenges
of being blind, even driving cars, riding a Vespa, and flying his own
plane. And, in gripping detail, he reveals how as a six-year-old boy he
saved his father's life one harrowing night.
Ray Jr. writes honestly about the painful facts of the addiction that
nearly destroyed his father's life. His father's struggles with heroin
addiction, his arrests, and how he ultimately kicked the drug cold
turkey are presented in unflinching detail. Ray Jr. also shares openly
about how, as an adult, he fell victim to the same temptations that
plagued his father.
He paints a compassionate portrait of his mother, Della, whose
amazing voice as a gospel singer first attracted Ray Charles. Though
her husband's drug use, his womanizing, and the paternity suits
leveled against him constantly threatened the stability of the Robinson
home, Della exhibited incredible resilience and inner strength.
Told with deep love and fearless candor, You Don't Know Me is
the powerful and poignant story of the Ray Charles the public never
saw — the father and husband and fascinating human being who also
happened to be one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Forever Changes: Arthur Lee and the Book of Love by John Einarson
Forever Changes: Arthur Lee and the Book of Love tells the life
story of an incredible contemporary musical talent who died tragically
of leukemia. Fronting the first ever fully integrated rock band, Lee
emerged from the nascent LA folk-rock scene on the Sunset Strip in
1965 with the band Love to become the prince of the Strip. Love’s first
three albums were groundbreaking, combining elements of folk-rock,
garage-punk, jazz, blues, flamenco, and classical music. Through
exclusive interviews with those closest to Lee, Forever
Changes paints a portrait of this intriguing, remarkable cult
figure. The book also includes Lee’s own voice throughout, drawn from
his personal writings, letting both dedicated fans and newcomers
discover this singular artist like never before.
Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Erin Bradley
Is there a reason some girls grew up worshipping The Cure while
others were hot for Motley Crue? Could your love of the Beastie Boys
have anything to do with your current beau's commitment issues? Have
you ever wished for the kind of timeless romantic wisdom that can
only come from years spent listening to David Bowie in your bedroom?
Wonder no more! Every Rose Has Its Thorn: A Rock N Roll Field
Guide To Guys is here to help (and/or moderately entertain) you.
Packed with quizzes, true life tales, lots of words, and illustrations in
glorious black and white, this book will help you better identify and
understand the rockstars and wanna- be's you'll meet on romance's
bumpy tour.
What kind of guy... Owns a gorilla suit, but not an interview suit? Uses
a broomstick as a curtain rod and a T-shirt as a pillowcase yet spends
entire paychecks optimizing the gaming capabilities of his computer?
Wants sex but not as much as he wants to watch Adult Swim?
See Chapter 4.
What kind of guy... Considers a car, a job, and a place to live "nice to
have" but mostly optional? Has a life story that reads like a reverse
Horatio Alger novel? Is self-proclaimed "lazy" about: brushing his
teeth, returning monies borrowed, dressing open wounds?
See Chapter 1.
What kind of guy... Can school you on complicated investment
strategies but keeps sending you viruses on Facebook? Arrives at your
40's Party in period clothes with a martini shaker, instead of in an
Adidas sweatsuit with a case of malt liquor? Has lots of baggage but
really nice luggage?
See Chapter 9.
Return of the King: Elvis Presley's Great Comeback by Gillian G. Gaar
On January 1, 1967, a contract between "Colonel" Tom Parker and his
sole client, Elvis Presley, gave Parker a 50 percent cut of profits that
Presley generated. It was a shameless grab for a bigger piece of a pie
that had actually been shrinking for some time. Though Parker’s plan
to reestablish Presley as a star after he left the army proved successful
at first (with the triumph of films like G.I. Blues and Blue
Hawaii), by 1967 Presley’s singles struggled to break the top 20,
and he hadn’t hit number one for six years. Amazingly, by the end of
1968 he was artistically revitalized, reemerging in a TV comeback
special and slimmed down for the now-iconic black leather suit. It was
the pivotal moment of the second great period of Presley’s career,
which lasted through to the end of 1970, during which he recorded
some of his most enduring records, including "Suspicious Minds" and
"In The Ghetto." Return of the King document's Presley
reclamation of his crown, making an extraordinary transition from
fading balladeer to engaged, vital artist.
We Want Miles: Miles Davis vs. Jazz edited by Vincent Bessieres
The most comprehensive book on the artist to date, offering an
insightful look into the legendary musician and his enormous impact
on the development of jazz. We Want Miles explores the life
and art of one of the greatest visionaries in jazz history—through
photographs, handwritten musical scores, album covers, posters, and
more—cementing his reputation as the embodiment of cool, both on-
and offstage. To examine his extraordinary career is also to examine
the history of jazz from the mid-1940s through the early 1990s, as
Davis was crucial in almost every important innovation and stylistic
development during that time. His genius paved the way for these
changes, both with his own performances and recordings, and by
choosing collaborators with whom he forged new directions. Miles
Davis—trumpeter, bandleader, and composer—was one of the most
important figures in jazz history. He was born in a well-to-do family
in St. Louis in 1926 and died in a Los Angeles hospital in 1991. He
was at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music,
including cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz, and fusion. Davis worked with
many of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, including Ron Carter,
John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Charlie
Parker, and Max Roach, among numerous others.
60 Years of Fender by Tony Bacon
The latest addition to Tony Bacon's acclaimed series of guitar books,
60 Years of Fender gives a year-by-year history of the most
successful electric guitar maker. In 1950, Leo Fender introduced to the
world the solidbody electric guitar - the instrument known as the
Telecaster. He soon added two more classics: the Precision Bass (1951)
and the Stratocaster (1954). Fender's sleek, adaptable guitars have
since fueled modern music - from country to rock - and have been
heard in the hands of virtually every guitarist of note, from Buddy Holly
to Kurt Cobain, from Eric Clapton to John Mayer. Illustrated with an
unrivaled gallery of color photographs of instruments, players, and
memorabilia, this revised and updated edition expands upon 50
Years of Fender (published in 2000), covering nine more years of
the Fender story.
My Generation: The Glory Years of Rock by Alwyn W. Turner
The story of the people who provided the soundtrack a momentous time
in music history and includes images of the biggest names in rock history
- from the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix, Pink
Floyd and David Bowie.
The Fallen: Life In and Out of Britain's Most Insane Group by Dave Simpson
"Hilarious.... Horror stories... Dave Simpson's written the book we have
waited our entire lives to read?!?" - Peter Wild, www.bookmunch.co.uk
"Fascinating, amusing and moving... a British, provincial take on
Apocalypse Now! where Kurtz (Smith) is encountered by Capt. Willard
(Simpson) before the latter gets on the boat" - The Quietus
"Brilliant and bloody awkward. Just like its subjects" - The Word
"Tracks down The Fallen - a difficult task given Mark E. Smith's
tendency to fire, assault and abandon them" - Mail On Sunday Live
mag "In Demand" book of the week
"That book will go down in history as one of the maddest of all time. It
is so accurate as to be uncanny. That is how it was. People who read it
will be stunned." - Tommy Crooks, guitarist, The Fall, 1997-8
"I hate that f***ing twat! I just f***ing burned it!" - Mark E. Smith
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