‘Too Much Too Young, the 2 Tone Records Story: The Beat. UB40. Tears of a Clown’ (excerpt)
This excerpt from Daniel Rachel’s history of 2 Tone Records shows the formation of the Beat and the best version of the band-defining “Tears of a Clown” ever.
By the Book
‘Dreams in Double Time’: When Bebop Counter-Punched Racist Violence
In this excerpt from Jonathan Leal’s study of Black American jazz, Dreams in Double Time, bebop gives the music a “new accent” and the outsider citizenry a “new language” for counter-punching rebellion.
‘The Media Swirl’ and the Glitter in Your Eyes
In this excerpt from The Media Swirl, Carol Vernallis peers through the glitter of the stunning party scene in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby and exams its sparkling layers of meaning.
No Sex Please, We’re British: Coil’s Subversively Overt Homosexuality
Homosexuality drove experimental band Coil’s creativity, yet they rejected the demand that they either embrace performative homosexuality or remain discreet and closeted.
‘Addicted to Noise’: Eyes Were the First Feminist Rock & Roll Band
Eyes were the first all-woman 1970s feminist rock band. Don’t believe it? This excerpt from Michael Goldberg’s Addicted to Noise backs the hype.
Needles & Plastic: Flying Nun Records, 1981-1988
In this excerpt from Needles and Plastic, we learn about the force of will, the chance of kismet, and the couple of bands that piloted Flying Nun Records from New Zealand to the US.
‘Totally Wired: The Rise and Fall of the Music Press’
In this excerpt from Paul Gorman’s history of music magazines, Totally Wired we experience the heady ascent of “rock and pop culture journalism” fueled by the seemingly endless energy of music fans.
In Bob Stanley’s Let’s Do It ‘The Winds Grow Colder’ for Judy Garland and Billie Holiday
In this excerpt from Bob Stanley’s history of pop music, Let’s Do It, the music and stories of iconic singers Judy Garland and Billie Holiday are forever intertwined.
‘Addicted to Noise’: Tom Waits Tests Michael Goldberg’s Sense of Humor
Tom Waits splashes about in his “puddle of consciousness”, testing Michael Goldberg’s sense of humor in this interview excerpted from Goldberg’s new book, Addicted to Noise.
Straight Into Darkness: Tom Petty as Rock Mystic (Excerpt)
Happy 40th anniversary to Tom Petty’s Long After Dark album, an underrated manual for creatives in existential crisis. Enjoy this excerpt from Straight Into Darkness: Tom Petty as Rock Mystic.
Aquaman and the War Against Oceans (Excerpt)
Aquaman can be read as an allegory that responds to the climate change crisis, an era in which the oceans have become sites of warfare and mass death.
‘The New Female Antihero’ (excerpt)
The New Female Antihero explores how misogyny undermines television’s strong female antiheroes and how that, in turn, stunts our culture’s ability to embrace feminism.