Turn away from the digital abyss, my friend, and dig into some recent, terrific new Rock & Roll photography books. These three arty, tactile, coffee-table tomes might be the perfect gift for yourself or discriminating others. Highlighting the work of a single shooter, each documents a scene's explosion from the private moments to the backstage to the front row. Tom Wright's life story in Roadwork: Rock & Roll Turned Inside Out is one of those magical, right-place-at-the-right-time tales that leaves one grinning from ear to ear in envy. An influential schoolmate of Pete Townshend's in 1962 (by way of his stash of muggles and a diverse record collection), Wright's gig as tour photographer for The Who in 1967 opened the doors for decades of intimate access and impromptu backstage portraiture with Rod Stewart, The James Gang and The Rolling Stones. The Hal Leonard Books hardcover edition is a mix of anecdotes from the Wild West days of Rock, printed on tasteful archival cream paper. More modern tastes get their fix with two of American Punk's most iconic snappers, Glen Friedman and Pat Graham. Friedman's Fuzagi: Keep Your Eyes Open is due in two weeks, promising never-before-published shots from the band's 20-year association with the skateboard photographer. Like the title suggests, Graham's new Silent Pictures is a gorgeous, quiet photo album packed like the clubs and practice spaces melted into a white-hot stickiness by Bikini Kill, Modest Mouse, Ted Leo and The Shins. An Indie Rock who's who of the 1990s and beyond, I felt the need to dig out an on-the-spot miss-you soundtrack of Dischord bands for this memory-lane box of stills focused on the likes of Jawbox, Jesus Lizard, Make-Up, Girls Against Boys and Unrest.
Turn away from the digital abyss, my friend, and dig into some recent, terrific new Rock & Roll photography books. These three arty, tactile, coffee-table tomes might be the perfect gift for yourself or discriminating others. Highlighting the work of a single shooter, each documents a scene's explosion from the private moments to the backstage to the front row. Tom Wright's life story in Roadwork: Rock & Roll Turned Inside Out is one of those magical, right-place-at-the-right-time tales that leaves one grinning from ear to ear in envy. An influential schoolmate of Pete Townshend's in 1962 (by way of his stash of muggles and a diverse record collection), Wright's gig as tour photographer for The Who in 1967 opened the doors for decades of intimate access and impromptu backstage portraiture with Rod Stewart, The James Gang and The Rolling Stones. The Hal Leonard Books hardcover edition is a mix of anecdotes from the Wild West days of Rock, printed on tasteful archival cream paper. ... More modern tastes get their fix with two of American Punk's most iconic snappers, Glen Friedman and Pat Graham. Friedman's Fuzagi: Keep Your Eyes Open is due in two weeks, promising never-before-published shots from the band's 20-year association with the skateboard photographer. Like the title suggests, Graham's new Silent Pictures is a gorgeous, quiet photo album packed like the clubs and practice spaces melted into a white-hot stickiness by Bikini Kill, Modest Mouse, Ted Leo and The Shins. An Indie Rock who's who of the 1990s and beyond, I felt the need to dig out an on-the-spot miss-you soundtrack of Dischord bands for this memory-lane box of stills focused on the likes of Jawbox, Jesus Lizard, Make-Up, Girls Against Boys and Unrest. Highly recommended on the hip Akashic Books imprint.
Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Hot Hot Heat Wednesday and Fuel Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts the White Rabbits Monday and Smashing Pumpkins Tuesday. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Grace Potter & The Nocturnals on Friday and Brother Ali on Monday. Last Call with Last Call with Carson Daly gets chatty with Devin the Dude Wednesday. Jimmy Kimmel Live presents Public Enemy on Friday and As Tall As Lions on Monday. And The Henry Rollins Show on IFC features musical guest Gogol Bordello this Friday.
New Releases Coming Tuesday
The Anthem Sound - The Anthem Sound (Hello My Name Is Records) CD EP of four smart, angular songs from this New York City five-piece that came together at The Knitting Factory; The Bangles Return to Bangleonia (Shout! Factory) concert DVD filmed at the Los Angeles House of Blues in 2000, with bonus a acoustic version of their Prince-penned hit, "Manic Monday"; Blaqk Audio CexCells (Interscope) dark, new electronic partnership from Jade Puget and Davey Havok of AFI; Cake - B-Sides and Rarities (Upbeat) a scratch 'n sniff CD booklet is a nice touch in this long awaited collection of odd gems and wicked covers of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," Barry White's "Never Never Gonna Give You Up," Kenny Rogers' "Ruby, Don't take Your Love To Town" and Frank Sinatra's "Strangers In the Night"; Eric Copeland Hermaphrodite (Paw Tracks) solo debut from the Black Dice and Terrestrial Tones noisemaker, turning alien transmissions and found material into cinematic audio collages; Dollar Store - Money Music (Bloodshot) featuring Waco Brothers' bassist Alan Doughty and Hushdrops' drummer Joe Camirillo; Floratone Floratone (Blue Note) intriguing new quartet featuring Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Matt Chamberlain; Gliss - Love the Virgins (Cordless) recorded during and after their European tour with Billy Corgan; Thelma Houston A Woman's Touch (Shout! Factory) all-covers collection from the Soul diva, featuring girl-on-boy spins through Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar," Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" and Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much"; Junior Senior - Hey Hey My My Yo Yo (Crunchy Frog/Rykodisc) domestic issue of this funky, nerdy dance floor monster, with guests Le Tigre, Motown's The Velvelettes and Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson of The B-52's; KISS - Kissology: Volume Two, 1978-1991 (VH1 Classic Records) three-DVD set featuring the band's 1979 interview with Tom Snyder, the rare European version of the film Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park, entitled overseas as Kiss in Attack of the Phantoms, a live performance of songs from the (Music From) The Elder album from the Fridays television show in 1982 and a wild Rio de Janeiro concert from 1983; Adam Levy Washing Day (Lost Wax Music) new solo album from Norah Jones' guitarist and songwriter; The Liars "Plaster Casts of Everything" (Mute) new CD and 7-inch single, each with exclusive B-sides; MAE Singularity (Capitol) major label debut from the Multisensory Aesthetic Experience; Ian Moore To Be Loved (Justice) all new from the master guitarist, backed by a cool combo featuring vibraphone and trumpet; Nina Nastasia & Jim White - You Follow Me (FatCat) four-star return with the Dirty Three drummer, boiled down to a raw, emotive duo; Matt Nathanson Some Mad Hope (Vanguard) touring high schools this fall for the "Milk Rocks" campaign; Danbert Nobacon The Library Book of the World (Bloodshot) wild new ride from the Chumbawamba vocalist with Jon Langford's Pine Valley Cosmonauts; Project Jenny, Project Jan XOXOXOXOXO (Might Records) nervous, paranoid, electronic bounce from the bedroom beat duo of Jeremy Haines and Sammy Rubin; Quodia - The Arrow: A Story In Seven Parts (7d Media) mesmerizing CD/DVD package from Trey Gunn of King Crimson and Joe Mendelson of Rise Robots Rise, featuring a selectable audio track designed for a children's experience, an exclusive performance video featuring a Russian-speaking Regina Spektor and the piece "When the Fire Was Slow," based on a story told by Geronimo; Recoil subHuman (Mute) former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder is back with his fifth studio album, collaborating with vocalist Carla Trevaskis and Blues guitarist Joe Richardson; also available in a gatefold LP vinyl edition and a CD/DVD package featuring video clips, a 5.1 Surround Sound mix and an ambient reworking of the entire album; Lee Rocker Black Cat Bone (Alligator) new from the Stray Cats' bassist, featuring an upbeat cover of Bob Dylan's "One More Night"; The Seldom Scene Scenechronized (Sugar Hill) progressive Bluegrass splendor, featuring covers of Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" and Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time"; Linda Thompson - Versatile Heart (Rounder) with guests Martha and Rufus Wainwright and a cover of Tom Waits' "Day After Tomorrow"; Turbonegro Retox (Cooking Vinyl) Norwegian hooligan Rawk dressed as sailors and theatric, nightmarish dandies, bathed in the Sunset Strip riffs of Mótley Crue in "Hell Toupée"; Two Loons For Tea - Nine Lucid Dreams (Sarathan) lush, sophisticated Seattle duo with a delicate, Trip Hop edge; Paul van Dyk In Between (Mute) with guest vocalists Ashley Tomberlin of the Luminary, the Talking Heads' David Byrne and Jessica Sutta of the Pussycat Dolls; The Wildbirds - Golden Daze (PRC Records) hot off tour with Jesse Malin, this electric, young quartet can boogie-woogie a house party to a sweaty frenzy, as well as sway the crowd in the slightly Southern, lost grooves of their elders; Various Artists - Insane Times: 25 British Psychedelic Artefacts from the EMI Vaults (EMI) import-only collection of late-60s nuggets from Tomorrow, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Mandrake Paddle Steamer, The Yardbirds, The Lemon Tree and more.
