Can you really have too much of a good thing? If you love reading about music, you’re about to find out. There are 21 (yes, 21) new books arriving next week, and unless you plan to read three a day, you can’t get through them all. So what’s it gonna be? Rik Emmett‘s memoir? The latest KISS coffee table tome? The Devo bio? The Minor Threat photo book? Or something else from this giant list? It’s your call. Let’s run the voodoo down:
Lay It On The Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and Triumph
By Rik Emmett
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “While describing the impulse driving his life and work, Rik Emmett explains, “I was never in it for the sex and drugs ― ah, but the rock and roll. Creativity was, and still is, my it ― the truth I bet my life on. It was also, always, about play. The play’s the thing …” Merging memoir, anecdotes, and masterclasses on guitar, songwriting, and the artist’s mindset, Lay It On The Line offers insight and perspective into the many roles Emmett took on. “It” was always a parboiling, psychological gumbo, and this book attempts to finally share the recipe. It also includes photos from Emmett’s own archives, plus the definitive, detailed reasons behind why he walked from Triumph ― and came back two decades later. Rock star, it seems, was a character for Emmett to inhabit: A great gig, a catalytic door-opener, a role that led to other adventures ― and these are the stories he’s chosen to tell.”
KISS At 50
By Martin Popoff
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in New York City in 1973, KISS became one of the most popular and best-selling bands in rock history with their inventive stage presence and heavy, hook-filled catalog, both ideally suited for packing hockey arenas and football stadiums. This richly illustrated book from prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band on the occasion of their 50th anniversary by curating and examining the 50 most significant milestones. Popoff covers everything down through the decades: The band’s formation on the New York club scene; their fortuitous signing to the Casablanca label; infamous TV appearances, including KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park; the formation of the famous KISS Army fan club; mega-tours undertaken in support of the LPs; interband conflicts and personnel changes; the band’s 1980s “unmasking”; innovative marketing such as comic books and the Kiss Convention; and, of course, each of their landmark studio LPs.”
The Beginning Was the End: Devo in Ohio
By Jade Dellinger & David Giffels
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Beginning Was the End is the definitive account of Devo’s vibrant early history, from the authors of the first-ever book about the band. The Beginning Was the End features more than 80 never-before-seen images of the band members and their visual history as it tells the unlikely story of a collection of creative misfits who formed a musical kinship, drawing material and inspiration from the industrial Midwestern environs of Northeast Ohio. With the May 4, 1970, Kent State shootings as a catalyst, Devo channeled protopunk energy into a sprawling art project that would pioneer the use of music videos, innovate technology in pop music, define the aesthetic of the 1980s new wave/MTV era, and maintain an edge of social, political, and cultural criticism that continues their relevance fifty years after their formation.”
Do You Believe In The Power Of Rock & Roll?
By John Robb
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Do You Believe in the Power of Rock & Roll? is a history of alt-rock from music writer John Robb, with the music still ringing in his ears. This collection follows Robb’s journey from the late 1970s, when he was first caught up in punk’s high-octane thrill, to the present day, via the early days of the rave scene, the birth of electronic and techno, and myriad bands that spun off on their own idiosyncratic paths. Robb was the first person to write about Nirvana, coined the term Britpop, and documented the Stone Roses’ rise out of Manchester before anyone else was interested. He was at every pivotal gig, and has interviewed every key player in the business, including Jordan, the queen of punk, founding father of new American rock Steve Albini, goth-rock guitarist Daniel Ash, infamous Oasis co-founder Noel Gallagher, and music greats like Lemmy and Poly Styrene. Few others have witnessed first-hand so many important moments of the last 40 years of rock history. Here, they come together to form the essential history of a personal quest to document the ever-changing soundtrack of the modern world.”
Madonna: A Rebel Life
By Mary Gabriel
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With her arrival on the music scene in the early 1980s, Madonna generated nothing short of an explosion — as great as that of Elvis or The Beatles — taking the nation by storm with her liberated politics and breathtaking talent. But Madonna was more than just a pop star. Everywhere, fans gravitated to her as an emblem of a new age, one in which feminism could shed the buttoned-down demeanor of the 1970s and feel relevant to a new generation. Amid the scourge of AIDS, she brought queer identities into the mainstream, fiercely defending a person’s right to love whomever — and be whoever — they wanted. Despite fierce criticism, she never separated her music from her political activism. And, as an artist, she never stopped experimenting. Madonna existed to push past boundaries by creating provocative, visionary music, videos, films, and live performances that changed culture globally. Deftly tracing Madonna’s story from her Michigan roots to her rise to super-stardom, master biographer Mary Gabriel captures the dramatic life and achievements of one of the greatest artists of our time.”
The Little Guide to Madonna: Express Yourself
By Orange Hippo!
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The world’s most famous mononym, Madonna may be outspoken, but she’s never outgunned. With a loyal legion of millions of adoring fans, who have stayed by her side for more than four decades, Madonna has inspired and influenced the hearts, souls, and minds of every generation since her now-mythical arrival in New York in 1978. Continuously reinventing her music and her image, she remains today as every bit as powerful, and iconic, as she did throughout her long reign. With quotes from her earliest interviews to her latest (controversial) award speeches, from virgins to vogue-ing, and material girls to unapologetic bitches, Madonna expresses just a little bit of everything for everyone.”
Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter
By Lucy O’Brien
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A groundbreaking biography reevaluating the life and legacy of transcendent musician Karen Carpenter. As one of the biggest-selling acts of the 1970s, The Carpenters are celebrated for their melodic pop and unforgettable hits like Close to You, Yesterday and Top of the World. Though Karen is rightly recognized as one of the greatest singers in popular music, the tragedy of her early death in 1983 at the young age of just 32 sometimes overshadows her incredible achievements. She has often been portrayed as a victim, controlled by her family and exploited by the music industry. Forty years after her death, this biography reframes her life and legacy as a pioneering woman with her own vision and agency. With exclusive interviews with friends, musicians, and collaborators, bestselling author Lucy O’Brien explores Karen’s contributions as a singer, drummer, arranger, and producer, and traces the roots of The Carpenters’ iconic sound. Lead Sister also honors Karen’s triumphs in the face of her struggle with anorexia, providing contemporary perspectives on eating disorders and mental health. Despite the chronic nature of her illness, Carpenter was, above all, a creative, dedicated, and assured artist whose music delivers an emotional resonance that has transcended generations — and that is how she should be remembered.”
A Fool’s Journey: To the Beach Boys And Beyond
By Carli Muñoz
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Cutting his musical teeth in a Puerto Rican jazz club in the 1960s, Carli Muñoz came of age during the countercultural flowering of that era; he lived for music, knowledge, and the mind-expanding magic of LSD. Wanting to expand creative horizons for his successful psychedelic rock band, Muñoz flew to New York on a whim with $11 in his pocket and embarked on a deep dive into the gritty scene of gigs, girls, and trips, struggling to fill his pockets with dollars and his belly with food. On the cusp of a new decade, Muñoz moved to L.A. to fight for a new life and a second chance. Hanging out in Houdini’s old mansion in Laurel Canyon, he watched the free-loving idealism of the ’60s melt into the disco- and cocaine-saturated hedonism of the ’70s, until one day he found himself on tour with The Beach Boys. He became close friends with Dennis Wilson — a friendship that ranged from pranking each other to working on an album together to watching him spiral irretrievably into self-destruction. He witnessed the feud between Mike Love and the Wilsons firsthand, as well as the unchecked instability of Brian Wilson. Despite the chaos and power struggles within the band, Muñoz was able to create enthralling music with them, as well as with some of the other popular musicians of the ’70s, including Wilson Pickett, The Association, George Benson and Peter Cetera. Populated with an eclectic cast of artists, musicians, clairvoyants, record producers, hippies, hobos, and superstars, A Fool’s Journey is a vivid snapshot of an era-defining moment that will never be repeated.”
Just a Minor Threat: The Minor Threat Photographs of Glen E. Friedman
By Glen E. Friedman
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This collection includes Glen E. Friedman’s most iconic images of Minor Threat, as well as many never-before-seen photographs. Just A Minor Threat is a book of Glen E. Friedman’s most outstanding photographs of the Washington, D.C. band Minor Threat, one of the most influential hardcore punk bands in music history. While the book offers Friedman’s best-known photographs of the band, most of the pictures in this volume, shot in 1982 and ’83, have never been seen before. The book has writing by Jello Biafra, Alec MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Zack de la Rocha, Jamie Shanahan and Ian F. Svenonius. Friedman’s own introduction explains how he initially met the band, and the lifelong friendships that grew from there. The first time Friedman made pictures of Minor Threat was in Southern California early in the summer of 1982, then later on their home turf of Washington. At the end of that same year, he shot them at an “explosive and uncontrollable” performance at CBGB in New York City. In addition to these, Just A Minor Threat also comprises very rare candid and posed photos of the band, including many from the same roll as the now classic Salad Days image on the front steps of their Dischord House.”
Domesticated Vol. 2
By James Domestic
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In the second Domesticated instalment, East Anglian punk poet James Domestic is once again taking potshots at work, so-called-punk-rock, outdoor and indoor pursuits, aging, right wing lunatics, politics, feet, and himself. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also find his trademark surrealism, sarcasm, and quintessentially British whimsy applied to animals, emails, food, and the power of music, alongside his idiosyncratic illustrations, and photographs from his murky past. A man in too many bands to count, a solo artist, a vocalist, a songwriter, a DJ, a poet, a painter, and a punk. Domestic failed miserably at school through the distractions of music, alcohol, and girls, spent his early post-school life between the chemical factory and the dole, and somehow now has a PhD. A square peg in life’s round hole. A face that never fitted. He couldn’t care less. Come along for the ride.”
A Walk Across Dirty Water & Straight Into Murderer’s Row: A Memoir
By Eugene S Robinson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A weird rollicking ride is how author Eugene S. Robinson views his journey from a Brooklyn kid withoffbeat punk proclivities to the realities of California hardcore and dark detours into shows, tours, drugs, porn, guns, MMA fighting, an Ivy League-esque education and his eventual entry into the U.S. defense industry just in time to see his boss dragged into Contragate. Robinson’s writing mirrors his fighting style in intensity, ferocity, and brutal truth. He knows exactly who he is and how he is perceived by the white people and white culture that surrounds him. Robinson challenges accepted norms. He fights against easy answers and safe passages. He says: “No one who ever gets a life sentence for just about anything really expects it to last a lifetime. Even if the modifier is “without the possibility of parole.” Hope springs eternal but there’s always the undiscussed other option. The one where the fate is chosen, freely, and the protagonist has about as much interest in escaping as he does of being almost anywhere else at all. Which is to say: not at all.”
Bridge And Tunnel Boys: Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, & the Metropolitan Sound Of The American Century
By Jim Cullen
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Born four months apart, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel both released their debut albums in the early 1970s, quickly becoming two of the most successful rock stars of their generation. While their critical receptions have been very different, surprising parallels emerge when we look at the arcs of their careers and the musical influences that have inspired them. Bridge and Tunnel Boys compares the life and work of Long Islander Joel and Asbury Park native Springsteen, considering how each man forged a distinctive sound that derived from his unique position on the periphery of the Big Apple. Locating their music within a longer tradition of the New York metropolitan sound, dating back to the early 1900s, cultural historian Jim Cullen explores how each man drew from the city’s diverse racial and ethnic influences. His study explains how, despite frequently releasing songs that questioned the American dream, Springsteen and Joel were able to appeal to wide audiences during both the national uncertainty of the 1970s and the triumphalism of the Reagan era. By placing these two New York–area icons in a new context, Bridge and Tunnel Boys allows us to hear their most beloved songs with new appreciation.”
The Little Guide to Bruce Springsteen: The Boss
By Orange Hippo!
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Bruce Springsteen arrived on the world’s stage in 1973 with two incredible albums in one year, a prolificacy that would define his career for the next half-century. In his tenure at the top of the rock ’n’ roll charts, Springsteen received worldwide adoration for crafting lyrics and music that symbolized all facets of his, and his home nation’s, history; songs that enthralled with passion and purpose, stinging political vitriol and the sweetest of melody. No other American artist captured America’s heart, and soul, than Springsteen. Containing Springsteen’s most prominent non-lyrical poetry and life philosophies, from his earliest interviews to his most recent statements of truth, fact, and soul-baring, each one spanning the entirety of his musical output with the E Street Band, his solo soundtracks, iconic live performances and a wealth of TV, magazine, and newspaper conversations. In the early days when Springsteen and his band played gigs in small venues, it was Bruce’s job (as frontman) to collect the money and pay the rest of the band. This led them to start calling him The Boss, a nickname which has stuck. Springsteen — the patron saint of the working man, who greatly dislikes bosses — naturally loathes this nickname!”
Rap Capital: An Atlanta Story
By Joe Coscarelli
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From mansions to trap houses, office buildings to strip clubs, Atlanta is defined by its rap music. But this flashy and fast-paced world is rarely seen below surface-level as a collection not of superheroes and villains, cartoons and caricatures, but of flawed and inspired individuals all trying to get a piece of what everyone else seems to have. In artistic, commercial, and human terms, Atlanta rap represents the most consequential musical ecosystem of this century so far. Rap Capital tells the dramatic stories of the people who make it tick, and the city that made them that way. The lives of the artists driving the culture, from megastars like Lil Baby and Migos to lesser-known local strivers like Lil Reek and Marlo, represent the modern American dream but also an American nightmare, as young Black men and women wrestle generational curses, crippled school systems, incarceration, and racism on the way to an improbable destination atop art and commerce. Drawing on years of reporting, more than 100 interviews, dozens of hours in recording studios and on immersive ridealongs, acclaimed New York Times reporter Joe Coscarelli weaves a cinematic tapestry of this singular American culture as it took over in the last decade, from the big names to the lesser-seen prospects, managers, grunt-workers, mothers, DJs, lawyers and dealers that are equally important to the industry. The result is a deeply human, era-defining book. Entertaining and profound, Rap Capital is an epic of art, money, race, class, and sometimes, salvation.”
Weight In The Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey From Soviet Ukraine To The World Stage
By Inna Faliks
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Before she knew she was Ukrainian, Soviet, or Jewish, Inna Faliks knew she was a musician. Growing up in the city of Odessa, the piano became her best friend, and she explored the brilliant, intricate puzzles of Bach’s music and learned to compose under her mother’s watchful eye. At 10, Faliks and her parents moved to Chicago as part of the tide of Jewish refugees who fled the U.S.S.R. for the West in the 1980s. During the months-long immigration process, she would silently practice on kitchen tables while imagining a full set of piano keys beneath her fingertips. In Weight In The Fingertips, Faliks gives a globe-trotting account of her upbringing as a child prodigy in a Soviet state, the perils of immigration, the struggle of assimilating as an American, years of training with teachers, and her slow and steady rise in the world of classical music. With a warm and playful style, she helps non-musicians understand the experience of becoming a world-renowned concert pianist. The places she grew up, the books she read, the poems she memorized as a child all connect to her sound at the piano, and the way she hears and shapes a musical phrase illuminate classical music and elite performance. She also explores how a person’s humanity makes their art honest and their voice unique, and how the life-long challenge of retaining that voice is fueled by a balance between being a great musician and being a human being. Throughout, Faliks provides powerful insights into the role of music in a world of conflict, change, and hope for a better tomorrow.”
Statesman Of The Piano: Jazz, Race, And History In The Life Of Lou Hooper
By Sean Mills, Eric Fillion & Désirée Rochat
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ontario-born jazz pianist Lou Hooper (1894–1977) began his professional career in Detroit, accompanying blues singers such as Ma Rainey at the legendary Koppin Theatre. In 1921 he moved to Harlem, performing alongside Paul Robeson and recording extensively in and around Tin Pan Alley, before moving to Montreal in the 1930s. Prolific and influential, Hooper was an early teacher of Oscar Peterson and deeply involved in the jazz community in Montreal. When the Second World War broke out he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and entertained the troops in Europe. Near the end of his life Hooper came to prominence for his exceptional career and place in the history of jazz, inspiring an autobiography that was never published. Statesman of the Piano makes this document widely available for the first time and includes photographs, concert programs, lyrics, and other documents to reconstruct his life and times. Historians, archivists, musicians, and cultural critics provide annotations and commentary, examining some of the themes that emerge from Hooper’s writing and music. Statesman Of The Piano sparks new conversations about Hooper’s legacy while shedding light on the cross-border travels and wartime experiences of Black musicians, the politics of archiving and curating, and the connections between race and music in the 20th century.”
Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots
By Reba McEntire
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The best things in life are really not that fancy. This photo-driven book featuring all things Reba invites you to get back to the basics of life: fun, food, friends, and family. In her first book in over two decades, actress and country music legend Reba McEntire takes you behind the scenes and shares the stories, recipes, and Oklahoma-style truths that guide her life. “To me, there’s nothing better than sitting on the back porch looking out at the land that goes on for miles. A beautiful sunset and then me, just sipping on a glass of iced tea (or whiskey and Sprite) with my friends and family. I don’t know what heaven’s going to look like, but I hope it feels like Oklahoma. Throw in some beans and cornbread, and I’m all set. “Okies know that the secret to a good life is to keep things simple and be thankful for what the good Lord’s given you. That’s what I want to get back to. Simple fun, hard work, good food, and laughing with those you love. Everything I’m doing in my life from here on out — personal or professional, doesn’t matter — I’m going to have fun. “That’s what I’m sharing in this book — some simple, not-that-fancy truths I live by and a bunch of good stories, photos, and recipes that go along with them. So if you’re looking to slow down, get back to basics, and have a heckuva lot of fun, I think we’re going to have a good time together in these pages. Come on in, kick off your boots (or leave them on, I don’t care), and learn how to bring a little bit of my downhome-inspired life into your own.”
The Golden Voice: The Ballad of Cambodian Rock’s Lost Queen
By Gregory Cahill
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “There is a saying in Cambodia: Music is the soul of a nation. Perhaps no one embodied that spirit more than Ros Serey Sothea, a young woman who would forever change the landscape of Cambodian music as The Queen With The Golden Voice. From a humble rice farmer to nationally recognized singer, Sothea’s success captured the hearts of the Khmer people. Throughout her career, she recorded over 500 songs, her signature angelic voice soaring over genres from traditional ballads to psychedelic rock and beyond. As the Cambodian civil war raged, Sothea’s singing career continued to flourish, even when she served in the army as one of the country’s first female paratroopers. After years of bloody conflict, the communist Khmer Rouge seized control, murdering artists and destroying their music, bringing Cambodia’s golden age into a dark era of silence. Sothea’s fate is unknown. Gone but not forgotten, her legacy continues to inspire. The Golden Voice tells the story of Sothea’s life, developed alongside the surviving family who knew her, and accompanied by an interactive soundtrack.”
Female Force: Billie Eilish
By Michael Frizell, Lucy Fidelis, Darren G. Davis
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell is a rare talent. Her family, actors and musicians, nurtured her creative spirit. Still, her dreams of being a professional dancer were cut short by a hip injury when she was 13, forcing her to focus her creativity elsewhere. When she was 15, she and her brother, Finneas, collaborated on the song Ocean Eyes, and people took notice. Her smoky vocals, edgy look, and uncompromising approach garnered over 100 million Instagram followers. When she was 18, she became the youngest to work on a James Bond theme, for which she won a Grammy — one of her astonishing seven. Born in 2001, she represents the talent of Generation Z. The Female Force imprint features prominent and influential authors, business executives, entertainers, journalists, politicians, and activists. The latest biography comic book joins TidalWave’s ever-growing library of more than 200 comic book biographies.”
Orbit: Guns N’ Roses – Bonus Edition
By Michael Frizell
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This special expanded and updated edition of the Orbit: Guns N’ Roses graphic novel! With never-before-seen images and a special cover famed comic book artist Noumier Tawilah. Welcome to the jungle! The voice of a generation, the “most dangerous band in the world” rode the wave of fame and fortune during the heyday of MTV. Camera-ready, their creativity fueled by drugs, alcohol, and eager groupies, members like Axl Rose and Slash crafted music that permeated the airwaves. Gun N’ Roses transcended their metal roots to become genuine chart-toppers. Read about their meteoric rise in the pages of this new graphic novel. This expanded edition is 32 pages.”
How to Completely Lose Your Mind: A Graphic Novel Memoir of One Indie Band’s Attempt to Break a World Record
By Elizabeth Jancewicz & Eric Stevenson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From the indie band Pocket Vinyl and the artists behind the documentary Drive. Play. Sleep. and the popular webcomic The Touring Test, this hilarious graphic novel chronicles a couple’s road trip across the U.S.A. as they break a world record by playing 50 states in 45 days. Together, Eric Stevenson and Elizabeth Jancewicz are Pocket Vinyl — Eric slams on the piano and sings while Elizabeth creates a large oil painting on stage. A wild road trip of performance highs, self-doubt lows, and determination. As co-author Jancewicz says, “I knew that embarking on such a monstrous adventure would provide me with stories to tell, but I hadn’t realized how much those stories would change me… In retrospect, we learned so much: about how our art helps people, how interconnected we all are, and how easily our minds can descend into mental illness without us even realizing it’s happening.”
