Awful anthems, Cohen for kids, the new U.K. jazz vanguard, heroes of the zeros, psychedelic explorations and more options for your beach-blanket book bag. Read all about ’em:
The Worst Songs In The World: The Terrible Truth About National Anthems
By David Pate
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The best-known songs in the world are violent, sexist, and religious — so why do we celebrate national anthems when we should be rewriting them? This fascinating popular history of national anthems begins in a London theatre in 1745 when the modern idea of anthems was born. They started out as triumphant expressions of national superiority by glorifying violence, claiming the support of God, and mostly ignoring women. David Pate has experienced the violent side of anthems firsthand: as a schoolboy in Scotland, he was caned for refusing to sing God Save the Queen. He says it’s time to dump lyrics about cutting throats, watering fields with blood, building walls with the bodies of enemies, and celebrating the sound of machine guns. The Worst Songs In The World looks at the origins of many of the world’s anthems, from the movie theme song that became China’s national anthem to the English tune used for The Star-Spangled Banner. This wide-ranging and deeply researched narrative combines politics, personalities, humour and vivid storytelling to argue for better national songs.”
Unapologetic Expression: The Inside Story of the UK Jazz Explosion
By André Marmot
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A lively, subversive history of the new U.K. jazz wave, encapsulating its revolutionary spirit and tracing its foundations to birth of the genre itself. By the end of the last century, jazz music was considered by many to be obsolete and uncool, a genre appreciated only by out of touch white men with deeply questionable taste. And yet, by 2019, a new generation of U.K. jazz musicians was selling out major venues and appearing on festival lineups around the world. How has UK jazz rehabilitated its image so totally in 25 years? And how did it ever become uncool in the first place? Reaching back to the roots of jazz as the ‘unapologetic expression’ of oppressed peoples, shaped by the forces of slavery, imperialism and globalisation, André Marmot places this new wave within the wider context of a divided, postcolonial Britain navigating its identity in a new world order. These artists have crafted a sound which reflects the nation as it is today — a sound connected to the very origins of jazz itself. Drawing on 86 interviews with key architects of this jazz renaissance and those who came before them — from Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd to Gilles Peterson, Courtney Pine and Cleveland Watkiss — Unapologetic Expression captures the radical spirit of a vital British musical movement.”
Listen to Psychedelic Rock! Exploring A Musical Genre
By Christian Matijas-Mecca
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Listen to Psychedelic Rock! contains more than 50 entries covering the people, records, places, and events that shaped one of the most exciting and influential periods in popular music. This addition to the Exploring A Music Genre series concentrates solely on psychedelic rock music. Listen To Psychedelic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre covers topics that are central to learning about psychedelic music and will enable readers to understand the breadth and ongoing influence of psychedelia through to the present day. The title contains biographical sketches on selected artists, song-by-song descriptions of many albums, and short, informative essays on participants who were influential in the original psychedelic movement. A background section introduces the genre and a legacy section shows how psychedelic music has cemented its place in the world, while another section shows the tremendous impact the music has had on popular culture. Information on record labels and year-of-release dates for all musical entries make it easy for any reader to navigate this title — a must-have for high school and college readers as well as for music scholars and fans of the genre.”
The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night & More
By Bruce Spizer
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night & More covers The Fab Four’s first film and its related soundtrack albums from the British, American and Canadian perspectives. And, as the title implies, there is much more. The book also covers the records released from The Beatles’ 1961 Hamburg recordings, as well as the other singles and albums released from February through October of 1964. The book also contains chapters on the EMI recording sessions for the singles and albums, and the album covers. And, like the other books in the Beatles Album Series, the book contains chapters on the news, music and films of the era to place The Beatles’ debut film and its related records in their proper context. And, of course, fan recollections of seeing the film A Hard Day’s Night and listening to its music. The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night & More, together with its companion book The Beatles: Please Please Me to With The Beatles, provide the full story of the records and events that fueled and maintained the first phase of Beatlemania.”
Zero’s Heroes: Music Caught on Camera
By Paul Bergen
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Zero’s Heroes presents an impressive collection of photographs that capture the essence and energy of the noughties. From epic concerts and legendary festivals to intimate behind-the-scenes moments; this volume offers an unique visual journey. From pop superstars to rock and hip-hop icons; on stage and backstage; this book pays homage to the diverse musical landscape and fascinating personalities of the era.”
Leonard Cohen: Little People, Big Dreams
By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Learn about the incredible life of Leonard Cohen, the inspiring singer-songwriter who shared songs about hope, love, loss and everything that makes us human. Little Leonard grew up in Montréal, and was a child who delighted in the world around him. From roses with too-long stems, to birds chirping on a rusty wire, he noticed the beauty in things that others might miss. His trips to the synagogue were a source of wonder, too. Leonard listened in awe to the songs and stories — moved by their messages and timeless narratives. When Leonard was nine, his father sadly died. To cope with the loss, he began writing poems, and soon realised how important it was for him to express his feelings through art. As an adult, his search for poetic inspiration led him to London and Greece until, finally, he settled in New York City. He was influenced by the city’s music scene and decided to turn his hand to writing songs. His haunting melodies and powerful lyrics gained him a following and he was soon a household name. Most known for his beautiful ballad, Hallelujah, Leonard became one of the most iconic artists of all time through a music career that lasted almost 50 years. This powerful book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the musician’s life.”
