Michael Imperioli’s ‘The Perfume Burned His Eyes’ Could Be Titled In the Thrall
Emmy-winning actor Michael Imperioli’s debut novel, The Perfume Burned His Eyes seems at first a coming-of-age tale, but its tumultuous thralldom is a swift current.
Books
‘Bliss Montage Is a Surrealistic Meditation on the Human Condition
Ling Ma’s short story collection, Bliss Montage, brilliantly explores the absurdity and alienation of living under late-stage capitalism.
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.
Bob Dylan Remains Hard to Pin Down with ‘The Philosophy of Modern Song’
In The Philosophy of Modern Song, Bob Dylan conveys his thoughts in his signature styles, as in his lyrics, he can be plainspoken, gnomic, and over the top.
Biography ‘Saving Freud’ Tells of Struggles with Freud’s Stubborn Denial
Andrew Nagorski’s engrossing biography, Saving Freud, brings forth the dangerous power of denial.
The Joke’s on You: Bob Dylan’s ‘The Philosophy of Modern Song’
Bob Dylan’s The Philosophy of Modern Song is an awful book, awash with misogyny and crusty old man rants like a drunken, MAGA hat-wearing uncle.
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.
Only the Surveilling Technology Is New ‘The Listeners’ Contends
In The Listeners, scholar Brian Hochman narrates a history of surveillance in the United States by means of technological cunning up to 2001.
Desolation Kerouac: Wrestling with Demons in ‘Desolation Peak’
Jack Kerouac’s posthumous Desolation Peak establishes that Kerouac was more than a road warrior out for kicks. Or some wayward beatnik.
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.
