Tom Wright's life story in the new photography book 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. A schoolmate of Pete Townshend in 1962, 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 and excesses 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 featuring bands such as Bikini Kill, Modest Mouse, Ted Leo, and The Shins. An indie-rock who's who of the 1990s, this memory-lane box of stills also features 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 tonight and Fuel on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts the White Rabbits on Monday and Smashing Pumpkins on Tuesday; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Grace Potter & The Nocturnals on Friday and Brother Ali on Monday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly gets chatty with Devin the Dude this evening overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live presents Public Enemy on Friday and As Tall as Lions on Monday overnight; and The Henry Rollins Show on IFC features musical guest Gogol Bordello this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 14:
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 a bonus 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 & Rarities (Upbeat) a scratch-and-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 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, 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 seven-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 in 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
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 an LP edition and a CD/DVD package featuring video clips, a 5.1-channel 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 rock dressed
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 a tour with Jesse Malin
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
