01
Jul
2003
· Perfect for poolside summer reading, three new rock-and-roll books have captured my attention and plenty of Coppertone smudges. Hot off the New York Times best-selling KISS & Make-Up, demon bassist Gene Simmons offers up his new book, Sex Money KISS, a fascinating rant on all things financial or romantic from a guy who seems to have had it all.
At 53, Simmons pulls no punches over his 30-year feast of money, fame, and sexual liaisons, coming across like a pensive mix of an enterprising young Ben Franklin and Tom Cruise's Frank Mackey sex-guru character in the film Magnolia. Regardless of your response to his morality, I think you'll find his worldly wisdom regarding divorce-settlement hypocrisy, cash versus credit, hustling for secondary jobs, and income opportunity to be quite sage and irrefutable. Go ahead - blush, laugh, frown, or argue with his bravado from the bully pulpit, but don't be surprised if some of his logic sinks in. From this rock star, artist, author, merchandising multi-millionaire, litigious swordsman, trademark collector, magazine publisher, film actor, record producer, and KISS-convention mastermind, the result is lightning-bolt entertainment, whether you find this one in the business, self-help, or autobiography section. Highly recommended for passion recharge.
· Krause Publications has just issued an updated second edition of its Beatles Digest, a slick 320-page collection of essays and articles from the pages of Goldmine and Discoveries magazines. More than 200 nice black-and-white photographs pepper the book, with highlights including a 50-page price guide, in-depth interviews, a look at collaborations after the band's breakup, and readers' memories of John Lennon and where they were when they heard the news of his assassination. Other compelling chapters share the making of Lennon's Double Fantasy with producer Jack Douglas, and producer George Martin's memories of "his boys."
· Also digging deep is Hal Leonard's publication of The U2 Reader: A Quarter Century of Commentary, Criticism, & Reviews, compiled and edited by Hank Bordowitz, a lifelong fan from first seeing the band live in 1980. The 300-page book pulls from magazines such as Playboy, Trouser Press, Musician, and The Nation to tell the history the band, with contributors including Salman Rushdie, Billy Corgan, Moby, Dave Marsh, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and Robert Christgau. Highlights include Bono's Class Day Speech at Harvard, various musings from Salon.com, and interviews with the band's manager, Paul McGuinness.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Ginuwine tonight, Lisa Marie Presley on Thursday, Fleetwood Mac on Friday, and Evanescence on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Avril Lavigne on Thursday and Blur on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Ted Leo this evening overnight, Aimee Mann on Thursday overnight, and Supergrass on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn gets silly with Weird Al Yankovic on Thursday overnight, Vic Chesnutt on Friday overnight, Foo Fighters on Monday overnight, and Kelly Clarkson on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live cuddles up with Marilyn Manson on Friday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Avril Lavigne.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 8:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
16 Horsepower - Olden (Jetset) 20-track collection of demos from 1993 and 1994
Devendra Banhart - Black Babies (Young God) six-track CD EP with four songs not found on his recent stunning debut
Bardo Pond - On the Eclipse (All Tomorrow's Parties)
Beloved - Failure on (Solid State)
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Save My Soul (Vanguard) with Tower of Power trumpeter Lee Thornburg
Conspiracy - The Unknown (Inside Out) new from Yes bassist Chris Squire and guitarist Billy Sherwood
Cosmic Rough Riders - Too Close to See Far (Measured)
Feather Merchants - Unarmed Against Dark (Innocent 12th Street/Ryko)
The Fugs - The Fugs Final CD (Artemis)
Colin Hay - Man at Work (Compass) new solo album featuring an acoustic version of "Overkill"
How to Deal - original motion picture soundtrack (Capitol) featuring a must-hear cover of Cat Steven's "Wild World" by Beth Orton
Eugene Kelly - "Older Faster" (Geographic) new single folk pop from the founding member of The Vaselines
CEvin Key - The Dragon Experience (Metropolis)
Kraftwerk - "Tour de France 03" (Astralwerks) newly recorded single
Kris Kristofferson - Broken Freedom Songs: Live from San Francisco (Oh Boy) recorded last summer
The Magic Band - Back to the Front (All Tomorrow's Parties)
Nicotine - School of Liberty (Asian Man) punk rock from Chiba, Japan
Paloalto - Heroes & Villains (American) on tour later this month with Supergrass
The Pretenders - Time Remixes (Artemis) CD EP
Rancid - Indestructible (Hellcat/Epitaph)
David Lee Roth - Diamond Dave (Magna Carta) covers of songs by The Beatles, Savoy Brown, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and the Hombres, with guests Edgar Winter and Nile Rodgers
S.T.U.N. - Evolution of Energy (Geffen) on this summer's Warped Tour; the band's name stands for Scream Toward the Uprising of Nonconformity
Jimmy Scott - Moon Glow (Milestone)
Sparks - Lil' Beethoven (Palm Pictures)
Spock's Beard - Feel Euphoria (Inside Out) with drummer Nick D'Virgilio taking vocal duties
The Swords Project - Entertainment Is Over If You Want It (Arena Rock)
Tindersticks - Waiting for the Moon (Matador)
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - Come Poop with Me (Warner Bros.)
TV on the Radio - Young Liars (Touch & Go)
various artists - Punk Rock Is Your Friend: Volume 4 (Kung Fu) hosted by Neil Hamburger, this 17-track CD features bonus videos from The Vandals, Alkaline Trio, and The Ataris
Luther Wright & The Wrongs - Broken F??n Heart (Down There/DBK)
Steve Wynn - Static Transmission (DBK Works/Runt) terrific new artist-owned label debut from the Dream Syndicate founder with guest Chris Cacavas of Green on Red and Giant Sand
· Krause Publications has just issued an updated second edition of its Beatles Digest, a slick 320-page collection of essays and articles from the pages of Goldmine and Discoveries magazines. More than 200 nice black-and-white photographs pepper the book, with highlights including a 50-page price guide, in-depth interviews, a look at collaborations after the band's breakup, and readers' memories of John Lennon and where they were when they heard the news of his assassination. Other compelling chapters share the making of Lennon's Double Fantasy with producer Jack Douglas, and producer George Martin's memories of "his boys."
· Also digging deep is Hal Leonard's publication of The U2 Reader: A Quarter Century of Commentary, Criticism, & Reviews, compiled and edited by Hank Bordowitz, a lifelong fan from first seeing the band live in 1980. The 300-page book pulls from magazines such as Playboy, Trouser Press, Musician, and The Nation to tell the history the band, with contributors including Salman Rushdie, Billy Corgan, Moby, Dave Marsh, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and Robert Christgau. Highlights include Bono's Class Day Speech at Harvard, various musings from Salon.com, and interviews with the band's manager, Paul McGuinness.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Ginuwine tonight, Lisa Marie Presley on Thursday, Fleetwood Mac on Friday, and Evanescence on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Avril Lavigne on Thursday and Blur on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Ted Leo this evening overnight, Aimee Mann on Thursday overnight, and Supergrass on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn gets silly with Weird Al Yankovic on Thursday overnight, Vic Chesnutt on Friday overnight, Foo Fighters on Monday overnight, and Kelly Clarkson on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live cuddles up with Marilyn Manson on Friday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Avril Lavigne.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 8:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
16 Horsepower - Olden (Jetset) 20-track collection of demos from 1993 and 1994
Devendra Banhart - Black Babies (Young God) six-track CD EP with four songs not found on his recent stunning debut
Bardo Pond - On the Eclipse (All Tomorrow's Parties)
Beloved - Failure on (Solid State)
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Save My Soul (Vanguard) with Tower of Power trumpeter Lee Thornburg
Conspiracy - The Unknown (Inside Out) new from Yes bassist Chris Squire and guitarist Billy Sherwood
Cosmic Rough Riders - Too Close to See Far (Measured)
Feather Merchants - Unarmed Against Dark (Innocent 12th Street/Ryko)
The Fugs - The Fugs Final CD (Artemis)
Colin Hay - Man at Work (Compass) new solo album featuring an acoustic version of "Overkill"
How to Deal - original motion picture soundtrack (Capitol) featuring a must-hear cover of Cat Steven's "Wild World" by Beth Orton
Eugene Kelly - "Older Faster" (Geographic) new single folk pop from the founding member of The Vaselines
CEvin Key - The Dragon Experience (Metropolis)
Kraftwerk - "Tour de France 03" (Astralwerks) newly recorded single
Kris Kristofferson - Broken Freedom Songs: Live from San Francisco (Oh Boy) recorded last summer
The Magic Band - Back to the Front (All Tomorrow's Parties)
Nicotine - School of Liberty (Asian Man) punk rock from Chiba, Japan
Paloalto - Heroes & Villains (American) on tour later this month with Supergrass
The Pretenders - Time Remixes (Artemis) CD EP
Rancid - Indestructible (Hellcat/Epitaph)
David Lee Roth - Diamond Dave (Magna Carta) covers of songs by The Beatles, Savoy Brown, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and the Hombres, with guests Edgar Winter and Nile Rodgers
S.T.U.N. - Evolution of Energy (Geffen) on this summer's Warped Tour; the band's name stands for Scream Toward the Uprising of Nonconformity
Jimmy Scott - Moon Glow (Milestone)
Sparks - Lil' Beethoven (Palm Pictures)
Spock's Beard - Feel Euphoria (Inside Out) with drummer Nick D'Virgilio taking vocal duties
The Swords Project - Entertainment Is Over If You Want It (Arena Rock)
Tindersticks - Waiting for the Moon (Matador)
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - Come Poop with Me (Warner Bros.)
TV on the Radio - Young Liars (Touch & Go)
various artists - Punk Rock Is Your Friend: Volume 4 (Kung Fu) hosted by Neil Hamburger, this 17-track CD features bonus videos from The Vandals, Alkaline Trio, and The Ataris
Luther Wright & The Wrongs - Broken F??n Heart (Down There/DBK)
Steve Wynn - Static Transmission (DBK Works/Runt) terrific new artist-owned label debut from the Dream Syndicate founder with guest Chris Cacavas of Green on Red and Giant Sand
