Book Musik 056 – Unstrung: Rants and Stories of a Noise Guitarist by Marc Ribot

Posted on October 15, 2021August 4, 2022 by Book Musik

Tosh and Kimley discuss Unstrung: Rants and Stories of a Noise Guitarist by Marc Ribot. Ribot first started making some serious noise on the music scene in the 1980s adding incredible sounds to records by the likes of Tom Waits and Elvis Costello as well as being an integral member of the downtown New York music scene playing with John Zorn, The Lounge Lizards and leading several bands of his own with wildly varying styles. This is his first book and it’s a mix of music writing and short fiction. Marc has a wicked smart sense of humor and isn’t shy to talk about his strong political leanings. And you can bet that he’ll crank it up to 11!

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Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 054 – Common Tones: Selected interviews with artists and musicians 1995-2020 – discussion with author Alan Licht

Posted on September 15, 2021August 4, 2022 by Book Musik

Tosh and Kimley discuss Common Tones: selected interviews with artists and musicians 1995-2020 with author Alan Licht. Alan is a musician and writer and his multidisciplinary approach to creativity is just one of the many things that he has in common with his subjects. The majority of his interviewees are active in some combination of music, writing, film, and the visual arts. There’s a creative perspective and aesthetic that flows through this collection of interviews from well-known artists like Lou Reed and Tom Verlaine to some of the key figures who influenced them such as Tony Conrad and Henry Flynt. As a peer and someone who has an enormous passion and respect for the artists he’s interviewing, Alan has a unique knack for getting everyone to open up to him and deliver a lively exchange.

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Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17

Book Musik 034 – I’m Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen (33 1/3) by Ray Padgett

Posted on November 15, 2020August 2, 2022 by Book Musik

Tosh and Kimley discuss I’m Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen (33 1/3) by Ray Padgett. Tribute albums are often derided and tend to elicit a love/hate reaction. When done right, they can illuminate a song and boost an artist’s career as did this one for Leonard Cohen. Padgett looks into not only the specifics of this Leonard Cohen tribute album but the history of the genre in general and some of the key players like producer Hal Willner and frequent contributor Juliana Hatfield. When one great artist covers another great artist it can be sublime. Or it could make your ears bleed. Art is always a gamble…

Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17