Book Musik 057 – Nina Simone’s Gum by Warren Ellis with Guest Andrea Tetrick

Nina Simone's Gum by Warren Ellis with guest Andrea TetrickTosh and Kimley are joined by special guest Andrea Tetrick to discuss Nina Simone’s Gum by Warren Ellis. Warren Ellis is a multi-instrumentalist and frequent collaborator with Nick Cave as well as a member of The Bad Seeds and the trio Dirty Three among other music projects. He now adds talented writer to his resume with this new book which is part memoir but also an homage to art and artists and their power to inspire and lift us up. When Ellis takes Nina Simone’s gum from her piano after a transcendent performance, it takes him on an epic adventure while he contemplates the meaning and importance of these precious objects that we carry with us.

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

Book Musik 055 – Why Marianne Faithfull Matters by Tanya Pearson

Tosh and Kimley discuss Why Marianne Faithfull Matters by Tanya PearsonTosh and Kimley discuss Why Marianne Faithfull Matters by Tanya Pearson. Marianne Faithfull is now entering her sixth decade of pushing creative boundaries. She started in the 1960s as an icon of the swinging London scene both as a singer and an actress. In 1979 in her early 30s (when that was considered over-the-hill), she released her album Broken English which is a visceral masterpiece. And she’s continued to push herself creatively ever since with eclectic collaborations from Metallica to Hal Willner to Jarvis Cocker and just this year releasing an album of recited poetry with music by Warren Ellis. Never one to rest on her laurels, we know she’ll be breaking rules to the very end.

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

Book Musik 041 – Relax Baby Be Cool: the Artistry and Audacity of Serge Gainsbourg – discussion with author Jeremy Allen

Relax Baby Be Cool: the Artistry and Audacity of Serge Gainsbourg by Jeremy Allen - book cover

Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Jeremy Allen to discuss his new book Relax Baby Be Cool: the Artistry and Audacity of Serge Gainsbourg. When Gainsbourg died in 1991, the French mourned the loss of an icon on par with the deaths of Elvis Presley or John Lennon. But outside of France few noticed or knew much about him beyond perhaps his infamous duet with Jane Birkin, “Je t’aime… moi non plus.” Eventually the cult of Gainsbourg began to grow outside of France and he’s become a huge influence on musicians far and wide. This book explores the mythos of Gainsbourg and doesn’t shy away from his often provocative and controversial life.

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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

I'm Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen by Ray Padgett

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…

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

Book Musik 026 – Niche: A Memoir in Pastiche by Momus

Niche: A Memoir in Pastiche by Momus coverTosh and Kimley discuss Niche: A Memoir in Pastiche by Momus. Nick Currie who performs under the name Momus (the Greek god of satire and mockery) has enlisted no less than 217 dead narrators of questionable reliability to tell his life story. His selection of an eclectic mix of writers, artists, musicians, philosophers, and assorted ne’er-do-wells probably tells us more about Momus than the actual narration. It seems both his work and his life borrow a little from this and steal a little from that and he makes sure to pilfer from only the best sources to create his own unique pastiche.

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