Not going to have a whole lot of time this summer for extra non-required reading, but I'll have a bit and I'm sure that a few of you will, too.

So post up your recs. I like to try and do one or two music-related books a month during the summer (and a few during winter break) - I'm on an academic schedule, so I don't get through more than one or two total in the fall or spring.

Biographies and autobiographies are always cool. Although I'd like to get into some hard history on either gospel or early soul/r&b, too. Bonus points for essay collections because they're easy to read a bit of at a time and not get too sidetracked...

What's everyone reading right now?

Edit:
If anyone's interested in doing a mini-reading group sort of thing - we all a book by a certain date and then discuss - I'd be down. I feel like it's something we've discussed here in the past but never actually put together?

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

. . .going out of business. But I've found two really good looking things that I've already set out to crack open as soon as school ends. They are:
http://www.amazon.com/Are-You-Ready-Country-Parsons/dp/0142000167/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367846483&sr=1-1&keywords=are+you+ready+for+the+country

And:
http://www.amazon.com/Music-My-Mistress-Capo-Paperback/dp/0306800330/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367846565&sr=1-1&keywords=music+is+my+mistress

~Austin

Latest 'choon: "it was a bad day."
http://bit.ly/138L3zy

"It is, I think, an indisputable fact that Americans are, as Americans, the most self-conscious people in the world."
—Henry James, OM

http://austintayeshus.blogspot.com/

Been a minute. One of the first music books I read in high school. I mostly remember being inspired and awed all at once.

█▆▇▅▇█▇▆▄▁▃
Big PEMFin H & z's
"I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am 1 thing, a musician." © Miles

"When the music stops he falls back in the abyss."

I've never read the Ellington ab straight-through, either - thanks for both recs!


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>Edit:
>If anyone's interested in doing a mini-reading group sort of
>thing - we all a book by a certain date and then discuss - I'd
>be down. I feel like it's something we've discussed here in
>the past but never actually put together?

I think it'd key in on one good selection and leaving it open ended for the entirety of the summer. Perhaps a few key dates for discussion, but overall just an open back and forth over the course of the summer.

Otherwise quick books would be necessary

█▆▇▅▇█▇▆▄▁▃
Big PEMFin H & z's
"I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am 1 thing, a musician." © Miles

"When the music stops he falls back in the abyss."

Let's see if anyone else responds favorably and go from there.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

I'm only about 5 tunes in, but I think you'd love it.

-------
so I'm in a band now:
album ---> http://greenwoodburns.bandcamp.com/releases
Soundcloud ---> http://soundcloud.com/greenwood-burns

my own stuff -->http://soundcloud.com/lonesomedstringband

avy by buckshot_defunct

That will definitely be on my list

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

song in question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt-af4wp_nU

I think you can guess some of the article's implications from listening to the performance. Some very cool parallels being drawn.

-------
so I'm in a band now:
album ---> http://greenwoodburns.bandcamp.com/releases
Soundcloud ---> http://soundcloud.com/greenwood-burns

my own stuff -->http://soundcloud.com/lonesomedstringband

avy by buckshot_defunct

the big funk you have explained allot of shit on here(and to me) much respect. In terms of musical reading I think I might have sometime this summer myself, but I don't know where to start, what are some books that you have read/found interesting(any genre is fine)?

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

>the big funk you have explained allot of shit on here(and to
>me) much respect. In terms of musical reading I think I might
>have sometime this summer myself, but I don't know where to
>start, what are some books that you have read/found
>interesting(any genre is fine)?

Thanks for the compliment - I don't know if I have much to recommend though, lol - let me think about this a bit and try to hop back on later with some thoughts

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

i'm gonna run through Jo Nesbo

Sorry I checked out on this thread entirely (par for the course, I'm a terrible person)

This is the summer where the entire universe is telling me to read more David Foster Wallace, apparently...

So an early volume of David Foster Wallace, a collaboration with a friend where they talk about rap for 150 pages, has just been republished. A few friends of mine have read it and recommend it.

Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Signifying-Rappers-Mark-Costello/dp/0316225835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374756793&sr=8-1&keywords=signifying+rappers


Review from The Atlantic:
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2013/07/white-boy-beats-why-you-should-read-david-foster-wallaces-book-rap/67525/


The key here is that this was published *in 1989* - you're not only getting to see early Wallace, but it's a unique window into a pivotal time in the development of rap as both art form and commercial product. For those who haven't read any of Wallace (esp. his non-fiction), you're in for an indescribable experience, lol.

Anyone interested in reading this and discussing? We could aim to have it read by the end of August, discuss over the course of September? Or just start an open thread for it now and let folks discuss as they please...

Any thoughts?


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

buckshot_defunct's material.

Rhyme Travelers is fun - my kids loved it, but I had a great time getting a lot of (mostly music) jokes that are over their heads.

http://rhymetravelers.talestosuffice.com/hello-world/


And of course, My Longbox Weighs A Ton, which is more of an art book but is a ton of fun and none too expensive.

http://talestosuffice.bigcartel.com/product/my-longbox-weighs-a-ton-vol-1

(samples here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47140275@N05/sets/72157623207329307)

-------
so I'm in a band now:
album ---> http://greenwoodburns.bandcamp.com/releases
Soundcloud ---> http://soundcloud.com/greenwood-burns

my own stuff -->http://soundcloud.com/lonesomedstringband

avy by buckshot_defunct