book Archive
23 Feb 2026
Book Review: Land of a Thousand Sessions
My first knowing encounter with the writing of Rob Bowman came when I bought a used paperback copy of his 1997 book Soulsville USA. That book was and remains a […]
20 Feb 2026
Book Review: Derek Shulman – Giant Steps
I’ve known for a very long time that Derek Shulman is a remarkable musical force. His work co-leading Gentle Giant represents an exemplar of what we like to call progressive […]
13 Feb 2026
Book Review: Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind
On the face of it, an entire book dealing with the first album by Graham Parker and the Rumour might seem a bit excessive. While Howlin’ Wind is an important […]
03 Feb 2026
Book Review: Carole King: She Made the Earth Move
Carole King is a towering figure in popular music. Even had she never embarked on a solo recording career, her work as a songwriter in the early 1960s would have […]
10 Nov 2025
BOOK EVENT: What’s the Big Idea
I’m pleased to announce the imminent release of my third book, What’s the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums. To celebrate its release, I’ll be appearing at Malaprop’s Bookstore in […]
10 Jun 2025
Book Review: ‘Krautrock Eruption’ by Wolfgang Seidel
The term krautrock is a fraught one. The label – applied to a type of music – carries a whiff of bigotry, as “kraut” was a pejorative slur used to […]
20 Apr 2025
Book Review: American Standard
American Standard: Cheap Trick from the Bars to the Budokan and Beyond Backbeat Books by Ross Warner The subject of Cheap Trick is no stranger to book treatment. Brian Kramp’s […]
04 Apr 2025
Lollapalooza: Mainstreaming the Alternative
This feature appeared previously in SPIN. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival New oral history tells the wild inside stories of groundbreaking ‘90s Festival Lollapalooza changed the […]
31 Mar 2025
Book Review: Times and Seasons: The Rise and Fall and Rise of The Zombies
It’s impossible to provide even a rough estimate of how many rock bios have been published. Let’s agree: a lot. Some artists – you know the ones – have been […]
10 Mar 2025
Randy Blythe Flexes His Prose Muscles with ‘Just Beyond the Light’
This story appeared previously in SPIN. Lamb of God vocalist’s new book addresses perspective and human potential Randy Blythe is best known as the lead singer for Lamb of God. […]