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The publishing house Continuum is apparently betting that there will be some sort of market for ink on paper in the next three years: It’s announced that it’s currently accepting proposals for its line of 33 1/3 books, in which authors can expound at length on a single album in any form they choose. Previous volumes have been written by Joe Pernice, John Darnielle, Douglas Wolk, and our own Matos; albums covered by the books have included Use Your Illusion and 69 Love Songs. So of course, the question becomes “what book would you pitch?” That’s, of course, given the series’ minimal constraints, which include “no doubling up on albums” and “one proposal per person per year” and “send everything in before the calendar flips to 2009.” I personally would be inclined to pick Gentlemen by the Afghan Whigs, although how I’d improve on the stories told by Greg Dulli in the album’s lyrics would present its own exquisitely torturous challenge. [33 1/3]
What Album Would You Like To Write A Book About?
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Normally I’d answer this question, but instead I think I’ll submit a proposal to write a book.
First I have to join a band….
Prefab Sprout’s ‘Two Wheels Good’ although I have no intention of submitting a proposal. So, there’s a freebie for somebody out there.
I’d write about “Lookit” by Slapstick. Not because I particularly enjoy it but because of the amount of debauchery I caused while that was playing in the background. The book would likely have to be moved to the “True Crime” section of the store.
Prince’s Symbol album.
@tim_loves_cats:
the chicago slapstick? i could definitely write plenty about the Larry Arms
@sXenester: Definitely the Chicago Slapstick. I could write a whole series on squandered potential focusing on just on The Broadways and Tuesday.
I might get a kick out of doing “Music for 18 Musicians.” Anything without lyrics would be a blast.
I’d really like to see Glenn Jones do one of the Fahey albums.
Either “Foolish” by Superchunk, “Relationship of Command” by At The Drive-In, or “Burn Piano Island, Burn” by the Blood Brothers.
isn’t there a 33 1/3 book about Afghan Whigs’ “Gentlemen” already?
@heartbreaktango: Ha, yes. Whoops. Oh well!
i’d like to see Crass “Penis Envy” or either one of The Specials records.
“Anodyne” by Uncle Tupelo, no question.
I think one on Pulp’s This Is Hardcore would be pretty interesting.
@sXenester: I’d totally read a Lawrence Arms one.
get someone really cool to write one about “histoire de melody nelson” by serge gainsbourg.
p.s. im really excited to read the “wowee zowee” one. best pavement album!
I would write a book about Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, with the overarching thesis question being, “have the Smashing Pumpkins always been ridiculous crap, or were they once genuinely the best band in the land; and are these two mutually exclusive?”
@Poubelle: I think “Different Class” has a better chance of making it, if you’re talking about Pulp albums.
I think “Odessey and Oracle” merits a 33 1/3, and possibly Queen’s “Sheer Heart Attack,” or even “A Night at the Opera.” “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” is long overdue as well. And someday, eventually, I’d like to see “Mass Romantic” up there.
sir douglas quintet – mendocino
flatlanders – more a legend than a band
skip spence – oar
sparks – propaganda
de la soul – is dead
mickey newbury – frisco mabel joy
god. there’s so many that i would love to write about, the problem is that i’m not sure anybody else cares.
devo – duty now for the future, divine horsemen – devil’s river, jonathan richman & the modern lovers – jonathan sings!, sparks – a woofer in tweeter’s clothing, heaven 17 – penthouse and pavement…. and ditto on sheer heart attack. OH and shampoo – we are shampoo.
…And Justice For All.
I was surprised to see that “Pinkerton” is on there but not “The Blue Album,” which is way better…
@Jay-C: pinkerton is the gourmet weezer album. this series is all about the gourmets.
@Poubelle: Excellent choice re: This Is Hardcore.
Others on my wish list:
“N***a Please” – Ol’ Dirty Bastard
“Pre-Millennium Tension” – Tricky
“Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space” – Spiritualized
@ocd soundsystem: woah, crass. OF COURSE. mind if I steal that idea?
@ocd soundsystem: I think there’s supposed to be a “More Specials” book which is vastly inferior to the first record.
Has Violent Femmes been done yet?
@dippinkind: I think the original Modern Lovers album merits a volume, too.
The Shaggs or The Fugs First Album.
Extremely easy choice for me: Splashdown’s Blueshift. My favorite album ever, by my favorite band ever, and it was never released. It really would have broken them through… Capitol had them record it, released an EP with five songs from the album, and then shelved the full-length; had they promoted it, I know (or, at least, I convinced myself almost a decade ago) that, even though Splashdown doesn’t sound like anything that could have been “popular”, they would have been popular. It was eventually given to a few hundred fans for free, and now can only be found online. Regardless, the album is absolutely brilliant from start to finish, and I could write a War and Peace-sized tome about the band, with a slightly smaller book about this album.
All I can do is beg anyone with a fondness for rock bands that occasionally venture into pop, jazz, funk, and Middle-Eastern styles to check out [brigandine.org] and listen to the genius of this band. (My favorite songs by anyone, ever: “Elvis Sunday”, “Deserter”, “So Ha”.) Their first two, pre-Capitol albums, Stars and Garters and the Halfworld EP, are also on iTunes, and in my singular opinion, they deserve the money from their past pursuits.
R. Kelly’s Happy People.
mark my words…
auuugh. i should not read this thread!!! it plants the same seed of doubt i get every year — namely that my pitch won’t even get read. but then i have to remember that the 33 1/3 crew has a relatively good track record of giving interesting titles a shot. and that i don’t have to write about rock-critic approved hip hop or some obscure record that no one’s ever heard of just to appear cool and relelvant. right? RIGHT?
ugh.
hands off, everybody.
@Varina: I’ll second that. I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind the making of The Modern Lovers. I’ve always been amazed that an album that was pieced together from various sessions spread out over time (and headed up by different producers) turned out so cohesive.
I think Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt would make for an interesting 33 1/3.
And I am really excited for the upcoming Hounds of Love book.
We need a book about the Jam and Lewis sound, so Janet Jackson’s Control or Rhythm Nation. Though I confess I haven’t read Michelangelo’s book about Sign of the Times, maybe that has it covered…
I’m glad that they got rid of the “one book per band/artist” rule for this series, because I’d much rather read about Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town or Nebraska instead of Born in the U.S.A. The choice of BITUSA as the Springsteen entry in this series always struck me as odd – even though it had a massive impact on his career, it sure hasn’t aged well.
The 33 1/3 series desperately needs some Nina Simone.
Also, I heard the making of D’Angelo’s “Voodoo” was epic — I’d love to read about it, so I’d happily write it.
R Kelly’s Trapped in a Closet?? Seems like the obvious winner.
@ocd soundsystem: you and like three other people!
Michel Polnareff’s Polnareff, Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blue, Brian Wilson’s s/t solo album, any of the first three Run-DMC albums or LL’s Radio.
Also, the first T.A.t.u. album.
@the rich girls are weeping:
yeah, go ahead. i’ll certainly buy it.
@encyclopediablack:
i agree but i still love “more specials”.
bassist horace panter wrote a book about the specials…”ska’d for life” which was pretty entertaining.
Brian Eno’s Before and After Science or Galaxie 500’s Today.
Robert Johnson’s Complete Recordings. Not a real album because the songs were not released as an album during his lifetime but I’d love to write/read a book based on the songs and Johnson’s life and legend.