Posts Tagged ‘33 1/3’

The Next Crop Of 33 1/3 Books Will Not Be As Classic Rock-Leaning As You Might Have Feared

thirtythreeeeeThe 33 1/3 book series, in which one album is given a book-length treatment by a writer, has finally narrowed its latest shortlist down to 11 titles. The list of approved albums–and the authors who will be taking the albums on–for the 2010-2011 roster of books after the jump: MORE »


The 33 1/3 Series Plays The Hits

After word that the final list of books being published in the latest installment of the album-per-tome 33 1/3 series would be delayed because of “economy-related goings-on,” series publisher Continuum released a 27-album shortlist on the series’ blog. The list was probably going to cause lots of head-scratching and Internet-based anger no matter what it was made up of, but its reliance on Big Albums And Artists That Stand The Maybe A Bit Rockist-Leaning Test Of Time (or, in the case of Metal Machine Music, the test of being a go-to punching bag for rock critics of all stripes) particularly rankled many members of the peanut gallery. The full list after the jump. MORE »

Anyway, if anyone wants to read my proposal, enjoy.

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Wilson On “Colbert” On Celine

James Franco’s name-check of Carl Wilson’s ode to Celine Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love on the Oscars’ red carpet was an unexpected brush with the mainstream for Wilson’s tome, not to mention the 33 1/3 “book-an-album” series. Las night, Wilson appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss his book, which I am anxious to squeeze into my heavy work schedule of writing one day a week, typing my grandpa’s memoirs, thinking about starting to finish my final portfolio, and playing Fable II on my Xbox 360. MORE »

funny thing is that there is a band from Toronto called Ogre Milk.
[www.myspace.com]

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James Franco Journeys To The End Of Taste


It was a good night for Idolator faves at the Oscars last night. A.R. Rahman won twice, both for his original score and for the song “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire. But you know that already. You might not know about James Franco. MORE »

As the man himself mentioned just now on Facebook, Carl'll be on Colbert on March 4th.

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Continuum’s 33 1/3 series, in which a book is… MORE »

I'd rather read a good book about an album I've never heard (ie. Let's Talk About Love) than a so-so book about one of my favorite albums. Though ideally, I'd like a good book about an album I love...
My proposal didn't make the list. I guess the world will just have to wait for my thesis about George Michael's facial hair.

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Continuum’s 33 1/3 series, in which a book is… MORE »

I'd rather read a good book about an album I've never heard (ie. Let's Talk About Love) than a so-so book about one of my favorite albums. Though ideally, I'd like a good book about an album I love...
My proposal didn't make the list. I guess the world will just have to wait for my thesis about George Michael's facial hair.

MORE »


The full list of albums proposed for the new… MORE »

Too bad I only heard about this opportunity the day before the deadline, I could have put in a proposal for a book on Felt's "Forever Breathes the Lonely Word" that only me and one other person in the world would buy.

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In Which We Wonder If Any Of You Actually Followed Through On Those 33 1/3 Pitches

When we mentioned the call for proposals by the… MORE »

@Jack Fear: I'd read that! I submitted one for Key Lime Pie a couple years ago (even going so far as to contact the band and producer to secure tentative interviews), but no go. Didn't even know about this one till after the deadline.

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80 ‘08 (and Heartbreak): Announcing Idolator’s Year-End Extravaganza

What were the 80 most important musical recordings, artists, trends, events, and performances of 2008? What were the eight things this year that broke our hearts—or, at least, our ears? We’re happy to announce 80 ‘08 (and Heartbreak), Idolator’s year-end overview. The list is below the jump. MORE »

Ah. Guess I'll stop waiting for my ballot then.

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No. 25: John Darnielle’s “Master of Reality” And Carl Wilson’s “Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey To The End Of Taste”

Back when Continuum first announced its 33 1/3 series of short books about classic rock albums, I imagined a veritable explosion of styles and critical approaches that might emerge. Well, not exactly: though the series has included some fiction and some formal experiments, many of the books follow the same basic paths of close-reading, autobiography, or an ungainly combination thereof. But 2008’s crop includes what may be the two best titles the series will ever release—one is fiction, while the other combines close reading, autobiography, and a bit of formal experiment. MORE »

Mr. Matos,

As a huge fan of the 33 1/3 series, which I just discovered this year, I actually really liked your take on Sign O The Times. In fact, your book offered my single favorite line of any book I've read in the series thus far (28 or so). "Get a real album." That still cracks me up. I look forward to reading these two selections in the near future.

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