33 1/3 Series of books

I should really put together a proposal for "Return to the 36 Chambers".

Songs in the Key of Life, by Dave Hesmondhalgh
Parallel Lines, by Elisabeth Vincentelli
Three Feet High and Rising, by Brian Coleman
Tusk, by Stephin Merritt
Computer Love, by Michael Bracewell
Marquee Moon, by David Keenan
Master of Puppets, by Tom Bissell
The Basement Tapes, by Damon Krukowski

The editor/creator of the series, David Barker runs a blog about the series. Email him directly if you like:

http://33third.blogspot.com/

I finally read one of these. I think I picked a great place to start, Douglas Wolk's Live at the Apollo. It was really really good.

also got the ABBA one, which i devoured in a day. twas OK, wish Ms Vincentelli had spent fewer sentences justifying (or having to justify) the book's very existence. also i'm not sure she cracked the problem of how to order the narrative, though I accept it's a toughie.

These are a few of the projects that - for various and sometimes complicated reasons - never made it to fruition. Some came very close to happening, others less so; but they all would have been fun.

Songs in the Key of Life, by Dave Hesmondhalgh

Why not?

Matos' Sign O'The Times book's prince has been slashed (on Amazon at least) to $4.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0826415474/qid=1122928710/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-2999298-5726417?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

This has been a difficult process: we received dozens of very strong proposals from dozens of very good writers and it's a shame to have to turn down so many of you.

If you're interested, the 33 1/3 books we eventually decided to sign up are:

"If You're Feeling Sinister" by Scott Plagenhoef

"Aja" by Don Breithaupt

"Shoot Out the Lights" by Hayden Childs

"Pretty Hate Machine" by Daphne Carr

"Use Your Illusion" by Eric Weisbard

"Horses" by Phil Shaw

"Double Nickels on the Dime" by Mike Fournier

"Pink Moon" by Amanda Petrusich

"People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" by Shawn Taylor

"Achtung Baby" by Stephen Catanzarite

"20 Jazz Funk Greats" by Drew Daniel

"The Dreaming" by Ann Powers

"Rid of Me" by Kate Schatz

"Another Green World" by Geeta Dayal

"Songs in the Key of Life" by Zeth Lundy

"Trout Mask Replica" by Kevin Courrier

"Let's Talk About Love" by Carl Wilson

"Lucinda Williams" by Anders Smith Lindall

"69 Love Songs" by LD Beghtol

“Marquee Moon” by Peter Blauner

“Swordfishtrombones” by David Smay

So then I guess he didn't read the 100-odd pages in which Matos discussed Prince.

DeRo is a FUCKING MORON.

Yeah, it's all info, no prose. A lot of the 33 1/3 books seem to forget how much people like that.

Someone should do Tom T. Hall's greatest hits.

seriously though, i realize the books have to sell, hence the more mainstream angle. i'm sure there are a ton of albums the writers would love to write about that aren't commercially viable for the publisher.

actually do you think they would let somebody self-33 1/3? if it was some famous musician?

Morrissey is not attracted to Morrissey.

Carl Wilson is writing one about Celine Dion's "Let's Talk About Love".

I sometimes daydream about which album I would write about were I to ever send in a proposal.
And I think I've worked out that it would have to be Confield by Autechre.
Partly because I've already written a good 3 or 4 articles about them in the past and I'm a big nerd; but specifically this album because while it is likely their most well-recognised album, it's also the one I've had most trouble getting to grips with. And it's precisely this "thorniness", with 22 years' hindsight, that I'd like to make peace with. Whereas I could probably wax lyrical about LP5 or Sign or Oversteps, it's Confield that I think would yield the most interesting writing

I would love to read that.

I daydream about writing one on You and Your Sister by the Vulgar Boatmen.

It looks like two really great ones are out this month and next month; Erotica and Ingenue, good timing too considering they’re both from the same year.

Open call for Proposals for 2024, deadline is March 29th.

https://333sound.com/33-1-3-open-call-for-proposals-2024/

Saw some grumbling on Facebook that 33 1/3 books are avoiding reggae and dancehall and have turned down pitches in those genres

Here is link to proposals they just accepted and will be published in 2026

https://333sound.com/announcing-the-newest-33-1-3s-2024/

Moss Icon’s Lyburnum Wits End Liberation Fly

I think this is the first title in this series where I have absolutely no idea who, what or why. Don't tell me, let the knowledge slowly seep into my brain by osmosis.

Guessing I should give up on the idea that Agata Pyzik's Tin Drum book from 2015's list will ever come. :(
Possibly torpedoed due to the two fairly comprehensive Japan books that came out right after? Ho hum.

ngl but a few of these records seem like grasping at straws to me but what do i know

I think a compelling book could be written about any of them, but overall the series is so patchy

"I think this is the first title in this series where I have absolutely no idea who, what or why. Don't tell me, let the knowledge slowly seep into my brain by osmosis."

its a really good album!

Except for Woodie Guthrie and maybe Cher the list is just decent enough Us and Uk rock and r& b but with no dancehall, reggae, afrobeats/ afropop, blues, jazz , South Asian or Latino sounds .

Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach by Ihor Junyk
Interpol’s Antics by Gabriel T. Saxton-Ruiz

lol ok

I guess I’d be interested to hear about the guests on Plastic Beach - DLS, Reed, Ryder, Smith all used very well I think.

Incoming asshole post: imagine reading a whole book on a gorillAz album let alone writing one

I swear I try not to be a snob but man some people are really missing out on… how good and wonderful music can be

moss icon album is patient zero the biggest subgenre of american hardcore. will be happy that book exists if it comes out

its a really good album!

OK, but this is the same publisher that turned down Carl Wilson's proposal on an album as foundational as Dub Housing because it was too obscure. But maybe Moss Icon are a bigger deal than Pere Ubu ever were, I honestly don't know.

Chris Richards of the Washington Post has been doing deep dives into mid-80s and later onward hardcore and post-hardcore and wrote a big 2023 article about Annapolis hardcore band the Hated. The article briefly mentions late 80s /early 90s Moss Icon. There seems to be a bit of a renewed interest in that era, but yea is it bigger than that into Pere Ubu Dub Housing

The Hated were so great, got to see them twice