Recomended Reading
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- Published on Wednesday, 02 November 2011 15:33
Books books books
I love books about music and technology. Let me share my recommendations with you. Spanning from the academic, medium theory-oriented takes on music through how-to's on music production to the easier fiction and documentary on musical greats.
I present to you: the ever growing list of amazing reading recommendations in no apparent order:
Greg Milner: Perfecting Sound Forever - The Story of Recorded Music
The most thorough recollection of the history of recorded sound I've ever read.
Just short of 400 pages, it details the invention, auditive qualities, cultural significance and much more for pretty much anything that records sound - from Edison's graphophone to modern day digital codex'.
Though chronological and historical in nature, it's a fun read. Especially if you're into music media. Filled with anecdotes, fun-facts and reflections on our relationship with sound and technology.
Steve Knopper: Appetite for Self-Destruction - The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age
We all know the story of how music industry fat-cats dug their own grave and ruined the future of music by passing up on digital and suing the customers. Right?
Well, almost.
Appetite for Self-Destruction offers a bit more insightfull view behind the scenes of the music industry. Between fascinating stories of the legends, who shaped the soundtrack of our lives and made history, we get a closer look at the cultural, historical and economic logics behind the decisions that were made. From The dawn of the record company to it's heyday and today's crisis.
A great read for anyone wanting to make sense of the music business and music in the digital era.
The RZA: The Tao of Wu
It's kind of hard to explain this book, since it's basically a jump into the extremely originalal thoughts and life of The RZA.
In a semi-auto-biographical style, the hip hop legend tells about his philosophy, which is a blend between the numerology of ancient Islam Mathematics, Buddhism, martial arts, street knowledge, chess, film, hip hop and much more.
The RZA is inspirational in his love for knowledge and his unique and way of making sense of the world. The book reads like a Jim Jarmusch film, where everything is connected in some spiritual way no one school of thought can fully explain and we simple humans could never understand.
The Tao of Wu could also just be seen as fragmented ideas of a madman. Incoherent thoughts glued together by pseudo-religion. But isn't it much more fun to get along for the ride? Let yourself be sucked in to one of modern cultures most innovative, eccentric, unique and visionary minds.
Simon Reynolds: Retromania - Pop Culture's Addiction to its Own Past
Do you also have the feeling music is in an evolutionary slump? When is the last time something new came around? The punk, hip hop, disco og hippie movement of the 21st century? This one is for everybody wondering why earlier times could produce hippies, punks, mods, hip hoppers and ravers when all our generation can come up with is neo-hippies, neo-mods, neo-punks, hip hoppers, and nu-ravers. And hipsters.
Simon Reynolds is one of our times brightest commentators and analysts of music and pop culture. And while I don't agree with him on everything in this 400 page dissection of our culture, it is one of the most insightful and spot on analysis I've read.
Both well written and well informed, this is one of those books that explains all the questions you almost had.
Sarah Thornton: Club Cultures - Music, Media and Subcultural Capital
This one is a classic. An academic look into social factors regarding rave and disc cultures. Although the practical implications are a bit outdated (owning the newest white label isn't quite the epitome of cool any more), the implications are still eye opening and relevant.
Thornton expands on Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital to include the idea of sub-cultural capital. A must-read for any student or academic in the field of music, sub cultures, youth culture or the likes. Though still an easy and interesting read for anyone else interested in rave and well, club culture.
Bobby Owinski: The Mixing Engineer's Handbook
Categorize under "music production essentials"!
This is basically a comprehensive how-to guide in making music sound good. With whole chapters devoted to subjects like balance, EQ, effects, and dynamics, this book took me from having a bit of DIY knowledge to being able to understand and master mixing. Which is basically the difference between a good idea and an amazing track.
A book can never teach you to get good ideas, to develop an original sound or to know when it sounds right. But as with all art, creativity is just a lot easier when you know what you're doing.
Plus - I don't know about you, but for me, reading about sounds is a giant inspiration to get in the studio and make something great. So it's also a creative inspiration and a motivator!
Be aware though: This book isn't at all about electronic music production. It's all about the oldschool studio art of making your track sound good.
Kevin Kelly: What Technology Wants
If you're interested in technology, this one will blow your mind. Lucid, original and (dare I say) ground breaking.
Co-founder of Wired and philosopher of technology Kevin Kelly offers a view on technology so unique and insightful, I can basically just say "read it yourself and let's talk about it later". So I guess that's what I'll do.
Read the description and reviews on Amazon if my recommendation isn't enough.
Mark Katz: Capturing Sound - How Technology Has Changed Music
Like Perfecting Sound Forever, this is a history of music media. Where Perfecting Sound Forever focuses on the medium though, Capturing Sound is more about recording. I prefer the former, though they work quite well together.
Lawrence Lessig: Remix - Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy
A main work of Lessig, professor of law at Harvard, co-conceptualizer of Creative Commons and a leading expert on copyright. Those credentials should be enough for you to want to read!
In Remix, Lessig explores and contests the copyright laws of today, arguing culturally, artistically, economically and morally for a much needed update. This is not a digital utopian screaming "information wants to be free", but an expert in his field, breaking down the implications of the copyright status quo so we can understand what is wrong and why.
Chris Anderson: The Long Tail - Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More
This re-writing of economic principles by Wired-editor Chris Anderson is already a classic. In easily understandable language, he explains how and why digital goods and the internet marketplace lives under a completely economic logic than the traditional physical world.
Expanding on this, Anderson offers insight into what the internet and this new economic reality means to culture, art and other areas of our lives.
While history has proved that long tail economics can't entirely explain the complexities of the digital world, the ideas are still a relevant aspect of the the digitalized globalized immaterial economy.
Howard Massey: Behind the Glass - Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits
Where The Mixing Engineer's Handbook was a how-to, this is more of an inspirational how do you do book. Through more that 30 interviews with seasoned legends as well as rising stars, we get a glimpse into the minds of some of our times top records producers. Amongst others George Martin, Brian Wilson, Eddie Kramer and Phil Ramone.
It's an interesting and fun read. Just be prepared it basically just is what it promises: One studio geek interviewing others. There are great insights and stories in those interviews, but you won't nessecarilly find a gold mine of secret tips and tricks lined up.
That said, if you're fascinated by the world of music production, gear and studios, you'll enjoy this. I even liked the interviews with producers whos music I really don't like!
David L. Morton Jr.: Sound Recording - The Life Story of a Technology
The third book I recommend about music media. This one has more of a detailed chronological feel, going more into specifics on how each medium was discovered, developed, how it works, what it was intended and used for and what happened.
What Sound Recording lacks in perspective on the different medium's broader effects it gains in research and attention to detail. If you're looking for the history of recording, this is the place to look.
Donald S. Passman: All You Need To Know About The Music Business
I must admit, I haven't read this +500 page book from cover to cover. I do however still feel I can safely recommend it, since it's more of a referal work than something to read all the way through.
As seen before on this list, the book basically just gives what it promises: All you need to know about the music business. Which is A LOT. Donald S. Passman is a music industry professional with a background in law, and he pretty much shares everything he knows.
Random chapter names: Advanced Record Deal Points. Publishing Companies and Major Income Sources, Advanced Copyright Concepts, Tour Merchandising and Overview of Motion Picture Music.
You can see now, why I never found it relevant to read the whole thing through. This isn't a book for the small time underground musician wanting to learn how to get a record contract. It's an advanced manual for musicians selling records or industry professionals wanting to expand their knowledge.
This book is not an easy read and most of it will be useless to most people. That said, I still think it's a nice reference work to have. I have taken it up a couple of times when something new has come up, if nothing else just to understand what's going on. I'd suggest anyone trying to do something in music should have it on their shelf.
Yes, Yes, Y'all: The Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip Hop's First Decade
A couple of years ago, I was on a hip hop tour of New York, where Grandmaster 'Casanova Fly' Cas was the tour guide. This is basically that tour in book form.
Except you dont just get the C-A-S, you also get Kool DJ Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Fab 5 Freddy, Grand Wizard Theodore and so many others that started what would become probably the largest, most influential and best selling culture of our time.
This book tells the story of how hip hop started from the horse's mouth. Including the Rappers Delight controversy, how scratch was invented and how Grandmaster Flash conceptualized beat juggling. A great read.
Bonus: If you're a student or an academic in the field of music, this is also a great source, as most of it is quotes of the originators. I used this book a lot as a student.
Steve Jones: Rock Formation - Music, Technology, and Mass Communication
As a student of media, I've always been into the medium theory (media ecology) schools. My project as an academic was always to apply medium theory to music. Strangely, it seems Steve Jones is one of the only people who have combined the two.
Where my focus is more on music media and playback-devices, Rock Formation is all about recording equipment and the interplay between technology, sound and creativity.
It's pretty cool. Not the most mind blowing read, but essential if you're combining music and medium theory.