My boyfriend, Peter Terzian, has edited an anthology that Harper Perennial is going to publish on June 23: Heavy Rotation: Twenty Writers on the Albums that Changed Their Lives. It features the following pair-ups:
- Stacey D'Erasmo on Kate Bush,
- Pankaj Mishra on ABBA,
- Colm Tóibín on Joni Mitchell,
- Mark Greif on Fugazi,
- Sheila Heti on the Annie soundtrack,
- Ben Kunkel on the Smiths,
- James Wood on the Who,
- John Jeremiah Sullivan on early blues,
- Clifford Chase on the B-52s,
and quite a few more. In my opinion, it is the book of the year. Kirkus, perhaps a more neutral judge, calls it "Music writing with a personal twist by an assortment of modern writers. . . . A satisfying, fun read that may prompt rifling through old CDs and LPs to reclaim one's own transformative musical memories." You can order your copy now on Amazon, on Barnes & Noble, or through Powells.
And if you're in New York City this summer, you're invited to some parties in its honor, which promise to be pretty amazing, especially if you have a taste for lounge-singing book editors and bongo-drumming literary critics. Here's the schedule, courtesy of Peter:
- Tuesday, June 23rd, 7:00 pm
Heavy Rotation launch party
Come have a drink, meet the contributors, and celebrate the book's publication day.
At Book Court, 163 Court Street between Dean and Pacific Streets, Brooklyn - Wednesday, July 1st, 12:10 pm
A lunch-hour event in Bryant Park, behind the New York Public Library. Editor Peter Terzian will be discussing music and writing with contributors Clifford Chase, Stacey D'Erasmo, Joshua Ferris, and Asali Solomon. Plus, the New York debut of contributor John Jeremiah Sullivan's band Fayaway, with special guest percussionist James Wood.
Note: Fayaway will play two sets—one at 12:10, before the discussion, and another at 1:30, after the discussion. The discussion will begin at 12:30.
At
Bryant Park Reading Room, New York (near 42nd Street, between the back of the library and 6th Avenue—look for the burgundy and white umbrellas) - Tuesday, July 14th, 7:00 pm
Contributors Lisa Dierbeck, John Haskell, Todd Pruzan, and Martha Southgate will join me in a reading and panel discussion. With musical accompaniment by cabaret singer (and the book's Harper Perennial editor) Rakesh Satyal.
At McNally Jackson, 52 Prince Street between Lafayette and Mulberry Streets, New York
No RSVP required. See you there!