Tosh Berman's Blog, page 121
July 15, 2020
BOOK MUSIK: "Niche: A Memoir in Pastiche" by Momus - Book Musik Podcast
Tosh and Kimley discuss Niche: A Memoir in Pastiche by Momus. Nick Currie who performs under the name Momus (the Greek god of satire and mockery) has enlisted no less than 217 dead narrators of questionable reliability to tell his life story. His selection of an eclectic mix of writers, artists, musicians, philosophers, and assorted ne’er-do-wells probably tells us more about Momus than the actual narration. It seems both his work and his life borrow a little from this and steal a little from that and he makes sure to pilfer from only the best sources to create his own unique pastiche.
Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17
July 13, 2020
Tosh for ARTBOOK/D.A.P. on Félix Fénéon: The Anarchist & The Avant-Garde
Tosh for ARTBOOK/D.A.P. on Félix Fénéon: The Anarchist & The Avant-Garde
July 1, 2020
BOOK MUSIK No. 25: "My British Invasion by Harold Bronson
Tosh and Kimley discuss My British Invasion: The Inside Story on The Yardbirds, The Dave Clark Five, Manfred Mann, Herman’s Hermits, The Hollies, The Troggs, The Kinks, The Zombies, and More by Harold Bronson. Bronson is one of the co-founders of the legendary Rhino Records label. This memoir/travel journal is his unique behind-the-scenes take on many of the most influential British Invasion bands. He has worked as a music journalist, a label rep in his college days and, of course, as the guy who just wants to put out some seriously good vinyl on the much-loved Rhino Records. But rock stars and/or their managers don’t always want to cooperate…
Theme music: “Behind Our Efforts, Let There Be Found Our Efforts” by LG17
June 29, 2020
Tosh For ARTBOOK/D.A.P. on "Offline Activities" (The Ice Plant)
Tosh talks about Jason Fulford and Tamara Shopsin's "Offline Activities" (The Ice Plant). The ultimate book of activities. Here I have fun with "Offline Activities."
"Wrong: A Critical Biography of Dennis Cooper" by Diarmuid Hester
"Wrong: A Critical Biography of Dennis Cooper is a much-needed study on this author and filmmaker's works and life. Cooper is very much a verb and still extremely active in writing in various forms and formats. Diarmuid Hester has an excellent grasp on what makes Cooper a great writer, as well as a thinker, and dwell into each part of his past novels and projects. Like Raymond Roussel, one has to take Cooper's entire works because, in a sense, it's all part of his world that he constructs very carefully and skillfully. Like Jacques Demy's filmography, one movie leads to another. There is a pathway or string that attaches the entire film works. The same goes for Dennis Cooper's writing and film projects. The beauty of Dennis's work is that it is very much part of contemporary culture. His collaborations with other artists are always of great interest, and true to the nature of his work.
Hester also writes about the culture around Cooper, and that is equally fascinating as well. The Beyond Baroque in Venice California years are explored as well as Gay/Lesbian culture of the 1980s, 90s, and beyond. My only (very) little disagreement with the author is how he sees Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center becoming unimportant after Dennis leaving his post as Readings Director. The institution has a long history before and after Dennis. It deserves a full-length biography (or oral-history) of Beyond Baroque. Benjamin Weissman, who became the Readings Director after Dennis, did a magnificent job of organizing readings for the center and connecting to poets/writers from Europe, New York, and beyond. Without a doubt, Dennis's importance to Beyond Baroque was essential, but the organization rocks on in its manner and ways to this day.
"Wrong" is an essential read for anyone interested in Dennis Cooper's work. Still, also on a more significant landscape, it's about literature in the late 20th and 21st-century. He's one of my all-time favorite writers, as well as a person of great taste. This book opens up Dennis's world to others who are starting to get their first step into the works of this prominent figure in the arts.
June 19, 2020
Tosh For Artbook/D.A.P. on Edward Hopper : A Fresh Look At Landscape (HATJE CANTZ/ Fondation Beyeler)
Tosh Berman on the American Painter Edward Hopper
June 17, 2020
BOOK MUSIK PLAYLIST : The Association and Others
Book Musik did a focus on The Association and their little planet of goodies. We put together a playlist of hits and deep cuts from the Fab 6 (or 7), as well as others in that world. Enjoy!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1iP...
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/b...
June 15, 2020
BOOK MUSIK: Along Comes The Association by Russ Giguere & Ashley Wren Collins (Rare Bird Books)
Tosh and Kimley discuss Along Comes the Association: Beyond Folk-Rock and Three-Piece Suits by Russ Giguere and Ashley Wren Collins. The Association had several enduring top-40 hits in the 1960s but were a bit of an anomaly. While performing they typically wore suits and they sang lush harmonies on songs like “Cherish,” “Windy” and “Never My Love.” This was during a time when guitar-heavy rock was dominating the music scene and the cool kids had a proclivity for outrageous attire and social upheaval. But as an integral part of the Los Angeles music scene, The Association was in the thick of things, opening the Monterey Pop Festival and hanging out with all those cool kids.
Book Musik · Book Musik 024 – “Along Comes The Association” by Russ Giguere and Ashley Wren Collins
