From Eric Pfeil to Alice Randall to Miranda July: These authors have thrilled us with their works in 2024.
What was popular reading in 2024? What can be recommended?
1. Jim Davies and Jamie Ellul – “Logo Rhythm: Band Logos That Rocked The World”
“Logo Rhythm” is a richly illustrated magnificent volume that deals with the subject of band logos chronologically. It not only provides an overview that ranges from the Beatles to ABBA to Aphex Twin, but also all sorts of party and pop quiz knowledge.
2. Jon Savage – “The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Culture”
Pop journalism icon Jon Savage shows how queer themes inspired music, fashion and film from the 1950s onwards. A comprehensive work about the often invisible but indispensable contribution of the LGBTQ community to the musical landscape.
3. Miranda July – “On All Fours”
In “On All Fours” Miranda July tells the story of a 45-year-old artist who faces a major challenge – and has to overcome a completely different one. A novel that is as funny as it is tender about female desire and identity outside of the norms.
4. Bret Easton Ellis – “The Shards”
A group of teenagers in 1980s Los Angeles fall under the spell of a serial killer. Reality and fiction blur into a captivating game about identity, violence and the depths of youth.
5. Jens Balzer – “After Woke”
A look at concepts and terminology of the postcolonial left, also based on the reactions to the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023. Strongly argued and well-written.
6. Alice Randall – “My Black Country: A Journe Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future”
The musician sheds light on the often overlooked contributions of Black artists and songwriters to the history of country music. Using historical insights, personal experiences and critical analysis, she questions the traditional narrative of the genre.
7. Alexander Kühne – “The EXTREM youth club in pictures 1984 – 1994”
Using numerous photos by Henri Manigk and Frank Kiesewetter, Alexander Kühne (“Düsterbusch City Lights”) takes us to the East German pop province of the last GDR and the first years after reunification.
8. Eric Pfeil – “Ciao Amore, Ciao: Through Italy with 100 new and old songs”
The journalist, author and musician takes us to the land of the Cantautori for the second time. In doing so, he provides a musical and social reader of the land of longing – and numerous stories that are sometimes tragic, sometimes funny and sometimes tragicomic.
9. Jonas Engelmann – “The text is my party: a history of the Hamburg School”
In the summer, after a pop documentary about the Hamburg school, the internet boiled over for the blink of an eye. How good that this detailed book appeared shortly afterwards!
10. Eckhart Nickel – “Punk”
All music is gone, instead “the white noise” lulls everything. Three young people are planning a kind of rebellion against this acoustic care – they are forming a band! Nickel paints a shimmering picture full of pop references from Young Marble Giants to Franz Ferdinand.
From the editorial team
Stephan Rehm Ronzanes and Fabian Soethof – “Back for Good: Why the music of the 90s won’t let us go”
A book that is as varied and entertaining as the decade it describes: The two ME editors happily travel through time, combining a look at the big picture with numerous anecdotes.
André Boße – “Voyage, Voyage: A journey through French pop music”
ME author André Boße talks knowledgeably about Yé-Yé, Nouvelle Chanson, electro and other genres in the neighboring country. After reading it, you’ll have at least ten more albums in your Discogs wishlist.