Blog Posts by Subject: Rock

In 1985 the Black Rock Coalition (BRC) was formed as an outlet for alternative Black musicians to showcase their talents.

Debbie Harry is best known as the iconic singer of Blondie, which recorded hit albums such as Parallel Lines and Eat to the Beat. She has recorded albums as a solo artist and appeared in many films and television shows.

As a tribute to David Bowie's life, his music and his acting, here is a list of works by him as well as about him.

Working the graveyard shift and marking the days with David Bowie.

f you're looking for alternative rock that channels the angst of your favorite '90s bands without being unabashedly derivative, Cloud Nothings fits the bill. Is Dylan Baldi intensely bookish, as well? Read on to find out, and rock 'n' read forever!

Elvis Costello's voice is unmistakably his own, and for nearly four decades his music has earned him fans around the world. The singer-songwriter is also now the author of a memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. This week for the New York Public Library Podcast, we're proud to present Elvis Costello discussing the long memory of the internet, influential records, and imitation.

While pop music may not have a reputation for particularly deep lyrics, Colleen Green smashes this stereotype. It comes as no surprise that such a skilled writer has been a lifelong reader. Check out her literary predilections and rock 'n' read forever!

"He was just another man trying to teach me something" is a Chastity Belt lyric taken from a popular book... read on to learn the source, and rock 'n' read forever!

It's difficult to overstate the influence of The Velvet Underground. In 1982, Brian Eno famously said of the band's debut album, "Everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band." For this week's episode of the New York Public Library Podcast, we're thrilled to present The Velvet Underground's Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker, and Doug Yule with prolific music journalist David Fricke discussing Andy Warhol and the early days of the band.

Hutch Harris is the lead guitarist and vocalist of Portland, Oregon–based band The Thermals. His songs paint vivid pictures and pose challenging questions, not unlike our favorite books and prose. See what books he recommends!

Over the last four decades of her remarkable career, the singer has released eleven studio albums and published the National Book Award-winning memoir Just Kids. This week on the New York Public Library Podcast, we're proud to present Patti Smith discussing her love of learning.

Montreal shoegazers No Joy have an emotional sound characterized by distortion and ethereal dream pop. Given how tonally and lyrically moody they are, guitarist Laura Lloyd's literary predilection is predictably unpredictable—a hodgepodge of high brow and delightfully tacky. Check out what inspires her, and what induces carsickness on tour, and rock 'n' read forever!

Crocodiles's 80s post-punk influences are apparent in one listen, and after interviewing Brandon Welchez, it's clear just how much of an impact literature and poetry has had on the band, too. Read on to learn more, and rock 'n' read forever!

Thee Oh Sees, fronted by John Dwyer, are a Los Angeles band whose sound has been described as garage rock, psychedelic rock, post-punk, art rock, noise… am I missing any? It's no surprise Dwyer's literary tastes are just as diverse as his band's sound.

As we await the documentary Montage of Heck, we're looking back at some of the best journalism written about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.

Here are some tunes to thrash around to, some books to read up on and some movies to feel inspired by.

In the rain soaked Seattle of the early '90s, grunge rock was the soundtrack to our lives and Kurt and Nirvana were at its center. Twenty one years on, his legacy continues in two recent YA books Carnival at Bray and Love Letters to the Dead. Both books examine the power of music and words to bring people together, inspire us and give us hope.

Every jazz fan has their favorite Miles period, I'm probably in the minority but I'll take his electric phase from '68-75 which expanded his amazing skills by importing the energy of rock and funk.

A periodic list of some of the most exciting, newly purchased CDs for our circulating collections.