Books

Morrissey’s Autobiography

What: While it’s entertaining to look back at all of the interesting things Morrissey has said throughout his career, nothing beats hearing it from the man himself. The emotional rock icon details his hardships growing up, defines “humasexual,” and offers up a load of behind-the-scenes facts about The Smiths. His writing speaks like poetry, which makes for a more artsy read than the usual autobiography. Although it won’t be tagged as a Penguin Classic for the US release, this is an essential to any Smiths fan’s library.

Buy: Amazon (Kindle Edition- $11.99, Hardcover- $20.99)

33 1/3 Book Series

What: Any volume from the 33 1/3 series is a surefire gift for any music lover. Containing 84 volumes (and growing), the series approaches a number of classic albums and dissects them to the bare bone. Some even take a creative writing approach and compose fiction inspired by their album of choice, like the text for The Smith’s Meat Is Murder. This year made way for the publication of works concerning They Might Be Giants’ Flood and Serge Gainsbourg’s Histore de Melody Nelson, and volumes about Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Sigur Ros’ ( ), and The Beach Boys’ Smile are set to hit shelves in 2014.

Buy: Amazon (≈$12)

Bun B’s Rapping Coloring & Activity Book

What: Last year on Killer Mike’s “Big Beast”, Bun B grammatically schemed “trill” to be an onomatopoeia, even though it really isn’t. While it’s hard to bend grammar rules, Bun B proves that he can still color within the lines with his newest rapping coloring and activity book! Parents may cringe at most of the MC’s crude lyrics, but they can rest assured that the man has developed a family-friendly project. Parents and their children can color their favorite rap icons, like Drake, Kanye West, Danny Brown, and The Notorious B.I.G., and even listen to recommended tracks from the UGK leader himself. Pull out your colored pencils and introduce hip-hop to your household the right way.

Buy: Amazon ($11)

The Replacements: Waxed Up Hair and Painted Shoes: The Photographic History

What: It was a surprise for us all when Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson decided to reform The Replacements for a series of Riot Fest performances this year. Their spunky punk attitudes perked the faces of long-time fans and newcomers alike and reminded us that The Replacements are an essential band that shouldn’t be forgotten. Fans can revisit said happiness with the first illustrated publication of the band, The Replacements: Waxed Up Hair and Painted Shoes: The Photographic History. The collection travels with the band on and off the stage, allowing fans to get to know The Replacements on a more intimate level. It would bundle really well with Voyager Press’s 2007 release, The Replacements: All Over but Still Shouting: An Oral History.

Buy: Amazon ($22.99)

Late Century Dream Movements

What: If you’re into exploring your local music scene, Late Century Dream Movements is an agreeable travel guide for the underground scenes of the ’80s and ’90s. Dive into its pages to discover how bands like Superchunk, Butthole Surfers, and Mudhoney climbed to the top and how hundreds of other bands significantly influenced their rise. Discover some new bands from a different time, or rediscover your favorite bands from the energy-packed scenes found within these pages.

Buy: Amazon ($21.64)

There Is No Bottle Big Enough: Written Works by American Musicians

What: There Is No Bottle Big Enough, the 40th anniversary of ALARM magazine, unleashes more exclusive writing from some of our favorite musicians, like Arcade Fire, Fiona Apple, Sufjan Stevens, The Flaming Lips, Phoenix, and more. Ever wonder if Sufjan could write a story about a Christmas miracle, or what Wayne Coyne may write in his touring diary about his simulator baby microphone? This collection could feature all of those possibilities plus unreleased lyrics, journal entries, and more.

Buy: Amazon ($15.45)

Nirvana: The Complete Illustrated History and Metallica: The Complete Illustrated History

What: Along with the photo-sewn history of The Replacements, illustrated dedications to bands like Nirvana and Metallica will also be released before the holiday season. The series assembles a number of music journalists to capture and commemorate each band’s discography, touring schedules, memorabilia, and personal lifestyles away from the music with never-before-seen photographs and narratives.

Buy: Nirvana – Amazon ($26), Metallica – Amazon ($28)

Torment Saint: The Life of Elliott Smith

What: This year, we commemorated the 10-year anniversary of Elliott Smith’s tragic death, an event that rung tears through our headphones and left empty spaces in our hearts. William Todd Shultz’s Torment Saint continues the tribute through 150 hours of interviews with people who valued Smith’s timid rock songs, whether they knew him or not, and in-depth investigation of some of the lingering mysteries of his legacy. A gift well-suited for new and old fans alike.

Buy: Amazon (Hardcover – $17.25, Paperwork – $11.75)