NME has the dirt: *The sleevefacing phenomenon – the art of placing a record sleeve in front of you to so your body merges into the picture in conjunction with the cover art – is to get its own book. Sleeveface: Be The Vinyl will be released on November 17, and will feature 192 pages of pictures of people taking part in the sleevefacing fun.*
He shares the following on his official blog: *INFINITY BLUES - ("domestic release" working cover)... wow... i guess this dream is coming true... my grandparents, who taught me to write, and type and dream, i am so proud of all your hard work today, even if this is a long long sad book but some funny too, just like those black and white movies in the heat of the eastern seaboard - rolling through the windows of our home... i'm so humbled & so PROUD!*
Wondering what Jamie Stewart's current faves are?
The tome was released last week. Here's a snippet from the official press release: *Song is an enthralling compilation of songwriting wisdom from one hundred of the biggest names in music. From country to rock to folk to alternative, this genre-spanning collection of interviews captures the anecdotes, history, and wisdom of the best songwriters around.* Intrigued? Purchase the book via Amazon.
M-S reports: *An English journalist is putting together a new book examining the unique relationship between Morrissey and his most obsessive fans. "Meeting Morrissey" will be released in late 2008 and will include a collection of fan stories and photos of encounters with the great man. Celebrity Morrissey fans from the world of TV and music are set to contribute but "Meeting Morrissey" is essentially about real fans: People who travel 4,000 miles for a concert, people who queue all night to be first in line, people who live for the music and Morrissey. Author Dickie Felton, and self-confessed Morrissey nut, said: "The book will be unique in that Mozzer fan culture is dramatically under reported. I'm not aware of any other singer who attracts the same sort of fan adoration as Morrissey. I want fans who have met Moz to get in touch and be part of the book!*
Riot Grrrl: Revolution Girl Style Now! is out now.
Nick Drake's fan-run MySpace page reports: *In Pink Moon, Petrusich explores the otherwise untold story of how Nick Drake's 3rd and final album puttered and purred its way into the new millennium, nearly 28 years after its quiet release. In 2000, when Pink Moon's sheepish, astral musings were used in a Volkswagen Cabrio commercial, the album was propelled towards a kind of fame that it had never known upon its initial release. Like dog-eared, over-highlighted copies of On The Road, today Pink Moon gets passed around, shuffled from friend to friend, and whispered into pillows on rainy days. Petrusich shows that the use of Pink Moon by the Cabrio advertising team ushered in a new age of commercial potential for underground artists and alternative bands, while also serving to expose a new generation of listeners to an artist that might otherwise have remained largely unknown. The book includes interviews with producer Joe Boyd, string arranger Robert Kirby, and the marketing team behind the ad.*
Here's more via 18 Seconds Before Sunrise: *going on sale this monday (august the 20th) is a limited edition hardback book containing the icelandic documentary hlemmur on dvd as well as the sigur rós scored soundtrack on cd. the drawings in the book were done by the band members. a description, some images (with more to come) and information on the book is here. it goes on sale in selected book and record shops in reykjavík and iceland and online on smekkleysa and sandbag from monday.*
Here's what to expect, courtesy of Amazon: *Elliott Smith's intensely intimate music and open-hearted, Beatlesque pop songs have left a deep mark on a generation of fans and musicians in the wake of his tragic death in 2003. In Autumn de Wilde's remarkable photographs and conversations with close friends, family, and musicians he inspired, this is the first and only portrait of the beloved and troubled singer/songwriter by those who knew him well. Complementing de Wilde's riveting, personal images are ephemera, handwritten lyrics, and revealing talks with Smith's inner circle, many speaking here for the first time. Also included are a foreword by Beck Hansen and Chris Walla, and a live CD of unreleased solo acoustic performances. 
Last Christmas, I received one of the best gifts this slut could ask for - a limited edition copy of Riceboy Sleeps (review here). For those not familiar with Riceboy Sleeps, in summary, it is an art & music collaboration between Jonsi Birgisson (Sigur Ros frontman) and Alex Somers (his multi-talented boyfriend). Their first picture book (Riceboy Sleeps) was so well-received that the duo has decided to expand its release, visit the US with their art and lastly, to release a 10" vinyl of their premiere single. More info below via Sigur Ros MySpace bulletin.
No, we're not joking. Stalkers of the world, unite. More info below.
First it was Sufjan, the essayist and now it's Sufjan, the author!
Multiple sources are reporting a book entitled 'Raising Kanye' will see the light of day May 15th (hey, that's the same day as the new Wilco record!). Kanye's mother (and manager), Dr. Donda West will release the autobio that will highlight 'Dr. West's struggle to bring up her son as a single mother, and will include never-seen-before photos of the family.'
