Holiday Gift Guide: Ambitious Bowie, Beatles Essays, a Smithsonian Hip-Hop Anthology, and More
Nov. 28, 2017
As we wade deeper into gift-giving season, we've put together another smattering of music-related items that just might satisfy the auditory aesthetes in your life. This week we're featuring a book that offers new perspectives on the Beatles without rehashing the same-old, same-old, a box set focusing on David Bowie's most experimental phase, and a Smithsonian-curated anthology of the history of hip-hop. And if you missed last week's selections, fear not.
David Bowie, A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982)
The third installment of this David Bowie reissue/box set series focuses on the period between his albums Low and Scary Monsters, which includes some of the most ambitious and experimental music of his career. This set includes the four studio albums from the era, along with remastered live recordings and a vivid new mix of Lodger, helmed by original producer Tony Visconti. (Available as 11 CDs or 13 LPs)
Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World, by Rob Sheffield
The Beatles have been analyzed and discussed ad nauseum for the past 50+ years, but Rob Sheffield's series of essays manage to inject a personal narrative and contemporary worldview into this familiar mythology. Using sly turns of phrase and nods to Beatle lyrics in his analysis, Sheffield is able to offer a fresh look at everything from Abbey Road to Zapple Records. ($16.99, hardcover)
Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap
The Smithsonian celebrates the history of hip-hop with this massive anthology, featuring nine discs packed with over 120 of its most iconic songs, and a 300-page book tracing the lineage and evolution of one of the most distinctly American art forms. Created in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. ($100)
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon is everywhere and their streaming music service offers tens of millions of songs with new releases from today's most popular artists. Listen ad-free with unlimited skips or download for offline listening. Prime subscribers get deep discounts on the $9.99/month service, and there's also a $14.99/month family plan, which allows unlimited streaming for up to six users. (Monthly subscription)
The Defiant Ones
This four-part HBO documentary series tracks the career trajectories of record producers Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, and how their shared passions led to the creation of Beats, which was subsequently sold to Apple for a staggering amount of money. Along the way, we're treated to extensive footage from their careers, like Iovine coaching Stevie Nicks through the recording of "Edge of Seventeen" and Dre passionately singing along to Nirvana while working on a tropical island. ($19.96 on Blu-Ray)
UE Boom 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The UE Boom shows up on the lists of best Bluetooth speakers every year, and the Boom 2 offers a number of finishes and improved battery life (up to 15 hours of playback). In addition to the high-quality sound (a redesigned driver cranks up 25% louder than previous versions), this year's model is fully waterproof (immersion up to 1 meter for a half hour), as well as drop-resistant to five feet. ($136.99, in various colors)
AllMusic Subscription
If you are a die-hard AllMusic user and value the service we provide, for only $16 a year consider giving yourself the gift of a paid subscription. It helps the site keep the lights on, removes the advertisements, and noticeably improves site speed for you, so unlike receiving underwear or a nineteen-pound fruitcake, everybody is happy. ($16/year)
David Bowie, A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982)
The third installment of this David Bowie reissue/box set series focuses on the period between his albums Low and Scary Monsters, which includes some of the most ambitious and experimental music of his career. This set includes the four studio albums from the era, along with remastered live recordings and a vivid new mix of Lodger, helmed by original producer Tony Visconti. (Available as 11 CDs or 13 LPs)
Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World, by Rob Sheffield
The Beatles have been analyzed and discussed ad nauseum for the past 50+ years, but Rob Sheffield's series of essays manage to inject a personal narrative and contemporary worldview into this familiar mythology. Using sly turns of phrase and nods to Beatle lyrics in his analysis, Sheffield is able to offer a fresh look at everything from Abbey Road to Zapple Records. ($16.99, hardcover)
Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap
The Smithsonian celebrates the history of hip-hop with this massive anthology, featuring nine discs packed with over 120 of its most iconic songs, and a 300-page book tracing the lineage and evolution of one of the most distinctly American art forms. Created in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. ($100)
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon is everywhere and their streaming music service offers tens of millions of songs with new releases from today's most popular artists. Listen ad-free with unlimited skips or download for offline listening. Prime subscribers get deep discounts on the $9.99/month service, and there's also a $14.99/month family plan, which allows unlimited streaming for up to six users. (Monthly subscription)
The Defiant Ones
This four-part HBO documentary series tracks the career trajectories of record producers Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, and how their shared passions led to the creation of Beats, which was subsequently sold to Apple for a staggering amount of money. Along the way, we're treated to extensive footage from their careers, like Iovine coaching Stevie Nicks through the recording of "Edge of Seventeen" and Dre passionately singing along to Nirvana while working on a tropical island. ($19.96 on Blu-Ray)
UE Boom 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The UE Boom shows up on the lists of best Bluetooth speakers every year, and the Boom 2 offers a number of finishes and improved battery life (up to 15 hours of playback). In addition to the high-quality sound (a redesigned driver cranks up 25% louder than previous versions), this year's model is fully waterproof (immersion up to 1 meter for a half hour), as well as drop-resistant to five feet. ($136.99, in various colors)
AllMusic Subscription
If you are a die-hard AllMusic user and value the service we provide, for only $16 a year consider giving yourself the gift of a paid subscription. It helps the site keep the lights on, removes the advertisements, and noticeably improves site speed for you, so unlike receiving underwear or a nineteen-pound fruitcake, everybody is happy. ($16/year)