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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Russ is trading the microphone for a pen — again. After the success of the rapper’s first book It’s All In […]
35 years ago, the trajectory of electronic music history shifted when Ed Simons met Tom Rowlands at the University of Manchester. Then students, the pair would go on to comprise one of the most celebrated electronic acts in the history of the then-nascent genre, after they united as The Chemical Brothers.
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The three and a half decades of shows, albums and block-rockin’ beats that have ensued since are under the microscope in the latest Chemical Brothers offering, Paused in Cosmic Reflection. Out today (May 7) via Mobius publishing, the retrospective book unpacks, in often granular detail, the Brothers’ mythology from the earliest days as students to rising U.K. stars to genre trendsetters and worldwide heroes.
Along with extensive interviews with the duo themselves, the book feature new interviews with friends and collaborators, including Noel Gallagher, Wayne Coyne, Beth Orton, Michel Gondry and Beck. The 300-plus-page Paused In Cosmic Reflection also includes many rare and and never-before-seen photographs. Assembled by Robin Turner, the book is dedicated to Stuart “Jammer” James, the group’s longtime tour manager, who died in 2015.
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Speaking to Billboard about the book last September, Simons offered, “I guess there’s no end date, but we are nearer to the end of The Chemical Brothers than we are the beginning… It has been good to reflect and remember some history. I guess you’ve got to do it before you start forgetting everything, and I’ve got a really good memory.”
“He remembers, like, every small gig above a barber shop we ever did,” added Rowlands. “Then someone would produce a photograph of it and I’d be like, ‘Oh, gotcha. Maybe we did do that…’ But one of the things about our band is, we don’t like stopping and reflecting. I always want to move on to the next thing. This book really felt like stopping and reflecting.”
See exclusive images from the book below.
Paused in Cosmic Reflection
live show visual Show directors Adam Smith & Marcus Lyall
“Early on, Oasis was accepted as part of that culture,” Noel Gallagher says in the book. “Mixmag gave Definitely Maybe full marks and an incredible review when it came out. When I picked up the guitar and started to write again, the inclusiveness of the lyrics in house music showed up in my songs and became a big part of it. A song like ‘Live Forever’ would never have existed and wouldn’t have been called that before acid house. It would have been melancholy. The euphoria of acid house was so engrained in me, I was so into it and what I loved about it was the inclusivity. Songs were about us, they weren’t personal, they were about the collective. I adopted that and put it into my music.”
Paused in Cosmic Reflection
Jake Chessum
Paused in Cosmic Reflection
Adam Smith
“There were a few electronic bands playing live in the early nineties,” Simons says of the group’s early days. “We’d gone to see Kraftwerk when we were at university in 1991 and Tom had been in [prior dance act] Ariel, so we knew it was something that could happen, but initially we just DJed. We got offered to do [the club night] Sabresonic very early on; we’d only done a handful of remixes and [Chemical Brothers EP] Fourteenth Century Sky was just out. From the very start, we knew we didn’t want to be in the spotlight on stage. We decided that we wanted to have visuals projected right on top of us. And lots of strobes. That ethos has been the same for every gig we’ve played in the 30-odd years since.”
Paused in Cosmic Reflection
Peter J. Walsh
Paused in Cosmic Reflection
Mark Benney
“Ultimately, I think The Chemical Brothers have a great predilection for exploration,” says Beck, who worked with the duo on 2015’s “Wide Open” and 2023’s “Skipping Like a Stone.” “Their records always seem to take you to different places. They kind of sit in an unusual place between different eras of electronic music and DJ culture. It’s like they have one foot in multiple decades at the same time in a way that is utterly unique among their peers.”
Paused in Cosmic Reflection
Mark Benney
“[1997 sophomore album] Dig Your Own Hole was us giving free rein to all of the different influences that were feeding into us from all around the world,” says Simons. “It was the most extreme expression of that, one where you could have a track like ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ sitting alongside ‘The Private Psychedelic Reel’. They’re completely different forms of music but they each evolved from everything that was channelled in, that fed into the making of Dig Your Own Hole. For us, our sound was entirely natural. It wasn’t something we sat down and pondered, tried to perfect. We had no intention of making a pure electronic dance record; we always wanted all of those external forces to be reflected.”
Paused in Cosmic Reflection
Mark Benney
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Stress is one of those feelings that’s unavoidable and at times it can stir up feelings of anxiety. Before you let […]
“Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the ’70s” by Alan Paul
$18.80
$32
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$18.80
$32
41% off
$18.80
$32
41% off
A 352-page hardcover, Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band delves into history of one of the rock band’s most celebrated albums: Brothers and Sisters. The book also offers insight into the band’s rise and the influence that historic events had on them, including former President Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign, Gregg Allman’s marriage to Cher, and the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. The book is based on never-before-heard interviews with those close to the band — and Betts and Allman themselves — conducted by Allman Brothers Band archivist, photographer, and “Tour Mystic” Kirk West, according to the book’s official description.
In early April, country star Maren Morris released her children’s book Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure, in collaboration with former schoolteacher Karina Argow. According to the interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, they have known each other for about 11 years. This long-lasting friendship evolved into a collaborative partnership. Explore Explore See latest videos, […]
Rhymes aren’t the only thing Big Sean has been writing over the last few years. The Detroit native just revealed that his first book will arrive later this year.
Big Sean announced Go Higher on Wednesday (April 3), which is now available for pre-order and slated to hit bookstands and retailers on Oct. 8 via Simon Element, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
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The book will focus on five practices for purpose, success and inner peace “through an interactive guidebook on maintaining daily mental wellness” while helping readers reach their full potential.
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Sean reflected on becoming an author, a journey that’s been “years in the making,” according to a heartfelt Instagram post on Wednesday.
“Besides the music, another project that’s been years in the making and it’s finally time. I can’t even believe it for real,” he said. “But anyone who know me since I signed my record deal knows if you look at my old YouTubes I’ve always been about speaking from the heart, following your intuition and checking in with yourself mentally. Because that’s how I was raised.”
He continued: “That’s the upbringing that was surrounding me with my family. It was a lot of elevated thinkers. They’d give me gems and these books that I eventually read. If it wasn’t for them methods that I applied to my life, I for sure wouldn’t be here today, period.”
Tons of support flooded Sean’s Instagram comment section as Ab-Soul, Royce Da 5’9″, Hit-Boy, Key Wane and more showed love to the Detroit rapper on his latest endeavor.
Big Sean also saluted acclaimed authors such as Deepak Chopra, Sadhguru, Esther and Jerry Hicks, Bell Hooks and others for instilling knowledge and inspiring him along the way. He credited Jay Shetty, whose podcast he appeared on in 2022, with putting the battery in his back to pen a book.
“I took all the lessons I learned, all the philosophies mixed with real-life experiences and condensed what works for me into these five strategies that really will teach you what success mean to you and show you what your purpose is if you don’t already know,” he explained about Go Higher.
On the music side, Big Sean returned from hiatus with the fiery “Precision” last month and he’s in album mode with an LP slated to arrive later in 2024.
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Your book collection is about to get Beyoncified with the upcoming release of a fan-made book featuring illustrated pictures of the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer. Titled Beyoncé Legends Alphabet, the new book aims to take you through the 42-year-old’s illustrious career using the letters of the alphabet.
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Beyhive members won’t want to miss out on expanding their Beyoncé merch collection with this collectors piece — and, if you’re looking for gifts for music lovers, this book will make a unique keepsake that can be paired with the “16 Carriages” singer’s official Renaissance tour merch or some chic Western apparel to show off while listening to Cowboy Carter.
Beyoncé Legends Alphabet book won’t be released until April 30, but online retailers including Amazon, Target and Walmart have opened preorders to help ensure you snag a copy the moment it’s released.
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Keep reading to preorder the new book now.
“Beyonce Legends Alphabet”
The Beyoncé alphabet book comes with 56 illustrated pages detailing some of her major career landmarks including spotlighting hit songs like “Daddy’s Girl” and “XO.” You can preorder it now to guarantee yourself a copy of the book when it’s released. Prime members can also qualify for free one-day shipping for extra savings. Don’t have a Prime membership? Click here to start a 30-day free trial.
And for the younger Beyoncé fans, you can preorder a copy of Little Legends Alphabet: Beyoncé, which helps teach children about the award-winning singer through fun pictures (and the ABCs). Plus, it makes a thoughtful gift for the pregnant Beyhive moms in your life.
“Beyoncé Little Legends Alphabet”
Teach your loved one their ABCs with the help of this children’s book featuring Beyoncé and her music. Each page will focus on a different letter from the alphabet while using pictures and songs from the singer’s discography to assist in teaching your kiddo their letters.
You can preorder the younger version for $10 and expect it to arrive on your doorstep by July 30, when then title is released.
Both books join the growing collection of music books that author and illustrator Beck Feiner has published including genre-focused titles like Diva Legends, Hip-Hop Legends, Metal Legends and Country Legends as well as artist and band focused books like Taylor Swift Legends, Beatles Legends and an upcoming BTS book.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best female musician memoirs, jazz books and Taylor Swift books.
A biography of Linkin Park written by Billboard‘s Executive Director of Music Jason Lipshutz is coming out in October, Hachette Books announced Wednesday (March 27). It Starts With One: The Legend and Legacy of Linkin Park is set to document the decades-long career of the iconic rock band and their impact on the modern music […]
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The Beach Boys are preparing to make wave for fans with the release of their first-ever and only official book titled The Beach Boys. This comes in anticipation of an upcoming documentary about the rock band that is set to air on Disney+ in May, according to Variety, but for those eager to delve into The Beach Boys’ history, you can now read about them from their perspective.
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Band members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston come together to chronicle their journey to fame and the success that followed in an autobiography that the title claims is “in their own words.” The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys will officially be released on Tuesday (April 2), but Amazon has opened preorders for fans and those looking for gifts for music lovers to ensure you get your hands on a copy the moment the book is released.
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Keep reading to preorder the book now.
“The Beach Boys” by The Beach Boys
Featuring 408 pages, The Beach Boys will include a detailed history about the band through their unique perspective providing a more intimate look at the band’s history. The official description also says that the text will be accompanied with “iconic images, never-before-seen negatives and rare ephemera.”
Plus, if you preorder the book, you’ll also be guaranteed the preorder price and for Prime members, you’ll be given free shipping once the book is released. Don’t have a Prime membership? You can start a 30-day free trial here.
To help build out The Beach Boys, a lineup of famous musicians and those close to the band were tapped to contribute to the book including Peter Blake, Lindsey Buckingham, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies, Bob Dylan, Def Leppard, the Flaming Lips, Bobby Gillespie, David Lee Roth, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Jim Kerr, Roger McGuinn, Graham Nash, Jimmy Page, Carly Simon, Pete Townshend, Rufus Wainwright and Thom Yorke.
“There’s love in the music and people can relate to the love, regardless of whether you’re two years old or 92 years old,” Wilson said in the official Amazon description. “For me, music is about love. Love is the message I want to share. I hope people feel that in my music. That makes the hard work worth it.”
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best music books, female musician memoirs and Taylor Swift books.
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Sarah J. Maas has taken over BookTok, with more than 76 billion views for her Amazon Most Read chart-topping series A Court of Thorns and Roses (known to fans as ACOTR). Her latest series, Crescent City, has proven to be just as popular, with the first book landing the label of a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon for urban fantasy. Now, collectors and readers new to Maas’ steamy fantasy universe can preorder a hardcover Crescent City box set that’ll give you all three books in a display-worthy box.
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The box set will be released June 11 and will include all three books, including Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood, Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath and latest book, Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow. As an added bonus, you can score the Crescent City boxed set on sale from Amazon, Walmart and Target for 10% off, dropping the price to $89 (reg. $99). Prime members will also be eligible for free one-day shipping, which will deliver to your home by the day the boxed set is released.
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The series follows Bryce Quinlan, a half-fae and half-human girl who seeks revenge after her closest friends are murdered by a demon. Then, there’s Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel seeking freedom after being enslaved to archangels. The two decide to team up and uncover the source of mysterious murders, but what they find is a hidden and growing dark power that threatens the safety of everything and everyone.
Keep reading to preorder the boxed set now.
“Crescent City” Hardcover Box Set by Sarah J. Maas
$89.10
$99
10% off
Ditch your musician memoirs and delve into the world of Crescent City with a hardcover box set that includes every book in the series currently out. By preordering the series, you’ll be guaranteed a boxed set the moment it’s released on June 11. If you can’t wait, you can also purchase each book individually.
How Many Books Are There In the Crescent City Series?
The bestselling author was contracted to write three books, but expressed a fourth book was definitely in the works. During an exclusive conversation with The Today Show, Maas explained that it would be a bit of a wait before the fourth book is released due to her “taxiiing” line of books in the works — which also includes a sixth book in the ACOTR series that she’s currently writing.
Is Crescent City & ACOTAR Connected?
Both of the books take place within the same universe, which means that fans of ACOTR can expect some Easter eggs within the Crescent City series. You’ll also find some references to key moments from ACOTR mentioned in the new series.
Do I Need To Read ACOTAR Before Crescent City?
To fully understand the hidden Easter eggs, you should read ACOTR before diving into the world of Crescent City. Below you can purchase an ACOTR boxed set to get you caught up.
“A Court of Thorns and Roses” Paperback Box Set
$54.90
$95
42% off
Amazon and Walmart are offering a paperback boxed set of the hit series ACOTR featuring all five books. If you prefer hardcover editions, then you can pick up a boxed hardcover set from Barnes & Noble. All editions are on sale right now, so you can enjoy the steamy fantasy romance books — and some savings.
What is ACOTR about? The book series follows the human hunter Feyre Archeron, a hunter trying to help her family survive after they lost their fortune. When she kills what she thinks is a wolf, Feyre is confronted by the fairy Tamlin and transported into the world of the fae. As an evil force threatens to destroy the fae and human world, Feyre must muster the courage to save everyone she loves — while also falling in love along the way.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best music books, Taylor Swift recommended books and Taylor Swift books.