Sometimes oddness is its own reward……

Reefer movie madness : the ultimate stoner film guide by Shirley Halperin & Steve Bloom

Abrams Image, 2010

Abrams Image, 2010

It would appear that there is a movie guide for just about every genre imaginable, including the Stoner film; not a genre I’ve spent a whole lot of time investigating by the way (in case you were wondering…..). But for the life of me I can’t figure out how this book works, or what the criteria for inclusion are; I mean, Star Trek the Movie is in (!!!), but so far I can’t find any reference to that seminal psychedelic movie Head, which catapulted The Monkees from cute-as-a-button lads on TV into a wholly unexpected bizarro film universe of their own making! Maybe the authors were stoned at the time?

Earogenous zones : sound, sexuality and cinema edited by Bruce Johnson

Equinox, 2010

Equinox, 2010

Okay, I admit it, this one initially got in just for the title. On closer inspection however this series of essays looks pretty interesting, and certainly takes film music scholarship into previously uncharted waters with chapters such as:  Lust in space: science fiction themes and sex cinema by Philip Hayward, Musical loops: Eyes Wide Shut…ears wide open by Kevin Clifton, and In extremis: the roots, soundscapes and signification of twenty-first century Zombie porn by Ralph G.Marshall. But what would John Williams think?

Tunes : a comic book history of rock and roll edited by Vincent Brunner

Universe, 2010

Universe, 2010

It seems so right somehow, the iconoclastic worlds of rock music and comic books coming together. This entertainingly opinionated graphic history includes Australia’s own AC/DC and Nick Cave, as well as the usual (and not so usual) suspects. But poor Elton John: “Since 1975, Elton John hasn’t recorded a single good album.” I hope he doesn’t read comics!

Blab world. No. 1 compiled by Monte Beauchamp with Bill North

 

Last Gasp, 2010

Last Gasp, 2010

If you’re going to judge a book by its cover, then this one is definitely guilty! Blab magazine was started in 1986 by graphic designer Monte Beauchamp, and over the years has published the work of many of the most talented and iconic designers, cartoonists and pop artists. If you can get past the groovy Shag cover you’re in for some real visual overload. You have been warned!

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