To absorb Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash is to be taken on a wild voyage with a cast of downtrodden revolutionaries. Despite this notion, the epic themes of the Pogues' second full length record have been overlooked by both critics and biographers in favor of two things: the band's penchant for combining Celtic folk with punk rhythms ("the sound") and the excesses of Shane MacGowan ("the creator"). Instead of reiterating these aspects, this book discusses, in the form of a sea-faring narrative, the record's articulation of what it is found to be magnificently trodden. Through epic imagery gracing the cover of the album and reverberating throughout the lyrics, Roesgen's book shows that what the Pogues created is far more than pub-room music created by drunken men wallowing in Irish nostalgia and pining for something subversive.

"Jeff Roesgen's celebration of Rum, Sodomy & the Lash intertwines a seafaring fictional narrative with the band-informed accounts of the creation of this unique and enduring album"--Back cover.

The ages of Thatcherism and New Labour are two of the most significant of the twentieth century, and more alike than they would care to admit. Out of these years of political turmoil have come many brilliant, often politically dissenting, British albums which have captured the landscape of the time. This is the story of those albums.

Turley (English, U. of Connecticut at Storrs) offers homoerotic readings of several works attributed to Daniel Defoe, including A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates (1724), The King of Pirates (1720), and The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies of the Famous Captain Singleton (1720). He includes many intriguing details of pirate life gleaned from historical sources and from other 18th-century literature. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Listen to Punk Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre discusses the evolution of punk from its inception in 1975 to the present, delving into the lasting impact of the genre throughout society today. Listen to Punk Rock! provides readers with a fuller picture of punk rock as an inclusive genre with continuing relevance. Organized in a roughly chronological manner, it starts with an introduction that explains the musical and cultural forces that shaped the punk genre. Next, 50 entries cover important punk bands and subgenres, noting female punk bands as well as bands of color. The final part of the book discusses how punk has influenced other musical genres and popular culture. The book will give those new to the genre an overview of important bands and products related to the movement in music, including publications, fashion, and films about punk rock. Notably, it pays special attention to diversity within the genre, discussing bands often overlooked or mentioned only in passing in most histories of the movement, which focus mainly on The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Ramones as the pioneers of punk.

This full length biography is the first comprehensive account of a truly legendary artist. It covers every aspect of the life and career of a man who has never seemed to be in the slightest danger of losing his credibility to mainstream success. With twenty albums to his credit and a legion of passionate fans, the uncompromising Waits continues to conjure up tender, ragged and magical songs that have attracted cover versions by artists as esteemed as Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, The Eagles, Elvis Costello, Meat Loaf, The Ramones and Johnny Cash. Abrasive and single-minded, the gravel voiced singer/songwriter and occasional movie actor has followed one of the most unlikely career paths in popular music. Patrick Humphries' biography finally does this unique character justice with an in-depth critical overview of his life and work supplemented with authoritative discography and filmography.

This paperback edition has been fully updated to include Shane's final months and the response to his passing. Punk protagonist, legendary drinker, Irish musical icon. This is the complete and extraordinary journey of the Pogues' notorious frontman from outcast to national treasure. A Furious Devotion vividly recounts the experiences that shaped the greatest songwriter of his generation, including the formative trips to his mother's homestead in Tipperary and the explosion of punk which changed his life. As well as exclusive interviews with Shane himself, author Richard Balls secured contributions from his wife and family, and people who have never spoken publicly about Shane before: close associates, former girlfriends and the English teacher who first spotted his literary gift. Nick Cave, Aidan Gillen, Cillian Murphy, Christy Moore and Sinead O'Connor are on the rollcall of those paying tribute to the gifted songwriter and poet. This frank and extensive biography includes many previously unseen personal photographs.