BEST MUSIC: 2021, with Music Players!

With 4 Music Players!

C U R T I S
H A R D I N G

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ALL THE
REAL MUSIC!

Hard Pass all those trendy-indie
'Best Music' lists that taste like chrome!

These tunes will cross-knit your wits
and flipside your backside!

Shortcut to Music Players:
• BEST ALBUMS: 2021
• COOL SONGS: 2021
• COVER SONGS 2021
• BEST REISSUES: 2021

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Alison Krauss + Robert Plant

B E S T
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A L B U M S :
2 0 2 1

BEST ALBUMS 2021
by Tym Stevens This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.


This music player has songs from the following albums, in the same order.

• Curtis Harding, "If Words Were Flowers"
Psychedelic Soul.
Curtis only gets greater on each album with memorable tunes, a supple range, adventurous arrangements, and a feeling of all limits lifting.

(see also: Black Pumas, Greyhounds, Benjamin Booker)

• The Courettes, "Back In Mono"
Garage Rock and Girl Group.
'You wanted The Shangri-Las if they were also The Sonics and you got it!'... thanks to this Brazilian guitarist and Danish drummer.

(see also: The Crystals, Thee Headcoatees, The Raveonettes)

• Menahan Street Band, "The Exciting Sounds Of Menahan Street Band"
Cinematic Funk.
'Who's the headset flick who's a sex machine to all your dance floor kicks? Damn right.'

(see also: Isaac Hayes, Charles Bradley, Lee Fields)

• Bachelor, "Doomin’ Sun"
Indie Folk.
Semi-supergroup members (Jay Som, Palehound) unwind as a Indie Folk duo with sharp lyrics, warm introspection, canny melodies, and acoustic chops.

(see also: Meat Puppets, Aimee Mann, Hand Habits)

• Fay Hallam, "Modulations"
Groovy Mod.
Like a freshly discovered Library Music album of timeless grooviness, flowing all the get-go into your swingin' Go-Go.

(see also: Alan Hawkshaw, Piero Piccioni, Chris Joss, Shawn Lee)

• Autoramas, "Autointitulado"
Garage Wave.
Like Dick Dale jamming with Devo on Deimos, the Brazil quartet brings us more startlingly distorted Garage Surf with snappy New Wave spasms.

(see also: The Spotnicks, The Rezillos, The B-52's, Polysics)

• Brian Wilson, "At My Piano"
Baroque Pop.
You thought that Brian's harmonies and arrangements for The Beach Boys were sublime enough, but wait till you hear the core beauty of them on acoustic piano.

(see also: George Gershwin, Van Dyke Parks, Paul McCartney)

• The Black Keys, "Delta Kreme"
Bruising Blues.
The Blues is the original spark of Rock'n'Roll, and the fuse is still lit.

(see also: The White Stripes, Gary Clark Jr, Joanna Connor)

• Robert Plant + Alison Krauss, "Raise The Roof"
Alt-Roots.
Following their lauded album "Raising Sand" (2007), the troubadours interpret more folk, bluegrass, blues, and N'awlins gems.

(see also: Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood, Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Gillian Welch and David Rawlins)

• Tristen, "Aquatic Flowers"
Baroque Pop.
Tristen excels at strong pop hooks with sly twists and open-hearted lyrics.

(see also: The New Pornographers, Jesca Hoop, Gabriella Cohen)


• The Limiñanas + Laurent Garnier, "De Pelicula"
Sin-ematic Garage.
An imaginary film noir soundtrack from the grimy Psyche duo and the dance DJ, eerie and edgy and errant.

(see also: Can, Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks, Calibro 35, L’épée)

• Robert Finley, "Sharecropper’s Son"
Rural Blues.
The roots soil is as fertile as ever, and Robert's rich soul and rural pride will regenerate you.

(see also: Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Albert King, Black Joe Lewis And The Honeybears)

• La Luz, "La Luz"
Baroque Surf.
The pulsing Surf ripples and dreamy Girl Group sighs grow more introspective and psychedelic this time, abetted by production wizard Adrian Younge.

(see also: The Neptunas, Susan And The Surftones, Shantih Shantih, Frankiie)

• La Femme, "Paradigmes"
ModPsycheLoungeRave.
France's coolest band pumps the dream party (and upstairs orgy) with Go-Go pop, gauzy psyche, cooing songbirds, beatnick rap, brash horns, and clang guitars.

(see also: Manfred Hübler And Siegfried Schwab, Casino Music, Air, Pepe Deluxe)

• Joel Culpepper, "Sgt. Culpepper"
Baroque Soul.
From its clever title in, this smart Soul record delivers the real feels with dynamic frills.

(see also: Imani Coppola, Liam Bailey)

• Mike Edison + Guadalupe Plata, "The Devil Can’t Do You No Harm"
Garage-abilly Gospel Noir.
The Rockabilly growler and Spanish Garagers collide in a reverb-soaked recital of hymnals, folklore, and midnight tremelo.

(see also: Link Wray, Tom Waits, The Limiñanas)

• Gary Louris, "Jump For Joy"
Singer Songwriter.
The prime mover of The Jayhawks does a rare solo turn, stripping it down to melodic folk confessionals with occasional electronic textures.

(see also: latter Beatles, America, Wilco)

• Cha Wa, "My People"
New Orleans Funk.
Timeless Funky gumbo to ignite the fiyo in your bayou.

(see also: The Meters, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, The Soul Rebels)

• Nicole Atkins, "Memphis Ice"
Eclectic Soul.
The Rock'n'Soul chameleon revises her acclaimed "Italian Ice" (2020) album in new mellow Memphis Soul terms.

(see also: Patsy Cline, Dusty Springfield, Gemma Ray, Hannah Williams)

• El Michels Affair, "Yeti Season"
Eerie Cinematic.
Like a moody Bollywood psychedelic soundtrack with flourishes of Turkish funk and Spaghetti Westerns, groovy and heady.

(see also: Sheila Chandra, Dengue Fever, Ikebe Shakedown, Ghost Funk Orchestra)

• Tash Neal, "Charge It To The Game"
'70s Rock Redux.
The London Souls duo made one brilliant album of timeless Classic Rock (2015). Now Tash Neal and Chris St. Hilaire are making solo work, with Tash going full Thin Lizzy while Chris pursues Calypso beats and mellow songwriter tunes.

(see also: Thin Lizzy, early Lenny Kravitz)

• Adia Victoria, "A Southern Gothic"
Alt-Roots.
The Flannery O'Connor of Americana music, getting more ambitious and complex amid the atmospheric production of T-Bone Burnett.

(see also: Lucinda Williams, Rhiannon Giddens)

• Micky Dolenz, "Dolenz Sings Nesmith"
Singer Songwriter.
Micky, the heart of The Monkees, gives a full-hearted tribute to the brainy one, covering many of his '70s solo songs. The version of "Circle Sky" with an Indian orchestra is astounding.

(see also: The Flying Burrito Brothers, Crosby Stills And Nash, Poco)

• St. Vincent, "Daddy’s Home"
Askew Soul.
Our mercurial hero relaxes on the angular art-pop in favor of a warm mid-'70s sultry Soul groove.

(see also: Laura Nyro, Annie Peacock, Rickie Lee Jones, Feist)

• Orquesta Akokán, "16 Rayos"
Cuban Mambo.
The group keeps Cuba's vibrant musical traditions alive with their vital roof-raisers.

(see also: Perez-Prado, Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra, The Souljazz Orchestra)

• Eddie 9V, "Little Black Flies"
Soul Blues.
That wonderful place between Chess and Stax where the blues shouts like sunshine.

(see also: J.B. Lenoir, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, James Hunter Band)

• Caleb Landry Jones, "Gadzooks, Vol. 1"
Art Psyche.
The cracked actor pours out more potent ideas in one song than most do in an album, a sparkling cascade of luminous delirium.

(see also: Syd Barrett, Skip Spence, Julian Cope, Crispin Hellion Glover)

• Cedric Burnside, "I Be Trying"
Gutbucket Blues.
Cedric's roughhewn strummers and tough clangers resonate like a wounded soul grown as tempered as steel.

(see also: R.L. Burnside, Elmore James, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)

• Aaron Lee Tasjan, "Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!"
Melodic songwriter.
Tasjan is one of those singer-songwriter-showmen and crack melodicists (practically minted from a factory in 1971) who seem like they can do anything, and so far has.

(see also: latter Beatles, early Elton John, Harry Nilsson, Elliott Smith)

• Amythyst Kiah, "Wary + Strange"
Alt-Roots.
Gutpunching the roots industry with her bluegrass protest song "Black Myself", Kiah returns with wildfire sophistication, a soulful range, and palpable restlessness.

(see also: Odetta, Our Native Daughters, The Carolina Chocolate Drops)

• The Secret Sisters, "Quicksand"
Country.
In this 4-song EP, the Rogers sisters make more suprising leaps forward in song craft and harmonies with two originals, plus covers of The Strokes and Fiona Apple.

(see also: The Everly Brothers, Alison Krauss, I'm With Her)

• St. Paul And The Broken Bones, "The Alien Coast"
Art Soul.
The Alabama Soul outfit leap another light year with this mercurial extravaganza, a textural passion tour by turns moody, brash, jazzy, tough, dreamy, and finally triumphant. Wow!

(see also: Eddie Hinton, Curtis Harding, Nathaniel Rateliff And The Night Sweats)

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C O O L
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All the REAL MUSIC
beyond the box!

Nevermind Gloss Pop, Stepford Idols, Karaoke Choruses ("woh-oo-oh"), Ego Brats, Emo Prats, Plinky Folk, Brittle Bombast, Vegas Country, Smug Thug, Mope Noodling, De-mixed Throb, and Robot-o-Tune schlock! >

Here's the
D R E A M
J U K E B O X !
Boogie with more bounce to the ounce
than a Bounce House!

COOL SONGS 2021
by Tym Stevens
This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.
*(The Player is limited to the first 200 songs.
Hear the unlimited Playlist here.)

This jukebox is sequenced into groups of sound, instead of randomly.
All the songs elasticize their genres.
Get your groove on in this sonic order.:
Rockabilly! Surf! Beat! Garage!

Psyche! Classic Rock! Glam! Alt-Roots!

Blues! Soul! Funk! Africana!

World! Riot Grrrl! Alt-Rock! Electro!

Alt-Rap! Alt-Jazz! Cinematic!

RESIST! Happy Holidays!

St. Vincent; Tash Neal;
Adia Victoria; Lera Lynn

13 hours of thinky, wiggly music, featuring the following fine folks in this exact order!:

• Rockabilly! • Jimmy Dale Richardson, Lily Locksmith, Miranda And The Beat, The Honkabillies, and The Courettes.

• Surf / Shindig! • Surf Zombies, Underwater Bosses, Autoramas, Mike Edison + Guadalupe Plata, Lord Huron, Shannon And The Clams, Los Mambo Jambo, Pokey LaFarge, and Las Cafeteras.

The Courettes;
Las Cafeteras; Shadow Show

• Beat / Garage! • The Courettes, Cupid's Carnival, Lindsey Buckingham, The Fratellis, Shadow Show, Triptides, David Menke, The Exbats, The Shadracks, The Tremolo Beer Gut, Ghost Woman, Night Beats, and The Routes.


• Psychedelic / Beatlesque! • Tristen, Groovy Uncle, La Luz, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Taraka, Mickey Dolenz, La Femme, The Limiñanas, Tele Novella, Crowded House, Martina Topley-Bird, Heartless Bastards, Satellite Jockey, Caleb Landry Jones, Diamond Hands, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and Gary Louris.

La Luz; La Femme;
Martina Topley-Bird; Art d'Ecco

• Classic Rock / Glam! Silver Synthetic, Reigning Sound, Tash Neal, DJ Williams + Tash Neal, Art d'Ecco, The Devils, Liz Phair, Neal Francis, Gloria, Midnight Sister, Liam Kazar, and Weyes Blood.

• Alt-Roots! • Rhiannon Giddens + Francesco Turrisi, Robert Plant + Alison Krauss, Lera Lynn, Adia Victoria, Allison Russell, Joan Armatrading, Bedouine, Nicole Atkins, Kira Skov, The Breeders, The Secret Sisters, Della Mae, Theo Lawrence, Sierra Ferrell, Sharon Van Etten + Lucinda Williams.

Nicole Atkins; Robert Finlay;
Lady Blackbird; Steve Cropper;
Delvon Lamar Organ Trio

• Blues! • Mr. Airplane Man, Buffalo Nichols, Madi Diaz, The Black Keys, Joanna Connor, Cedric Burnside, Avey Grouws Band, Robert Finley, Ghalia Volt, Eddie 9V, and Amythyst Kiah.

• Soul! • Curtis Harding, Izo FitzRoy, Nathaniel Rateliff And The Night Sweats, Ruby Velle And The Soulphonics, Black Pumas, Lake Street Dive, PM Warson, The Secret Sisters, Aaron Frazer, Lady Blackbird, The Buttshakers, Thee Sacred Souls, Anderson East, Ben Pirani, and Steve Cropper.

• Funk / Mutant Disco! • The Bamboos, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, The Grease Traps, True Loves, St. Vincent, Redtenbacher's Funkestra, Joel Culpepper, Menahan Street Band, Cha Wa, George Porter Jr and Runnin' Pardners, Orgone, Emma-Jean Thackray, Lake Street Dive, Mndsgn, Cimafunk, Gizelle Smith, Art d'Ecco, Pond, and Khruangbin + Leon Bridges.

Tony Allen; Altin Gün

• Africana! • Bacao Rhythm And Steel Band, Adrian Younge, Femi Kuti, Tony Allen, Joan As Police Woman, Mdou Moctar, Funkwrench Blues + Bombino, and Nahawa Doumbia.

• World! • Orquesta Akokán, Cochemea, Altin Gün, El Michels Affair, and La Femme.

We Are Lady Parts;
Guerilla Toss;
Django Django;
Kae Tempest; K-OS

• Riot Grrrl! • Lady Parts, Sleater-Kinney, Ottis Coeur, LIINES, Mujeres Podridas, KT Tunstall/DeepVally/Peaches, Taraka, Porvenir Oscuro, SASAMI, Deap Vally, Garbage, Du Blonde, Amyl and The Sniffers, Fake Fruit, Pom Poko, Gustaf, and Bachelor.

• Alt-Rock! • Parquet Courts, Fashion Pimps And The Glamazons, White Denim, Habibi, Django Django, Martina Topley-Bird, Spoon, Gabriella Cohen, Deerhoof, Elvis Costello, Jane Weaver, CIVIC, St. Vincent, Guerilla Toss, and Superstate/Graham Coxon.

• Electro! • Working Men's Club, Fatima Al Qadiri, Stats, and Marie Davidson.

• Alt-Rap! • The Bug, Kae Tempest, K-OS, Ty Segall + Denée Segall, The Allergies, She Drew The Gun, Common + Brittany Howard, Ceramic Dog + Marc Ribot, Moor Mother, Slimkid 3, and Flying Lotus.

Ghost Funk Orchestra; Kandle;
The Limiñanas; Elena Satine

• Alt-Jazz! • Esperanza Spalding, Sons Of Kemet, The Lasso, and Terence Blanchard.

• Cinerama / Soundtracks! • Nicholas Britell, Sndtrak, Tommy Guerrero, Menahan Street Band, Ghost Funk Orchestra, St. Paul And The Broken Bones, Gizelle Smith, Gloria, Roy And The Devil's Motorcycle, Kandle, Billie Eilish, The Tremolo Beer Gut, Alan Evans Trio, The Limiñanas, La Femme, Fay Hallam, The Coral, Delaney Davidson + Neil Finn, St. Vincent, Wax Tailor + Dave Gahan, Lera Lynn, Ludwig Goransson, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Lady Parts, the cast of ENCANTO, Seatbelts + Elena Satine), Sparks + Adam Driver, and Jefferson Airplane (Marcel Dettmann and Gabriel Mounsey Remix).

Courtney Barnett; Janelle Monáe

• RESIST!! • Stereo Total, John Fogerty, Garbage, Death From Above 1979, The Jack Moves, Mexican Institute Of Sound, Gizelle Smith, Chris Isaak, Courtney Barnett, Tune-Yards, Janelle Monáe, Adrian Younge, Ringo Starr, Angelique Kidjo, Chris St. Hilaire, Monophonics, and Vivien Goldman.

• Happy Holidays! • Joel Paterson, The Pen Friend Club, and Blondie.

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C O V E R
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All the Best
COVER VERSIONS
of the year!

Music is the throughline of the human spirit.

Singing timeless songs in times of uncertainty brings us solace, offers out support, and bonds us in communion.

In (another) year that separated us from each other, sharing songs reaffirmed us as a people, honored our origins, and lit the way for the young.

There were an abundance of cover songs in 2021. Through them, we sought reflection, revelation, and renewal. Here’s a playlist of our mutual journey.

COVER SONGS 2021
by Tym Stevens This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.


List = Original By / Cover Artist
Songs are sequenced in the chronological order of the Originals.


• 1920s-'50s Covers •
Traditional Hymn / Rhiannon Giddens + Francesco Turrisi • Fats Waller / Archie Shepp • Cole Porter / Tony Bennett • Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal / Cat Power • Woody Guthrie / The Secret Sisters • Tampa Red / Ghalia Volt • Big Joe Williams / The Black Keys • Woody Guthrie / Liz Vice • Lil’ Son Jackson / Alabama Slim • Howlin’ Wolf / Tony Holiday + Watermelon Slim.

• '60s Covers •
Bob Dylan / Cha Wa + Alvin Youngblood Hart • The Chantays / The C33s • Henry Mancini / Messer Chups • Lou Rawls/Sam Cooke / Lady Blackbird • The Pleasure Seekers / Greg Townson • Jimmy Reed / Ronnie Wood + Mick Taylor • Bob Dylan / Carolyn Wonderland • The Beatles / Scary Pockets • The Mamas And The Papas / Omar Apollo • James Brown / Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit • Ray Charles / PM Warson • Nina Simone / Ledisi • Liz Brady / Olivia Jean • Female Species / La Luz • Velvet Underground / Iggy Pop • The Beach Boys / Brian Wilson • Buffalo Springfield / Dylan LeBlanc • The Monkees / Micky Dolenz • The Monkees / The Queers • Albert King / Harlis Sweetwater • The Delfonics / Paul Stanley's Soul Station • Glen Campbell / Black Pumas • Aretha Franklin / Jennifer Hudson • Eddie Floyd / Matt Berninger • “Sesame Street” theme/Joe Raposo / Reid Jamieson • Minnie Riperton / Bacao Rhythm And Steel Band • Joni Mitchell / Chelsea Wolfe • Bob Dylan / Bob Corritore • Bob Dylan / Eli "Paperboy" Reed • The Rolling Stones / Brad Marino • The Beatles / Violet Orlandi • David Bowie / We Are KING.

Rhiannon Giddens; Black Pumas;
The Coathangers; Angel Olsen

• '70s Covers •
Neil Young / Kandle • Paul and Linda McCartney / Fernando Perdomo • Badfinger / Susanna Hoffs + Aimee Mann • Led Zeppelin / Dylan LeBlanc • T-Rex / The Kills • Hound Dog Taylor / GA-20 • Stevie Wonder / Patti Smith • War / Los Lobos • The Rolling Stones / The Band Of Heathens • Sly And The Family Stone / Dumpstaphunk • Gordon Lightfoot / Le Ren + Buck Meek • Gordon Lightfoot / Darling West • William DeVaughn / Orgone • Billy Preston / A.J. Croce • Hall And Oates / Lydia Hol • Stevie Wonder / Jon Batiste • The Runaways / Wanda Jackson • Elvis Costello And The Attractions / Juanes • Iggy Pop / The Lovely Eggs • The Jam / Las Lenguas Muertas • Kleenex / Habibi • The Cars / K-OS • Donna Summer / Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs • Wings / Scary Pockets.

• '80s Covers •
John Lennon / Marilyn McCoo And Billy Davis Jr • Blondie / The Coathangers • Gang Of Four / Gail Ann Dorsey • David Bowie / Boise Cover Band • X / Violet Grohl • X / Jesse Dayton • Yoko Ono / Japanese Breakfast • The Cyre / Marc Collin • Zapp / The Heritage Orchestra • Laura Branigan / Angel Olsen • Grace Jones / Bacao Rhythm And Steel Band • Men Without Hats / Angel Olsen • Roxy Music / Peter Frampton Band • Roxy Music / Angel Olsen • Bruce Springsteen / King Hannah • Bob Dylan / Chrissie Hynde • Bruce Springsteen / Shakey Graves • The Cars / Bleachers • R.E.M. / Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit • Peter Gabriel / Lowland Hum • Pixies / A.A. Williams, and Tkay Maidza.

• '90s Covers •
The Gories / The Shivas • Nirvana / The Dollyrots • Bikini Kill / Mike Watt • R.E.M. / Lauren O'Connell • The Breeders / Tune-Yards • Soundgarden / Brandi Carlile • Bjork / Julia Jacklin • Guided By Voices / Lauren O'Connell • Radiohead / Julian Lennon + Nuno Bettencourt • Bob Dylan / Mike Edison • Bob Dylan / Dave Gahan • Lucinda WIlliams / Robert Plant + Allison Krauss.

• '00s, '10s, and '20s Covers •
Queens Of The Stone Age / The Vaccines • Tame Impala / The Wiggles • Fiona Apple / The Secret Sisters • Paul McCartney / Phoebe Bridgers • Paul McCartney / Josh Homme.

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Quality is timeless.

The Beatles,
with Billy Preston


BEST REISSUES 2021
by Tym Stevens This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.

This music player has songs from the following albums, in the same order.

• 1950s •

• Various Artists, "Rip It Up: The Best Of Specialty Records" (1952-’59)
The L.A. label scorched the party with crucial artists like Lloyd Price, Little Richard, The Soul Stirrers with Sam Cooke, Larry Williams, and Percy Mayfield (and Don And Dewey, not included here).

• Don Covay, "Hey There" (late-'50s)
Don is loved for his mid-'60s Atlantic Soul sides, but here's a fine sampling of his early Rocker platters.

• Nina Simone, "Nina Simone And Her Friends" (1959)
In the dawn of her career, Nina alternates songs with her colleages Chris Connor and Carmen McCrae.

Little Richard; Nina Simone;
Dick Dale; The Temptations

• 1960s •

• The Drifters, "We Gotta Sing! The Soul Years 1962-’71"
Beyond their first wave of classic hits, The Drifters did many more stellar sides across the changing decade.

• Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, "Wild Ideas" (1963)
A collection of Dick's roaring Surf tunes from his prime era.

• Enrique Torres + Les Baxter, "Joyas Musicales del Peru" (1964)
Upbeat Peruvian romance melodies with lush 'Exotica' arrangements.

• The Temptations, "Emperors Of Soul: The Rarities"
The Motown vaults yeild more treasures with these rare B-sides and alternate takes.


• Laura Nyro, "Go Find The Moon: The Audition Tape" (1966)
In 20 minutes she nailed it: it was all already there, the songcraft, the voice, the lyrical ambition.

• Female Species, "Tale Of My Lost Love" (1966 +)
An unsung all-female Rock band gets a proper voerview, from their early Beat pop to their later country rock.

• The Who, "Sell Out" (Super Deluxe)
Theis edition unleashes all the goodies, expanding the 'radio jingle' concept album into a cornicopia of wondrous tunes and radio parodies.

• The Luv'd Ones, "Truth Gotta Stand" (1965-'67)
Char Vinnedge led the all-female band from Beatlesque pop to storming Jimi distortion. This collection of all their work is a must have.

Female Species; The Luv'd Ones;
Sly And The Family Stone; Joni Mitchell

• Johnny Cash, "Live At The Carousel Ballroom, April 24 1968"
Johnny and June setting the seeds of Outlaw Country to come, with their protest anthems, Dylan covers, and family mass.

• Various Artists, "It’s A Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul of Fania Records“ (mid-'60s +)
Soul is Soul, and this box set showcases how artists like Ray Barreto, Willie Colón, Joe Bataan, and Monguito Santamaria spread the sunshine, the vibes, and the parameters.

• Various Artists, "Summer of Soul" (rec. 1969)
The Harlem Cultural Festival, now immortalized with Questlove's "Summer Of Soul" documentary, was graced by The Chambers Brothers, The Staple Singers, Ray Baretto, Nina Simone, and the mighty mighty Sly And The Family Stone.


• Joni Mitchell, "Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971)"
The queen of poetic introspection, quicksilver guitar, and elastic genres began her quest with these first four remastered albums, abetted by a 1970 concert.

• The Beatles, "Let It Be" (rec. 1969)
Forget the negative myths.
All of rock history's narratives about these sessions are wrong, and this deluxe box set, a comprehensive companion book, and Peter jackson's acclaimed 6-hour documentary "Get Back" have now set all the records straight.

Aretha Franklin

• 1970s •

• The Beach Boys, "Feel Flows: The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971"
When he got as ambitious as The Beatles in 1967 (the shelved "Smile" album), The Beach Boys initially fought Brian Wilson, damaging his spirit and esteem. Ironically, they proved him right by embracing looser experiments, cosmic consciousness, and continuous remakes of that material.

• Neil Young, "Carnegie Hall 1970"
An intimate solo acoustic show away from CSNY and Crazy Horse.

• Roberta Flack, "First Take" (1970)
The best Soul Jazz vocalist staked her claim with this classic album.

• Aretha Franklin, "ARETHA" (1956-2015)
The first box set to encompass Aretha's entire career, from the early Gospel sessions to her triumphant performace at the White House.


• Erma Franklin, "Brunswick Essentials" (1970)
Unfairly overshadowed by her sister Aretha, Erma had many fine Rock'n'Soul sides of her own.

• John Lennon, "Plastic Ono Band" (1970)
John's cathartic break from The Beatles is still one of Rock's bravest recordings, both a raw folk confessional and a grungey punk bruiser.

• George Harrison, "All Things Must Pass" (1971)
One of the best double-albums ever made, remastered with a healthy addition of unreleased demos.

• Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir, "I Shall Wear A Crown" (1971-'78)
'70s Gospel was especially soulful and funky, and here's a fine example of that.

Neil Young; Roberta Flack;
Eddie Hazel; Elvis Costello

• The Doors, "L.A. Woman" (1971)
The Door's final album as a quartet, with copious alternate takes and song sketches.

• O.V. Wright, "A Nickel And A Nail" (1971)
Besides Al Green, Hi Records had grand artists like the funky sass of Ann Peebles and the bluesy soul of O.V. Wright.

• Brainticket, "1971 Recording Session"
The multiculti Prog band, a more devious balance to Hawkwind, deserve all the limelight they can get.

• Black Sabbath, "Vol. 4"
The current remastering campaign of their catalog includes an excellent remastering of this classic album, both beautiful and brutish.


• Tony Joe White, "Smoke From The Chimney"
A trove of unreleased demos from the master of Swamp Pop.

• Muddy Waters, "The Montreux Years" (1972, '74, '77)
Muddy experienced a career renaissance after his counterculture festivals dates that carried him through the decade.

• Can, "Live In Stuttgart 1975”
Losing their singer, the motorik band returned to their intense and entrancing freeform improvs.

• Experience Unlimited, "Free Yourself” (1977)
Before E.U. became a major '80s GoGo Funk band, they debuted here as a righteous Funk prog force with Fusion chops and Rock fury.


• Eddie Hazel, "Games, Dames, And Guitar Thangs" (1977)
The Jimi Hendrix of Funkadelic, in his only solo album, nailed it with funtastic originals, and legendary covers of The Beatles' "I Want You" and The Mamas And The Papas' "California Dreamin'".

• Elvis Costello And The Attractions, "Armed Forces" (1979)
The Angry Young Punk was among the most literate, as the scathing anti-Fascist commentary, slippery chord changes, and shrewd puns in this super deluxe box set proves.

The Delmonas

• 1980s •

• Various Artists, "Shake The Foundations: Militant Funk And The Post-Punk Dancefloor 1978-1984"
Concurrent with Mutant Disco in the US, the UK deconstructed dance music into an art soundscape that anticipated TechnoFunk and Industrial.

• Bush Tetras, "Rhythm And Paranoia: The Best Of" (early-'80s)
As part of that NYC scene, this PunkFunk combo married snotty swagger with bounding grooves, influencing everone from Romeo Void to Sonic Youth.

• Bob Dylan, "Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985" (1980)
Bob's most maligned period gets another chance, with stripped down alternate takes.

• The Delmonas, "Hello, We Love You! The Big Beat EPs" (late-'80s)
The female Garage band's work, before they morphed into Thee Headcoatees.

• Joe Strummer, "Assembly" (1986-'02)
A synopsis of the Clash leader's solo career, as compiled for Dhani Harrison's relaunched Dark Horse label.

• 1990s •

• Nirvana, "Nevermind" (1991)
This 30th anniversary bonanza includes four live concert recordings, charting the band's evolution from indie outsiders to world conquerors across four months.

• L7, "Wargasm: The Slash Years 1992-1997"
One of the greatest and most crucial grunge bands (then and now) gets their propers with this incendiary audit.

• David Bowie, "Brilliant Adventures (1992-2001)"
This box set documents David's restless style changes -often analogous to his late-'70s breakthroughs- with dance, art-rock, and ambient.

• Buena Vista Social Club, "Buena Vista Social Club" (1997)
When Ry Cooder recorded the veterans of the isolated Cuban music scene as an inpromptu group, they became a sensation triumphing on world tours.

• Supergrass, "In It For The Money" (1997)
What do you do when you make your "Abbey Road" on your second album and everybody slept on it? Supergrass kept advancing, while you rubes can just catch up now.

Sharon Jones; Goat

• 2010s •

• Prince, "Welcome 2 America" (rec. 2010)
Prince's unreleased 2010 album sees official release.

• Various Artists, "The Daptone Super Soul Revue Live at the Apollo" (rec. 2014)
Sharon Jones brought her label mates to the legendary Apollo for a classic-style revue. How lucky that audience was to experience Sharon and The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley, Antibalas, Menahan Street Band, and The Budos Band, along with worthy stalwarts like Saun + Starr, Naomie Shelton, and The Como Mamas.

• Goat, "Headsoup" (2012-'18)
The mysterious collective radiates somewhere between AfroBeat and Psyche Prog. This collection of rarities provides an alternate map.
(The title is a pun on The Rolling Stones' "Goats Head Soup" album.)





© Tym Stevens

---

"A splendid time is guaranteed for all!"

---

See also:


· BEST MOVIES + TV: 2023
• BEST MUSIC: 2023
• BEST COMICS: 2023

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2022
• BEST MUSIC: 2022
• BEST COMICS: 2022

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2021
• BEST COMICS: 2021

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2020
• BEST MUSIC: 2020
• BEST COMICS: 2020

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2019
• BEST MUSIC: 2019
• BEST COMICS: 2019

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2018
• BEST MUSIC: 2018
• BEST COMICS: 2018

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2017
• BEST MUSIC: 2017
• BEST COMICS: 2017

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2016
• BEST MUSIC: 2016
• BEST COMICS: 2016

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2015
• BEST MUSIC: 2015
• BEST COMICS: 2015

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2014
• BEST MUSIC: 2014
• BEST COMICS: 2014

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2013
• BEST MUSIC: 2013
• BEST COMICS: 2013

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2012
• BEST MUSIC: 2012
• BEST COMICS: 2012

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2011
• BEST MUSIC: 2011
• BEST COMICS: 2011

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2000-2010
• BEST MUSIC: 2000-2010
• BEST COMICS: 2000-2010


_______________

• How STAR WARS Is Changing Everything!

• 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY - Its Transcendent Influence on all Pop Culture, with Music Player!

• How SPAGHETTI WESTERNS Revolutionized Rock Music!, with 3 Music Players!

• TWIN PEAKS: Its Influence on 30 Years of Film, TV, and Music!, with 5 Music Players!


• The Real History of ROCK AND SOUL!: The Music Player Checklist


_______________

• THE CANON 1: 50 Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player

• THE CANON 2: 50 More Books That Created Modern Pop Culture, with Music Player

• THE CANON 3: 50 Recent Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player


_______________

• THE CANON 1: 50 Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player

• THE CANON 2: 50 More Books That Created Modern Pop Culture, with Music Player

• THE CANON 3: 50 Recent Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player

---

---

E C H O L A N D S

---

Shortcut links:

• Best Comics

• ★ All-Ages Comics!
★ Young Readers
★ Middle School

• Best Graphic Novels
• Best Collections + Reissues
• Where We Come From, Dept.
• Best Magazines
• Best Movies + TV
• Best Webcomics

• Rest In Power

---

---

B E S T
C O M I C S :
2 0 2 1

---

I M A G E

• Echolands,
by J.H. Williams and Haden Blackman _______ ⇧
Legendary from their definitive run of Batwoman, Williams and Haden have returned from exile on their own terms with their own creator-owned material.
Have your mind blown and quality standards raised with this dystopian future, in which mash-ups of all genres (and art styles) run wildly fluid.
▶ Batwoman

• The Department Of Truth,
by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds _______ ⇩
When all conspiracy stores turn out to be true, who and what can you trust?

• Monstress,
by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda _______ ⇩
Bestselling author Marjorie Liu and spectacular artist Sana Takeda take time and care to steadily unwind this epic gothic fantasy.

• Ascender,
by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen_______
The sequel to the acclaimed Descender series, about a young root struggling with survival and identity, now concludes after 18 issues.

• Gideon Falls,
by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino _______
After 27 issues, the series about the small town with dark secrets> reaches its finale.

• Compass,
by Robert Mackenzie and Dave Walker, and Justin Greenwood _______ ⇧
A 14th century Iranian adventurer kicks knowledge and ass in her journeys around the globe.

• Hey Kids! Comics!, Vol. 2,
by Howard Chaykin _______ ⇧
More trademark black comedy from Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, Black Kiss) in his tell-all/kiss-off/love-letter to the medium he still begrudgingly loves, this time with a 6-issue series hailing young creators.

---

M A R V E L

• Daredevil,
by Chip Zdarsky (w), with Marco Checchetto, Mike Hawthorne, and Adriano Di Benedetto (a) _______ ⇧
For three years, artist Chip Zdarksy (Sex Criminals) has been dazzling with his writing chops, bringing a new golden era to Hell's Kitchen.

• Black Widow,
by Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande, and Rafael de Latorre _______ ⇧
One of the best modern writers going, Kelly Thompson redefined Captain Marvel and Hawkeye (into the versions which we now see onscreen) and now does a fresh take on Natasha Romanoff.

• Demon Days: Mariko
and Demon Days: Cursed Web,
by Peach Momoko, Zack Davisson, and Ariana Maher _______
Writer/artist Peach Momoko recasts Marvel history as Fantasy fairy tales.

• Beta Ray Bill,
by Daniel Warren Johnson _______
A 5-issue mini-series starring Thor's alien successor.


_______________
S T A R
W A R S

Marvel is doing a splendid job making movies between the movies.


• STAR WARS, Vol. II
by Charles Soule and Ramon Rosanas _______ ⇧
For 75 issues, Volume I of this series did excellent arcs filling in the mysteries between A NEW HOPE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.
Now it has relaunched from #1, unveiling dream movies between THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI.

• DARTH VADER, Vol. II
by Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco _______
In complete parallel with these new stories of the rebels is a relaunch telling the Dark Lord's side of the same events, and how they overlap.

• STAR WARS: Doctor Aphra, Vol. II
by Alyssa Wong, Minkyu Jung, and Victor Olazaba _______ ⇧
The misadventures of everyone's favorite anti-Indiana Jones continue during the period between A NEW HOPE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

---

D C

Forget the corporation, support the creators.>

• Far Sector,
by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell _______
Bestselling afrofuturist author N.K. Jemisin and artist Jamal Campbell (Naomi, The Incredible Hadia Green webcomic>) spread their 12-issue Green Lantern arc across 20 months, and it was worth all the wait.

• The Other History Of The DC Universe,
by John Ridley, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Andrea Cucchi _______
Acclaimed writer/director John Ridley (12 YEARS A SLAVE, 'American Crime' show) witnesses the DC history from the point-of-view of once marginalized characters.

• Nubia And The Amazons,
by Stephanie Williams, Vita Ayala, and Alitha Martinez _______
Wonder Woman's sister takes the arena and the spotlight.

• Justice League,
by Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez _______
Bendis almost single-handedly saved and revitalized Marvel in the the 2000s.
His mature and cinematic comics have precisely blueprinted the TV series interpretations, from 'Daredevil' and 'Jessica Jones' to 'Echo' and 'Moon Knight', and he co-invented Miles Morales along the way.
Now he's working to do the same for DC, from Superman to the premiere team.
(Already, his DC character Naomi will now helm a live-action TV series.)


• Batman: The Imposter,
by Mattson Tomlin and Andrea Sorrentino _______
A moody and intense 3 issue mini-series by the screenwriter of THE BATMAN (2022).

• Catwoman: Lonely City,
by Cliff Chiang _______
Artist Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman, Paper Girls) essentially rethinks THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) through a scenario told from Selina Kyle's outlook.

• Future State:
Kara Zor-El: Superwoman,
by Marguerite Bennett and Marguerite Sauvage _______
During the Future State event series, this 2 issue special -with art by the always excellent Marguerite Sauvage- lets Kara soar.

• Swamp Thing,
by Ram V and Mike Perkins _______
A new host for the elemental force, taking on the storied past and a new future with fresh perspective. (10 issues)

---

M I L E S T O N E

• Icon And Rocket: Season 1,
by Reginald Hudlin and Doug Braithwaite _______
Filmmaker Reginald Hudlin reinvigorates the '90s Milestone counterpart to Superman.

---

D A R K
H O R S E

• Barbalien - Red Planet,
by Tate Brombal and Jeff Lemire (w), and Gabriel Hernandez Walta (a) _______
A spin-off from Jeff Lemire's superheroes series Black Hammer about a very different riposte to the Martian Manhunter.

• Black Hammer Reborn,
by Jeff Lamire, Caitlin Yarsky, and Ande Parks _______ ⇧
A new sequel series, set twenty years into a changed future.

• Black Hammer: Visions,
by various creators _______
Black Hammer, akin to similar series Kingdom Come and Astro City, has been an alternate universe deconstruction of superheroes. Fittingly, it gets deconstructed itself here in retold takes by guest-star creators Patton Oswalt, Geoff Johns, Chip Zdarksy, Mariko Tamaki, Kelly Thompson, Cecil Castellucci, and Scott Snyder.

• Colonel Weird Cosmagog,
by Jeff Lemire and Tyler Crook _______ ⇧
Perhaps the hardest working writer in the comics biz (or at least busiest), Lemire goes full-on Psyche-Fi in another Black Hammer spin-off about the origins of his cosmic adventurer.

• Finder: Chase The Lady,
by Carla Speed McNeil _______
McNeil continues to expand from her indie confessional roots with her full-tilt CyberFantasy graphic novel.

Karen Berger
----- Berger Books -----
In a just universe, Karen Berger would be the one running DC Comics instead of the Corps. She helmed the original Vertigo Comics, the standard which all current Indie companies are imitating, and now she has her own imprint of creator-owned titles.

• Post York,
by James Romberger _______
A standalone graphic novel following the daily routines of a cat owner navigating NYC after the polar ice caps have melted.

• Everything Vol. 2,
by Christopher Cantwell and I.N.J. Culbard _______
The show creator of ‘Halt And Catch Fire’ charts a small town megastore's dramas as a metaphor for American consumerism.

• She Could Fly Vol. 3,
by Christopher Cantwell and Martin Morazzo _______ ⇧
Also by Cantwell, this direct-to-graphic-novel volume finds our soaring hero getting her balance and her direction.

---

I D W

• Star Trek: Year Five,
by Jackson Lanzing and Stephen Thompson _______ ⇧
IDW's take on what a Fifth season of the Original Series might have been like comes to conclusion.
➤ see also: Star Trek Continues

• Star Trek: Mirror War,
by David Tipton, Scott Tipton, and Gavin Smith _______
'Star Trek: The Next Generation' didn't get to do any Mirror Universe episodes, and this mini-series fixes that. (3 issues. There's also a single issue spin-off about mirror Data.)

---

B O O M

• The Many Deaths Of Laila Star,
by Ram V and Filipe Andrade _______ ⇧
Death is sentenced to live a life as a young woman in Mumbai. (5 issues)

• Proctor Valley Road,
by Grant Morrison and Alex Child (w), and Naomi Franquiz (a) _______
A horror series from star writer Grant Morrison, where four '70s teen girls careen through a haunted backwoods byway. (5 issues)

• Firefly,
by Grek Pak, Lalit Kumar Sharma, and Daniel Bayliss _______ ⇧
The continuing all-new adventures of the beloved SciFi TV series.

• Abbott 1973,
by Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivela _______
A journalist with a secret investigates the eldritch forces surrrounding a crucial election.

---

V A U L T

• I Walk With Monsters,
by Paul Cornell and Sally Cantirino _______
A couple stalks monsters like monsters, but the past comes for them. (6 issues)

---

A H O Y

• Second Coming: Only Begotten Son,
by Mark Russell, Richard Pace, and Leonard Kirk _______ ⇩
Comics' most fierce satirist Mark Russell (Prez, Billionaire Island) returns with the series Vertigo was too afraid to print; what if an ersatz Superman was roomates with a resurrected Jesus? (6 issues)

• My Bad Mark,
by James Russell and Bryce Ingman _______
A superhero spoof in the style of the Silver Age.

---

B L A C K
M A S K

• Alice In Leatherland,
by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli _______ ⇧
Two women explore sensuality, personal growth, and creative flow in San Francisco. (6 issues)

• Everfrost,
by Ryan Lindsay and Sami Kivela Van _______
Epic AfroFantasy in the DUNE style. (4 issues).

• Godkiller: Tomorrow’s Ashes,
by Matteo Pizzolo and Anna Wieszczyk _______
The third volume in the sexy genrepunked series. (3 issues)

---

D Y N A M I T E

• Barbarella,
by Sarah Hoyt and Madibek Musabekov _______
New adventures of the galaxy's foremost sex-positive> adventurer.

• VAMPIRELLA #3, Facsimile Edition,
by many, including Billy Graham, Forrest J. Ackerman, Nicola Cuti, and Tom Sutton _______
An exact reproduction of the January 1970 magazine issue, ads and all.

• VAMPIRELLA #30, Facsimile Edition
by many, including Steve Skeates, Bill DuBray, Richard Corben, and the amazing Jose González _______ ⇧
An exact reproduction of the January 1974 magazine issue, ads and all.

---

M E G A S C O P E

• After The Rain,
by John Jennings and David Brame _______
An adaptation of Nnedi Okorafor's short story "On The Road", an AfroFantasy tale of magical realism and identity.

---

---

★
A L L - A G E S
C O M I C S :
2 0 2 1

"Hey, Kids! Comics!"
From the '30s to the '80s, comics unified all of the kids in the world.

Comics spinner racks were omnipresent in every grocery, newstand, and drugstore, a world of dreams in color for small change. But after 50 years, this changed.

As the fans grew older, comics grew more mature (and gradually more expensive). In the early-'80s, comics disappeared from common spaces to be sold only in individual comic stores. This was the best and worst thing that could have happened: the select stores became a lab for the medium to grow up with adult fans, but this Comics Renaissance left all the kids behind with no entry point. Now that three decades have passed, the young have moved on to games and streaming, seeing superheroes nowadays only in films that are meant for those longtime adult readers.

Roy Thomas once said, "The Golden Age of Comics is 8."

Comics should still be a fun spark for kids. Now, with the spectacular success of Raina Telgemeier's books, various publishers are finally figuring this out. A wide movement to provide more all-ages comics has risen. From single comics to trade paperbacks, there are many new entry points for young readers to join in and open up their imaginations.

★ C O M I C S ★

I D W

IDW prints Star Wars adventures geared especially for young readers.

• Star Wars Adventures,
by various creators _______ ⇧
Short, fun tales about characters from every era of the films and TV shows.

• Star Wars: Beware Vader’s Castle,
by Cavan Scott with multiple artists _______
This graphic novel reprints all of the previous story arcs about Darth's secret castle on Mustofar.


D A R K
H O R S E
• Stranger Things: The Tomb Of Ybwen,
by Grek Pak and Diego Galindo _______ ⇧
Naturally, the '80s gang gets their own Indiana Jones/GOONIES-style adventure (3 issues).

★ G R A P H I C
N O V E L S : ★

★ ★ ★ Young Readers ★ ★ ★

R A N D O M
H O U S E

The publishing giant partnered with DC Comics for the Step Into Reading series, with entry level books for new readers. (4-6)

• Wonder Woman: Universal Kindness
by Tennant Redbank and Pernille Orum _______ ⇧
• Batman: Book Crooks,
by J J Marlee and Francesco Legramandi _______
• DC Superhero Halloween!,
by Rachel Chlebowski and Red Central Ltd. _______


• Raya And The Last Dragon:
The Graphic Novel,
by Alessandro Ferrari, with Schmidt, Florean, Parisis, and Di Lorenzo (Scholastic/Graphix) _______ ⇧
A comics adaption of the acclaimed 2021 animated film.

They also publish Screen Comix, books which combine film stills with word balloons to make comic adaptations of entire films. (8-12)

• Star Wars: The Mandalorian #1
_______ ⇧
The first four episodes of Season 1, featuring 'Baby Yoda'.


A B R A M S /
A P P L E S E E D

• Our Little Kitchen,
art by Jillian Tamaki _______ ⇧
How preparing a group feast pulls a neighborhood together.


Abrams also publishes entry level books about Marvel Comics heroes for starting readers.

• Incredible Hulk:
My Mighty Marvel First Book,
art by Sal Buscema _______

• Iron Man:
My Mighty Marvel First Book,
by art by John Romita Jr and Bob Layton _______ ⇧


S T O N E
A R C H
B O O K S

Stone Arch is partnering with DC Comics to create young reader books based on the Bruce Timm-era cartoon shows.
(They also do the "BATMAN and Scooby-Doo" mystery books and the "DC Superhero Fairy Tales" books.)

• DC Super Hero Adventures:
BATGIRL and the Queen of Green,
by Laurie S. Sutton and Leonel Castellani _______ ⇧

• DC Super Hero Adventures:
BATMAN and the Morphing Movie Star,
by Michael Steele and Gregg Schigiel _______ ⇧

• DC Super Hero Adventures:
SUPERMAN and the Big Bounty,
by Michael Steele and Leonel Castellani _______

• DC Super Hero Adventures:
SUPERGIRL and the Man of Metal,
by Laurie S. Sutton and Gregg Schigiel _______


D R A W N
A N D
Q U A R T E R L Y

• Little Lulu Vol. 3,
by John Stanley _______
Reprints of the timeless series.


N O B R O W
P R E S S

• HILDA:
The Wilderness Stories, Vol. 1,
by Luke Pearson ____ ⇧
In synch with the hit Netflix cartoon adaption, a reprint of the first two HILDA books, "Hilda and the Troll!" and "Hilda and the Midnight Giant!", in one volume.


• HICOTEA:
A Nightlights Story,
by Lorena Alvarez _______ ⇧
(Middle School)
The sequel to Nightlights, described as "Raina Telgemeier meets Miyazaki with a Latin American twist". Win win win.


Other
Publishers:

• Super Sleepy Bedtime Stories,
by Ursula Burton and Jeff Shultz
(Binge Books) _______ ⇧
Done in the classic Harvey Comics style, Super Sleepy lullibies kids to dreamland with her tales.

• Where Are You, Leopold,
by Michel-Yves Schmitt and Vincent Caut
(Humanoids) _______
When Leo learns he can turn invisible, his friends' world goes inside-out.

• Young Leonardo,
by William Augel and Benjamin Croze
(Humanoids) _______
A funny 'history' of Leonardo Da Vinci as a kid.

• Barb The Last Berzerker,
by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson
(Simon And Schuster) _______ ⇧
Sword And Sorcery-style comedy for kids. Who says Conan and Red Sonja should have all the fun?


B O O M !
S T U D I O S

• PEANUTS,
by Charles Schulz _______ ⇧
Collections of classic "Peanuts" comics strips, grouped by character: Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, and Lucy.

★ ★ ★ Middle School ★ ★ ★

S C H O L A S T I C

• The Girl From The Sea,
by Molly Ostertag _______ ⇧
The celebrated author/artist (the "Witch Boy" trilogy) brings us an island teen and the mermaid she falls for.

Scholastic has partnered with Marvel Comics to create Young Adult entry books for some of their young modern heroes.

• Miles Morales: Shock Waves,
by Justin A. Reynolds and Pablo Leon and Geoffo _______ ⇧
The star of the universally-loved SPIDER-VERSE (2018) animated movie solves a geopolitical mystery.

• Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin,
by Nadia Shammas And Nabi H Ali _______ ⇧
Soon to have her own live-action show, everyone's favorite stretchy teen braves New Jersey and High School.

• Shuri: The Vanished,
by Nic Stone _______ ⇧
Black Panther's sister brings the brains and the bravery.


D A R K
H O R S E

• Gert And The Sacred Stones,
by Marco Rocchi and Francesca Carita _______ ⇧
A Fantasy tale where a teen girl becomes a brave adventurer and a deeper person.


S P A R K N O T E S

The “No Fear Shakespeare” series matches the Bard’s words to comics panels (ages 12-15).

➤ SparkNotes site


O N I
P R E S S

• Dragon Racer,
by Joey Weiser _______
In this sequel to the book Ghost Hog, animal race car drivers team together to compete with a dragon for the finish line.

• Pax Sampson: The Cookout,
by Rashad Doucet and Jason Reeves _______ ⇧
His family on a Fantasy planet are all superheroes, but Pax just wants to become an excellent chef.

• Star Beasts,
by Stephanie Young and Allyson Lassiter _______
A funny animal parallel to GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, where a puppy joins a motley space crew to save the planet.

• Cheer Up: Love And Pompoms,
by Crystal Frasier and Val Wise _______ ⇧
A lesbian teen and a trans girl brave High School with their friendship in this upbeat tale.


F I R S T
S E C O N D

• Adventure Zone, Vol. 4
by Clint McElroy and Carey Pietsch _______
The bestselling series continues as our Relic rescuers search for a magic stone that causes calamity.

• Astronaut Academy, Vol. 3: Splashdown!
by Dave Roman _______
Summer vacation finds the space schoolers on Beach Planet.

• Jukebox,
by Nidhi Chanani _______ ⇧
Chanani ("Pashmina") crafts a time-traveling journey through music history when two girls find a magic jukebox.

• Lucy In The Sky,
by Kiara Brinkman and Sean Chiki _______ ⇧
Inspired by classic Beatles albums, Lucy forms her own band.

➤ BEATLESQUE Songs: 1967-esque, with Massive Music Player!

• No One Returns From The Forest,
by Robin Robinson _______
Two unlike goblin sisters learn to meet each other in the middle during a rescue quest.

• SCIENCE COMICS:
Rocks And Minerals: Geology From Caverns To The Cosmos,
by Andy Hirsch _______
The ongoing Science Comics cover different subjects with wit and exploits.


LITTLE
B R O W N
and C o .

• GOLDIE VANCE:
The Hocus-Pocus Hoax,
by Lilliam Rivera and Elle Power _______ ⇩
The High School sleuth scouts through her second mystery.

• HARRIET TUBMAN:
Toward Freedom,
by Whit Taylor and Kazimir Lee _______ ⇩
The true story of how Harriett escaped slavery, and then formed the Underground Railroad system to liberate others.



Resources:
• Comic Shop Locator
• BookShop.org

• Kidscomics.com
• School Library Journal: Good Comics For Kids
• 50 Best Comics + Graphic Novels For Kids
• The Big Blog Of Kids' Comics!
• European Comics For Children
• 13 Great Webcomics For Kids and Teens

---

---

B E S T
G R A P H I C
N O V E L S :
2 0 2 1

• RUN, Vol. 1
by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin (w), and Nate Powell and L Fury (a)
(Abrams ComicArts) _______ ⇧
Following the globally acclaimed MARCH trilogy, this sequel (written before Lewis' death) continues the true story of the Civil Rights activist who became a Congressman.



• WAKE:
The Hidden History Of Women-Led Slave Revolts,
by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez
(Particular) _______ ⇩
Hall corrects history, with new research detailing the many revolts against slavery led by women.

• BETTER ANGELS,
by Jeff Jensen and George Schall
(Boom) _______ ⇩
The true story of the first female detective, who foiled the first attempt on President Lincoln's life.

• ACROSS THE TRACKS:
Remembering Greenwood, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre,
by Alverne Ball and Stacey Robinson
(Abrams ComicArts) _______ ⇧
When the African-Americans in a 1921 Oklahoma town began to prosper, the forces of bigotry wiped them out. An expose of the infamous true event.

• THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY:
A Graphic Novel History,
by David Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson
(Ten Speed Press) _______ ⇧
An overview through the '60s and '70s of the legendary activist group.

• MUHAMMAD ALI,
Kinshasa 1974,
by Jean-Davide Morvan, Abbas, and Rafael Ortiz
(Titan Comics) _______
The Ali-Frazier fight brought the focus of the world to the African nation of Zaire.


• ORWELL,
by Pierre Christin and Sebastien Verdier
(SelfMadeHero) _______
A biography of the fascinating life of iconclast author George Orwell.
➤ SelfMadeHero.com

• 1984:
The Graphic Novel,
by George Orwell and Fido Nesti
(Mariner Books) _______ ⇩
An adapatation of Orwell's timeless book, the most important dystopian warning and anti-Fascist allegory ever written.

• INCREDIBLE NELLIE BLY,
by Luciana Cimino and Sergio Algozzino
(Abrams ComicArts) _______ ⇧
The true story of the pioneering feminist activist and investigator.

• FOR JUSTICE:
The Serge And Beate Klarsfeld Story,
by Pascal Bresson and Sylvain Dorange
(Humanoids) _______
The French couple who have hunted down Nazis across five decades.

• ON TYRANNY:
20 Lessons From The Twentieth Century,
by Timothy Snyder and Nora King
(Ten Speed Press) _______ ⇧
A New York Times bestseller, this vital book used history to warn us of all present dangers of social oppression.

• BILLIONAIRES:
The Lives Of The Rich And Powerful,
by Darryl Cunningham
(Drawn And Quarterly) _______
A journalistic expose of how Bezos, Murdoch, and the Koch brothers misuse their wealth to corrupt political power.


• FAULT LINES IN THE CONSTITUTION,
by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinson
(First Second/World Citizen Comics) _______ ⇧
The Constitution has flaws that still presently endanger democracy, such as allowing gerrymandering or gaming the Electoral College over the actual popular vote.

• WHAT UNITES US:
The Graphic Novel,
by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner (w), and Tim Foley (a)
(First Second/World Citizen Comics) _______ ⇧
A visual adaptation of journalist Dan Rather's bestselling book of essays on American unity.

• FREE SPEECH HANDBOOK,
by Ian Rosenberg and Michael Cavallaro
(First Second/World Citizen Comics) _______ ⇧
Using ten Supreme Court cases, the authors define what free speech actually means, and how crucial it is to maintain true freedom.

• THE WAITING,
by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim
(Drawn And Quarterly) _______
Gendry-Kim (Grass) dramatizes the schism caused to families by the imposed division of post-War Korea.

• THE SECRET TO SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH,
by Alison Bechdel
(Mariner Books) _______ ⇧
Bechdel (Fun House, Are You My Mother?) resolves her life-long fitness mania with her realizations about true fortitude.

• GIRLSPLAINING:
A (Sorta) memoir ,
by Katja Klengel
(Archaia Studios) _______
Klengel (Kid Gloves, Waves) tackles all the mixed messages and earned wisdoms about sexual identity.

• RED ROCK BABY CANDY,
by Shira Spector
(Fantagraphics) _______ ⇧
Spector recalls a decade of pregnancy attempts and family loss conveyed in cascading emotional styles from ink drawings to vivid painting.

• ARTEMISIA,
by Nathalie Ferlut and Tamia Baudoin
(Beehive Books) _______ ⇧
Women weren't allowed to paint during the Renaissance, or to legally fight back against assailants, but Artemisia Gentileschi did. And won the test of time.

• BRONTE,
by Manuela Santoni
(Graphic Universe) _______
How the three Bronte sisters, using male pseudonyms, upended and integrated literature.

• BUNUEL
In The Labyrinth Of Turtles,
by Fermin Solis
(Selfmadehero) _______
In a creative crisis, Bunuel finds his way intuitively to become the major filmmaker we remember.

• DIEGO RIVERA,
by Francisco de la Mora and Jose Luis Pescador
(SelfMadeHero) _______
SelfMadeHero creates comics biographies of timeless creators, told in their own creative styles and methods.

• The Strange Death Of ALEX RAYMOND,
by Dave Sim and Carson Grubaugh
(Living The Line) _______ ⇧
A metatextual masterwork or mess? Yes, and worth the trip.
Sim (Cerebus) traces the evolution of naturalistic art in comics using many of its greatest artists along the way, while also exploring every richochet rabbit hole and surreal tangent in an almost cubist narrative.

• WOMEN DISCOVERERS:
Top Women In Science,
by Christell Pecout and Marie Moinard
(NBM) _______
Bios of 20 great scientists across all branches who advanced our knowledge.

• TWILIGHT MAN:
Rod Serling and the Birth of Television,
by Koren Shadmi
(Life Drawn) _______ ⇧
Serling was the original Angry Young Man playwright who challenged all the social boundaries of early Television with truth, humanity, and imagination, and bore the scars for it.

• BEATNIK BUENOS AIRES,
by Diego Arandojo and Facundo Percio
(Fantagraphics) _______ ⇧
How the cultural scene exploded open by the legendary Beat authors transformed 1963 Argentina.

• MORRISON HOTEL
by Leah Moore and Danijel Zezelj
(Fantagraphics) _______
Leah Moore (Albion, Sherlock Holmes) and 11 guest artists tell stories about the band The Doors in this mosaic anthology.

• MPLS Sound,
by Joseph Illidge and Hannibal Tabu
(Humanoids) _______
Prince's global success with the "1999" and "Purple Rain" albums opened up the 'Minneapolis Sound' of synthfunk to all, and this fictional band's tale personifies it.

• DJELIYA,
by Juni Ba
(TKO Presents) _______ ⇧
A Fantasy adventure based on West African folklore from a Senagal creator.

• MALIKA, Warrior Queen,
by Roye Okupe and Chima Kalu
(Dark Horse) _______ ⇧
An historical fantasy by an all-Nigerian creative team.

• CYCLOPEDIA EXOTICA,
by Aminder Dhaliwal
(Drawn And Quarterly) _______
Dhaliwal (Woman World) weaves metaphors about 'otherness' in a dominant society, and how it is programmed and exploited.

• LAST BORN,
by Patrick Meaney and Eric Zawadzki
(Black Mask) _______
She crosses all of time, trying to save humanity.

• SUPERSTATE,
by Graham Coxon and Hellen Mullane (w), and Alex Lakanadel (a)
(Z2/Simon And Schuster) _______ ⇧
An anthology of tales about a classist planet-state, and the hopes of those who want to topple it.
Co-writer Graham Coxon (guitarist for Blur) has created a companion soundtrack album for the book.

• GRASS OF PARNASSUS,
by Kathryn Immonen and Stuart Immonen
(Adhouse Books) _______ ⇧
When a space colony starts malfunctioning, a crazed potpourri of characters goes ballistic. Very Metal Hurlant.

• CELESTIA,
by Manuele Fior
(Fantagraphics) _______
Two telepaths from a remote island trek to the mysterious mainland, eking out a future for all.

• MONSTERS,
by Barry Windsor-Smith
(Fantagraphics) _______ ⇧
The lauded illustrator returns with a monstrous confectionary of etching-esque cartooning, somewhere between EC Comics and Sergius Hruby.

• Tono Monogatari,
by Shigeru Mizuki
(Drawn And Quarterly) _______
The Japanese ghost folklore tome interpreted through graphic storytelling.


• BLADE RUNNER: Origins, Vol. 1 and 2,
by K. Perkins, Mellow Brown, and Mike Johnson
(Titan Comics) _______
An origin story for the 'Blade Runners', a task force enlisted to hunt down rogue replicants.

• BUCKAROO BANZAI
Against The World Crime League,
by Earl Mac Rauch
(Dark Horse) _______ ⇧
The end of the cult film BUCKAROO BANZAI Across The Eighth Dimension (1984) promised a sequel. It finally arrives in this prose novel follow-up by the original screenwriter, a Doc Savage-meets-Samurai cyber-pulp adventure.

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B E S T
C O L L E C T I O N S + R E I S S U E S :
2 0 2 1

• EC ARCHIVES:

The remastered Hardcover reprints of EC Comics began winding up, printing the final titles of the line.

Frontline Combat, Vol. 3
Shock Illustrated, Vol. 1
Crime Illustrated
M D
by Multiple Creators
(Dark Horse) _______
EC Comics invented comics for adults in the early-'50s, and were crucified for it.>
After the censorship kicked in, EC bowed out with these final comics titles, retrenching into the smash success of Mad Magazine.
Stories by Feldstein, Crandell, Krigstein, Davis, Orlando, Kamen, Craig, and more.

Note: The ShockSuspenstories cover
is for a progressive anti-KKK story.
Meanwhile, the remastered EC Comics Hardcovers are now being re-released as affordable Softcover editions, starting from the beginning.

The Haunt Of Fear, Vol. 1
Tales From The Crypt, Vol. 1
Shock SuspenStories, Vol. 1
The Vault Of Horror, Vol. 1,
by Multiple Creators
(Dark Horse) _______ ⇧

These early-'50s comics redefined maturity in the medium, launched great writers and artists, electrified readers, and terrified conservatives. Essential.
➤ see also: "The Ten Cent Plague"

• EC Covers Artists Edition, by Various Creators (IDW) _______
IDW tracks down all the original artwork for the covers, and prints it in photographic form at full size.


• FANTASTIC FOUR #1 Panel By Panel,
by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, edited by Chip Kidd (orig. 1961)
(Abrams ComicArts) _______
Noted graphic designer Chip Kidd examines and deconstructs every panel of the first FF adventure.

• Steranko:
NICK FURY, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Artisan Edition,
by Jim Steranko (1967-'68)
(IDW) _______ ⇧
Jim Steranko's legendarily innovative run changed and advanced comics, and still informs the Marvel films and TV shows today.
(This is the previous 'Artist's Edition' reissued in softcover at a moderate price.)

• PRINCE VALIANT, Vol. 23 and 24,
by John Cullen Murphy and Cullen Murphy (1981-'82)
(Fantagraphics) _______
The reprint campaign focuses on Hal Foster's underrated successors, the Murphys.

• The Moorcock Library:
ELRIC The Eternal Champion,
by Michael Moorcock and Phillippe Druillet (1972)
(Titan Comics) _______ ⇧
New Wave Of Science Fiction/Sword And Sorcery meets Metal Hurlant.

• LONE SLOANE: Delirius, Vol. 2,
by Jacques Lob and Benjamin Legrand (w), and Philippe Druillet (a) (1973)
(Titan Comics) _______ ⇧
Druillet co-founded Metal Hurlant magazine with Moebius. Marvel at his grand psychedelic cathedrals.


• Complete Crepax, Vol. 6:
Dangerous Liaisons,
by Guido Crepax (1977-'89)
(Fantagraphics) _______
Crepax's photographer Valentina grows ever more erotic in these cinematic exploits.

• Frank Thorne’s Complete GHITA,
by Frank Thorne (1978)
(Hermes Press) _______
Thorne recast his success with Red Sonja into a more bawdy, less censored surrogate for Warren magazines.

• The Collected TOPPI: Vol. 6, Japan,
by Sergio Toppi
(Magnetic Press) _______ ⇧
One of the best illustrators and graphic designers of the 20th century. A master class in every page, every volume.

• Jodorowsky Library, Vol. 1,
by Alejandro Jodorowsky + (2014-'15)
(Humanoids) _______
Malcontent director Jodorowsky (EL TOPO, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN, SANTA SANGRE) continues spinning out complex DUNE-esque mind-movies of kink, polity, and mayhem on the page.



• MADMAN:
The Madmaniverse,
by Michael Allred (1990 to ’96)
(Dark Horse) _______
An omnibus of Allred's original character, like an indie film rethinking of "Frankenstein" and Silver Age comics.

• ENIGMA:
The Definitive Edition,
by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo (1993)
(Berger Books) _______ ⇧
In the midst of Vertigo Comics' '90s dark surrealism titles, this neglected gem snuck out. A Lynch-ian metaphor for coming out, galvanized by the astounding art of Duncan Fegredo (Hellboy).

• Art Of Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess’ STARDUST,
by Charles Vess
(Titan Comics) _______
A coffee table overview of the Fantasy series by the bestselling author and the celebrated illustrator, from its origins to rarities.

• CINEMA PURGATORIO:
This Is Sinerama,
by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill
(Avatar) _______ ⇧
The peerless creators of The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen series now dissect cinema history and its unepected backstories in a prism of varied styles.

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WHERE WE
COME FROM,
Dept.

• REED CRANDALL:
Illustrator Of The Comics,
by Roger Hill
(TwoMorrows) _______
The EC Comics great, who got his start with Will Eisner and Lou Fine at Quality Comics.

• JACK KIRBY Collector #80:
Old Gods And New,
by Jack Kirby, and various creators
(TwoMorrows) _______ ⇧
'A Companion To Jack Kirby's Fourth World', this double-length trade dedicated to comic's greatest idea machine explores his '70s celestial pantheon in depth.

• MOEBIUS:
In Search Of Time,
by Jean 'Moebius' Giraud
(National Museum Of Archeology, Naples) _______
An Italian exhibition catalog showcasing the visionary artist's illustrations.

• ALAN MOORE:
A Critical Guide,
by Jackson Ayres
(Bloomsbury) _______
An acedemic review of the greatest writer in comics history.


• River Of Ink,
by Etienne Appert and Edmond Baudoin
(Humanoids) _______ ⇩
An overview of the history of illustration told in comics form, from Lascaux to now, examining why we delineate the world and our thoughts.

• Drawing Words And Writing Pictures,
by Jessica Able and Matt Madden
(First Second) _______
A reissue of the 2008 guide on how to create effective comics.


• American Comics:
A History,
by Jeremy Dauber
(W.W. Norton and Co.) _______ ⇩
A Columbia professor concisely and insghtfully tells the entire history, from early comics strips to today's cinema revolution.

• All Of The Marvels:
A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told,
by Douglas Wolk
(Penguin Press) _______ ⇩
He read every Marvel comic in order, every single one, to congeal for you the overarching themes, patterns, and meanings of it all.

• The Comic Book History of Animation,
by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
(IDW) _______
Following their history of Comics told in comics form, the duo frames the winding evolution of Animation on the screen, uh, on the page.

• History Of Science Fiction,
by Xavier Dollo and Djibril Morrisette-Phan
(Humanoids) _______
The big shebang, from early authors to pulps to movements to the screen, and how it has literally recreated our future the whole way.

• STAR WARS Archives:
Episodes IV-VI 1977-1983,
by various
(Taschen) _______
The best art book company in the world compiles a treasure trove of photos, posters, props, and paraphernalia of the original Star Wars trilogy.

• STAR WARS:
Age Of Resistance,
by various
(Titan Comics) _______ ⇧
A chronicle of the making of the Star Wars sequel trilogy films (2015-'19).

(Note: not to be confused with the same-titled 2019 Marvel comics saga, "STAR WARS: Age Of Resistance".)

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MAGAZINES

• ALTER EGO
(TwoMorrows) _______ ⇧
The original '60s comics fanzine that pioneered all of modern fandom, with deep stories on the Golden and Silver Age creators, is an ongoing mag still edited by Roy Thomas.
➤ Alter Ego

• BACK ISSUE!
(TwoMorrows) _______ ⇧
Dedicated to the '70s and '80s renaissance.
➤ Back Issue

• ILLUSTRATION
(The Illustrated Press) _______
The best illustrators celebrated by the smartest illustration mag.
➤ Illustration

• RETROFAN
(TwoMorrows) _______
Everything pop cultural from the '60s through the '80s.
➤ Retrofan

• THE COMICS JOURNAL
(Fantagraphics) _______
The premiere scholastic graphic arts forum, now printed in an annual volume.
➤ The Comics Journal

• STAR TREK Explorer
(Titan) _______ ⇧
"These are the voyages..."
➤ Star Trek Explorer

• STAR WARS INSIDER
(Titan) _______ ⇧
"An energy field created by all living things..."
➤ Star Wars Insider

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B E S T
M O V I E S

• SHANG CHI And The Legend of the Ten Rings

• BLACK WIDOW

• ETERNALS

• SPIDER-MAN: No Way Home


➤ BEST MOVIES & TV: 2021


See Also:
➤ > Four Color Films,
THE Comic Movies Review Site!

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B E S T
W E B C O M I C S :

• SARA'S SCRIBBLES,
by Sara Andersen _______ ⇧
Absurdist doodles in four panels with brainy zing.

• TOM TOMORROW,
by Tom Tomorrow _______
A kind of digital love-child of Trudeau and Breathed, this long-running satire of political insanity is a panacea.

• NANCY,
by Olympia Jaimes _______
Under a pseudonym, someone is upgrading the classic strip's mindtricks for the digital age.

• PRINCE VALIANT,
by Mark Schultz and Thomas Yeates _______
Schultz (Xenozoic Tales) and Yeates (Timespirits) are doing excellent work continuing Hal Foster's masterwork into the 21st century.

• The Nib _______
RESIST!
The best of contemporary editorial satire, from an array of talents.

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R E S T
I N
P O W E R

From you, we exist.
Because of you, we persist.


• S. Clay Wilson
• Frank Thorne
• Joye Hummel

by S. Clay Wilson; Joye Hummel;
John Paul Leon; Richard Donner
• John Paul Leon
• David Anthony Kraft
• Richard Donner
• Takao Saito


• Mitsutoshi Furuya
• Hiroshi Hirata

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Nuff said, pilgrim. Excelsior!


© Tym Stevens

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See also:

▶ FourColorFilms: THE Comics Film Review Site!


· BEST MOVIES + TV: 2023
• BEST MUSIC: 2023
• BEST COMICS: 2023

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2022
• BEST MUSIC: 2022
• BEST COMICS: 2022

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2021
• BEST MUSIC: 2021

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2020
• BEST MUSIC: 2020
• BEST COMICS: 2020

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2019
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• BEST COMICS: 2019

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2018
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• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2017
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• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2016
• BEST MUSIC: 2016
• BEST COMICS: 2016

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2015
• BEST MUSIC: 2015
• BEST COMICS: 2015

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2014
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• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2012
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• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2011
• BEST MUSIC: 2011
• BEST COMICS: 2011

• BEST MOVIES + TV: 2000-2010
• BEST MUSIC: 2000-2010
• BEST COMICS: 2000-2010


_______________

• How STAR WARS Is Changing Everything!

• 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY - Its Transcendent Influence on all Pop Culture, with Music Player!

• How SPAGHETTI WESTERNS Revolutionized Rock Music!, with 3 Music Players!

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• The Real History of ROCK AND SOUL!: The Music Player Checklist


_______________

• THE CANON 1: 50 Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player

• THE CANON 2: 50 More Books That Created Modern Pop Culture, with Music Player

• THE CANON 3: 50 Recent Books That Created Modern Culture, with Music Player

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