A look at the important second chapter in the LA punk scene – the years 1982 through 1987 – examined in great detail by John Doe, who was very much on the spot as a member of the band X! Doe gets help from writer Tom Desavia, and both open the door to contributions from a whole host of others – Henry Rollins, Billy Zoom Dave Alvin, Maria McKee, Peter Case, Jane Wiedlin, and many others – all of whom lend their voices to provid a very vivid illustration of this point in LA – a time when the music went from the underground to the mainstream, and faced some key challenges along the way. Harcover edition is 328 pages, with a section of black and white images. Book

A really great idea for a book on records – and one that's completely different than most that we've seen before! Unlike other books of this nature, which are filled with "essential" or "classic" records – this book is full of flops, or records that never really hit the heights, but which are pretty darn great overall! In the eyes of the authors – and our eyes too – all of these records are under-acknowledged gems – some by big names, others by more obscure artists – lots of which never got their full due at the time. The book is filled with some of our favorite records of all time – which is a big hats off to the long list of contributors, who include Miriam Linna, Steve Shelly, Peter Holsapple, Russ Titelman, Marshall Crenshaw, Bob Irwin, Lenny Kaye, and many others – who've come up with a set of essays on titles that include The Living Legend by Baby Huey, Gene Clark & The Gosdin Brothers, Continued by Tony Joe White, Delta Sweete by Bobby Gentry, Entertainment by Family, Desertshore by Nico, Young Mod's Forgotten Story by The Impressions, Roots by The Everly Brothers, Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt, and lots lots more! The book is filled with records that we love, and that we'd now call classic – served up in a hefty softcover edition that's almost 400 pages in length, with black and white images throughout. Book

A biography of one of the key creators in comics in the 20th Century – done in the format that he helped pioneer! The book is written in the first person – so more of an autobiography – although writer Tom Scioli provides all the words, and traces Kirby's evolution from a young child artist to a 40s giant in the new form of comic books, through his leaner postwar years, big 60s Marvel comics work, his 70s run at DC, and other moments too. Scioli really does a great job of opening up the intricacies of the comic business, and showing it's sometime seedier side – which illustrates some of the challenges that Kirby faced in his career, even while his work continued to be incredible. Hardcover edition is full color, 201 pages. Book