Artist The Books
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Website
The Books
Rather than using samples as mere ironic afterthoughts, experimental duo The Books uses vocals, acoustic guitars, and strings to drill deep into the emotional surprises of its massive found-sound collections. Not that Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong fudge the actual songwriting—it’s just that the music works in delicate sympathy with the many snippets of people talking, clapping, laughing, etc. The duo continues to take rhythmic and melodic cues from such clips on 2010’s The Way Out, its first album in five years. The album reaches into odd territories even for a band whose career is based on left turns—The Way Out is purportedly influenced by New Age music, math, and religion.
Updated 03/30/2011

Road-trip mix-tape
Twin Cities:
A time and a time and a time and a time: The Books' Nick Zammuto on sample-heavy songwriting
Madison:
A time and a time and a time and a time: The Books' Nick Zammuto on sample-heavy songwriting
Chicago:
Dirty Projectors' David Longstreth doesn't think they sound like that
Twin Cities:
Dirty Projectors' David Longstreth doesn't think they sound like that
New York:
Dirty Projectors' David Longstreth doesn't think they sound like that
Washington D.C.:
Dirty Projectors' David Longstreth doesn't think they sound like that
New York:
Jim Jarmusch to curate All Tomorrow's Parties, initial lineup (Sonic Youth, Raekwon, Breeders) announced
Chicago:
The Books to play Chicago twice on The Way Out to new album
Madison:
The Books to play Madison on Nov. 30
Twin Cities:
The Books to play the Cedar Cultural Center
The Books: The Way Out
Washington D.C.:
Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch to guest curate All Tomorrow's Parties 2010, initial lineups announced