A veteran songwriter presents a selection of sixty of rock music's greatest songs in their original, hand-scrawled rough drafts, accompanied by interviews with the songwriters who reveal the stories behind the songs.

Includes essays tracing Country's growth from hand-me-down folk to a major American industry; concise biographies; critical album reviews, from the earliest commercial recordings of the 1920s through the mulitplatinum artists of today; and vintage album jackets and previously unpublished photographs.

Poetry. Latinx Studies. Women's Studies. Translated by Carlos Lara. It's hard to believe that the books of Blanca Varela (1926-2009), considered one of Peru's greatest poets, as well as the first woman to win the Federico García Lorca International Poetry Prize, have not been translated into English until now. Originally published in Spanish in 1978, this new publication of ROUGH SONG, heralds the long overdue introduction of a major Latin American poet to English-language readers. Born into a family known for advancing art in Latin America, Varela lived briefly in Paris in the late '40s and '50s where she quickly became friends with Andre Breton, Jean-Paul Sartre, Henri Michaux, Simone de Beauvoir, Alberto Giacometti, and in particular, Octavio Paz, who called Varela "the most secret, timid and natural of them all." Returning to Lima in the '60s, she established herself as one of Peru's key literary intelligentsia. The poems in ROUGH SONG, these "flowers for the ear," range wildly in form, from two lines to seven pages long, and each presents a world of intense precision in language, fully conscious of reality and its metaphysical limits--"yes / the dark matter / animated by your hand / it's me." Varela's deceptively simple poems hold a mysteriously delicate weight far beyond their length. A formidable voice in Latin American literature, Blanca Varela is destined to inspire awe and summon new readers for years to come. "These haunting songs unfold with the mysterious precision of fractals, bending their interiors into pliant, living forms. As I get to know Blanca Varela's work, in Carlos Lara's beautiful translation from the Spanish, my ear becomes attuned to the smallest moving gradations, the spider that 'doesn't dare descend one / more millimeter toward the ground,' a surrealism I associate with Alejandra Pizarnik, Henri Michaux, and I'm so grateful to have come to it."--Alexis Almeida "What a surprise to find in the work of this mid-century Peruvian poet a mind and style that so resonate with my own. Varela's poems are almost violent in their suddenness, their brevity. Unsentimental and often bleak, they are always surprising. Discovering her enlarges my picture of the world."--Rae Armantrout "In ROUGH SONG, Blanca Varela uses language to create 'on the empty plate' and cuts reality open. Originally written in the '70s, this work remains both unpredictable and surprising. In these pages she condenses and transmutes the world into text and texture so that what emerges is legible and sharp. Here 'the word / slithering / will be your footprint.' Let us follow."--Gabriela Jauregui

This second edition of the Rough Guide Book of Playlistscontains more than 500 lists of which 50 are new to this edition. The lists are recommendations of ten songs (sometimes a couple more, sometimes a couple less), covering artists (Rufus Wainwright to Thelonius Monk, Al Green to Manu Chao, Glenn Gould to Julie Andrews), genres (Bebop Classics to Reggae Toasters to Punk Originals to Hot Club jazz), songs (10 best Dylan covers; 8 classic versions of Summertime; 10 love songs that don't cloy), quirks and silliness (Songs about Chickens and Insects; Who let the frogs out?; Big Pizza Pie crooners; Take this Job and Shove it!). There's even a literary edge with playlists like '10 songs raved about in Murakami novels'. Each of the Playlists has a nugget about the song (why you want it on your iPod), and a listings of where it's from (remember CDs?).

The ideal handbook for every rock-n-roll pilgrim, Music USA tours the musical heritage of America, from New York to Seattle, stopping at all the shrines of sound in between. Coverage includes background on the development of local music styles, with details on clubs and venues, radio stations and record stores nationwide.

After learning to play guitar at the age of ten, Shawn Colvin was determined to make a life in music—a decision that would send a small-town girl out on the open road for good. In 1997, two decades after she started, she got her big break. Like the troubled would-be arsonist and survivor of her smash hit "Sunny Came Home," Colvin knows a thing or two about heartache—and setting fires. Diamond in the Rough recounts this passionate musician's coming-of-age, from the prairies of South Dakota to the dark smoky bars in Austin, Texas, to the world stage at the Grammys. Humorous and deeply honest, Colvin relates the experiences behind her best-loved songs in vivid color in this memoir. Diamond in the Rough captures her years of touring cross-country in bands and vans full of guys; falling in and out of love; meeting heroes like Joni Mitchell; searching for her musical identity; and making friendships that would last a lifetime. It is also an unflinching account of Colvin's struggles—weathering addiction and depression, learning to care for not only herself but also a child—and, always, channeling those experiences into song. With the wit, lyricism, and empathy that have characterized Colvin's performances and inspired audiences worldwide, Diamond in the Rough looks back over a rich lifetime of highs and lows with stunning insight and candor. In its pages, we witness the inspiring story of a woman honing her artistry, finding her voice, and making herself whole.

This expanded and completely revised fifth edition is a unique ebook, spanning a thousand years of music from Gregorian chant via Bach and Beethoven to current leading lights such as Thomas Adès and Kaija Saariaho. There are concise biographical profiles of more than 200 composers and informative summaries of the major compositions in all genres, from chamber works to operatic epics. Topics such as the influence of jazz, notation, conducting, the madrigal, and why Stradivarius made such great violins are covered fully in feature boxes. The Rough Guide to Classical Music in a new ebook (PDF) fromat has been praised for its mix of well-known composers with more obscure, but interesting, figures (like Antoine Brumel and Barbara Strozzi), and for the way it takes contemporary music seriously.

In his seventh decade and still going strong, Bob Dylan is the ultimate singer-songwriter - hugely revered, bafflingly idiosyncratic, an enigma and a music legend responsible for a staggering number of classic songs. Now in it's second edition, the Rough Guide clarifies the mysteries surrounding the man and the music, looking at the lyrics, the influences, the legends and the musicians he worked with. Features include- The Life - from Minnesota to Manchester, from the Albert Hall to the Never Ending Tour, The Music - 50 essential Dylan songs and the stories behind them and Dylanology - the movies, the sayings, books and websites.

This two-volume set LNAI 10313 and LNAI 10314 constitutes the proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Rough Sets, IJCRS 2017, held in Olsztyn, Poland, in July 2017. The 74 revised full papers presented together with 16 short papers and 16 invited talks, were carefully reviewed and selected from 130 submissions. The papers in this two set-volume of IJCRS 2017 follow the track already rutted by RSCTC and JRS conferences which aimed at unification of many facets of rough set theory from theoretical aspects of the rough set idea bordering on theory of concepts and going through algebraic structures, topological structures, logics for uncertain reasoning, decision algorithms, relations to other theories of vagueness and ambiguity, then to extensions of the rough set idea like granular structures, rough mereology, and to applications of the idea in diverse fields of applied science including hybrid methods like rough-fuzzy, neuro-rough, neuro-rough-fuzzy computing. IJCRS 2017 encompasses topics spread among four main tracks: Rough Sets and Data Science (in relation to RSCTC series organized since 1998); Rough Sets and Granular Computing (in relation to RSFDGrC series organized since 1999); Rough Sets and Knowledge Technology (in relation to RSKT series organized since 2006); and Rough Sets and Intelligent Systems (in relation to RSEISP series organized since 2007).

This Budapest guidebook is perfect for independent travellers planning a longer trip. It features all of the must-see sights and a wide range of off-the-beaten-track places. It also provides detailed practical information on preparing for a trip and what to do on the ground. And this Budapest travel guidebook is printed on paper from responsible sources, and verified to meet the FSC’s strict environmental and social standards. This Budapest guidebook covers: The Belvaros; Lipotvaros and Ujlipotvaros; Terezvaros and Erzsebetvaros; The Varosliget and the stadium district; Jozsefvaros and Ferencvaros; The Var and central Buda; Gellert-hegy and the Taban; Obuda and Margit-sziget; The Buda Hills; The city limits; Excursions from Budapest. Inside this Budapest travel book, you’ll find: A wide range of sights – Rough Guides experts have hand-picked places for travellers with different needs and desires: off-the-beaten-track adventures, family activities or chilled-out breaks Itinerary examples – created for different time frames or types of trip Practical information – how to get to Budapest, all about public transport, food and drink, shopping, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, tips for travellers with disabilities and more Author picks and things not to miss in Budapest – Thermal Baths, Budapest Zoo, Buda Hills, Live music, #2 tram ride, Fisherman's Bastion, Hungarian National Gallery, Design hotels, Sziget Festival, Coffee houses, Memento Park, Ruin bars, Great Synagogue, House of Terror, Hungarian Railway History Park, Food markets, Budapest’s cemeteries Insider recommendations – tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money, and find the best local spots When to go to Budapest – high season, low season, climate information and festivals Where to go – a clear introduction to Budapest with key places and a handy overview Extensive coverage of regions, places and experiences – regional highlights, sights and places for different types of travellers, with experiences matching different needs Places to eat, drink and stay – hand-picked restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels Practical info at each site – hours of operation, websites, transit tips, charges Colour-coded mapping – with keys and legends listing sites categorised as highlights, eating, accommodation, shopping, drinking and nightlife Background information for connoisseurs – history, culture, art, architecture, film, books, religion, diversity Essential Hungarian dictionary and glossary of local terms Fully updated post-COVID-19 The guide provides a comprehensive and rich selection of places to see and things to do in Budapest, as well as great planning tools. It’s the perfect companion, both ahead of your trip and on the ground.