Loud Lit

Even The Good Girls Will Cry is the gripping autobiography by Melissa Auf Der Maur. Best known as a member of rock heavyweights like Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, Auf Der Maur steps out from behind the bass to share her own story. From her artistic upbringing in Montreal to the whirlwind of joining Hole during a period of immense grief and rising stardom, this book offers an honest, backstage look a...

This week on Loud Lit , Matt dives into Serj Tankian's powerful 2024 memoir, Down with the System . Behind System of a Down's wild, zany riffs and legendary vocals is a story deeply rooted in activism, heritage, and the fight for justice. We explore the band's unlikely rise to stardom, internal band friction, and Serj's lifelong mission to gain recognition for the Armenian Genocide that directly i...

What happens when a band does everything "wrong" and becomes the biggest act in the world anyway? On this Loud Lit episode, Matt dives into one of his all-time favorite musical artists with a look at The Name of This Band is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin. Support this show and independent booksellers at the Loud Lit Bookshop Page . Start your own podcast with Captivate !

Twenty-nine minutes of pure, unadulterated aggression. In 1986, Slayer didn’t just release an album; they released a manifesto for thrash metal. This week on Loud Lit , we dive into the 57th entry of the 33 1/3 book series, where entertainment reporter DX Ferris dissects the creation, controversy, and chaotic legacy of Slayer’s magnum opus: Reign in Blood . Support this show and independent bookse...

Can you really fit a 50-year cultural revolution into a single book? This week on Loud Lit, Matt explores Hip Hop Is History by the legendary Questlove (of The Roots). This isn't your average Wikipedia-style timeline. Questlove and co-author Ben Greenman break down the genre’s evolution into fascinating five-year cycles, tracing how hip hop shifted from the block parties of the late '70s to the gl...

In 2025, the music world said a final goodbye to the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne. But before he left us, he gave fans one final, legendary performance in Birmingham and a candid, posthumous memoir that serves as the ultimate encore. On this episode of Loud Lit , Matt dives into Last Rites . Written with Chris Ayers, this memoir is a raw, witty, and surprisingly moving account of Ozzy’s final...

How does a man who looks like a barefoot philosopher help legendary acts like Metallica, Slayer, and Adele create their best work? This week on Loud Lit, Matt dives into the minimalist, "hands-off" genius of legendary music producer Rick Rubin. While Rubin is a titan of the music industry, his book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being , isn't just for musicians—it’s a manual for anyone looking to liv...

Before he was the world’s most iconic wild-man bassist, Michael Balzary was just a jazz-loving kid from Melbourne trying to survive a feral youth in the streets of Los Angeles. In this episode of Loud Lit , Matt dives into Flea’s unconventional memoir, Acid for the Children . We look at the raw, vulnerable, and often chaotic pre-history of a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. From his early days as a tr...

In this special bonus episode of Loud Lit , Matt joins the fourth annual Podcastthon to advocate for the Save the Music Foundation . Music education is more than just a "nice-to-have" elective—it’s a vital tool for child development. From improving literacy and motor skills to boosting self-confidence and academic performance, the benefits of making music follow students well into their adult prof...

In this episode of Loud Lit , Matt dives into the dissonant, boundary-breaking world of Sonic Youth through the lens of Kim Gordon’s 2015 memoir, Girl in a Band . From the gritty No Wave scene of New York to the heights of alternative rock influence, we explore the life of an artist who redefined what it means to be "cool." If you’re inspired to pick up Kim Gordon’s memoir, you can support the pod...

On this episode, we dive into Definitely Maybe , Alex Niven’s entry in the 33 ⅓ book series, which examines the album that launched Oasis to stardom. Niven's book goes beyond the music's creation to place the 1994 debut within the social and political context of working-class Britain. He argues that the album's optimistic, life-affirming sound provided a hopeful contrast to the dominant grunge sce...

What happens when you land in a foreign country for your band's gig, only to be arrested for a crime you didn't know occurred? In this episode, Matt dives into the harrowing true story of Randy Blythe , lead singer of lamb of god , as told in his 2016 memoir, Dark Days . Whether you’re a diehard metalhead or someone who's never heard a blast beat in your life, this story of accountability, resilie...

In this episode of Loud Lit , Matt dives into the career of workhorse English singer-songwriter Frank Turner. Following a high-energy performance in Cincinnati alongside punk legends the Descendents, Matt explores Turner’s second book, Try This At Home: Adventures in Songwriting . This isn't just a memoir; it's a chronological look at Turner’s career through the lens of 36 specific songs. Whether...

In this episode of Loud Lit, we explore the masterpiece that is Electric Ladyland through John Perry’s entry in the 33 ⅓ series. Perry, a guitarist from the band The Only Ones, uses his musical expertise to meticulously analyze the complex virtuosity of Jimi Hendrix's playing and his debut as a producer on this double album. Learn why the initially misunderstood Electric Ladyland eventually became...

Today marks a somber but significant milestone in music history: the 20th anniversary of J Dilla’s instrumental masterpiece, Donuts . Released on his 32nd birthday, just three days before his passing, the album is more than just a collection of beats—it's a final statement from a genius facing his own mortality. In this episode, Matt dives into Jordan Ferguson’s entry in the 33 ⅓ series. He explor...

In Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk , Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre) offers a brutally honest and vulnerable memoir. She details how she channeled trauma into art and feminist activism, becoming an inadvertent founder of the Riot Grrrl movement. This powerful book explores the complex dynamics of the punk scene and her inspiring journey of personal growth. Order your copy of Rebel Gi...

Co-founding MTV is only part of Tom Freston's fascinating life story. He recounts many of his wild exploits in his 2025 memoir Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu. Order your copy of Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu at Bookshop.org . Support this show and independent booksellers at the Loud Lit Bookshop Page . Start your own podcast with Captivate !

In this episode of Loud Lit, we review Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography by Staci Robinson. Drawing on her connection to the Shakur family and firsthand accounts from friends, family, and fellow musicians, Robinson offers an intimate and comprehensive look at Tupac's short but impactful life. Order your copy of Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography at Bookshop.org . Support this show and ind...

Michael Azerrad’s Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana was the only biography written with the full cooperation of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl. Thirty years later, Azerrad returns with The Amplified Come As You Are , overlaying the original, honest narrative with hundreds of new annotations. This expanded version provides the author's valuable hindsight, corrects myths and inaccu...

Gain a deeper appreciation of your favorite music artists and genres. Loud Lit delivers recommendations of books that explore the world of rock, hip hop, and more. Support this show and independent booksellers at the Loud Lit Bookshop Page . Launches 1/3/26