We've previously mentioned Awl pal John Cook's Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, written with label founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance. The book is out next week, and not only can you read an excerpt here, but you can also participate in an online Q&A with Cook, Ballance, and McCaughan right now! Go! Ask!

Let's get aggregatey! Here are three things I think you should read, because they are excellent and they happen to track closely to my own personal opinions, which always elevates a piece of work in my mind. I know it's a nice summer day (at least here in New York), so maybe you don't want to read a bunch of stuff on politics and the tenor of our current debate. Too bad! I insist that you take a look at what follows. READ MORE

Are you a white person of a certain age who likes to read? Good news! Awl pal John Cook's Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, written with label founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance, is out this September, and they've got a fancy website and everything. An oral history of Merge and some of its best-known bands (Magnetic Fields, Lambchop, Arcade Fire, Superchunk, Spoon-it's like your iPod in 2005!), the book is sure to appeal to every single person you've ever met, so why not pre-order a couple of copies today? Appreciate it!