McGlory, Mary G. & Sylvia Saunders. The Other Fab Four: The Remarkable True Story of the Liverbirds, Britain’s First Female Rock Band. Hachette Audio. Mar. 2024. 10:46 hrs. ISBN 9781668637128. $27.99. BIOG

Musicians McGlory and McGlory tell the story of the Liverbirds (pronounced LY-vu-burds), a trailblazing all-women band from Liverpool that hit its stride during the vibrant 1960s music scene. The Liverbirds’ music runs under the credits, setting the tone for the authors to reflect on their childhoods in postwar Britain, when they first became interested in music, purchasing and learning how to play instruments, and eventually forming the band. It took time for the teens to find just the right mix of musicians. Focusing first on instrumental music, they later switched to covers of pop songs, plus original tunes written by guitarist Pam Birch. Following the lead of their fellow Liverpudlians, the Beatles, they went to Hamburg, Germany, where they were booked at the Star-Club. Their career took off, with memories of meeting and working with other bands of the time, including the Stones and the Kinks, touring, drug use, friends, dating, boyfriends, the band’s breakup, and post-band life. Bass player McGlory’s narration is even-keeled, almost trancelike at times, while drummer Saunders is quite perky, with more energy behind her performance. VERDICT An intriguing peek into the influence of a groundbreaking all-women band in the 1960s.—Stephanie Bange

Rucker, Darius. Life’s Too Short: A Memoir. HarperAudio. May 2024. 6:11 hrs. ISBN 9780063238770. $27.99. MEMOIR

From his home studio in Tennessee, laid-back Hootie & the Blowfish lead Rucker, for whom life has always been about music, cheerily narrates this playlist of life stories. Music pulled at him as early as age six, and he showed an innate sense for recognizing gifted musicians with lasting power in the industry, including Al Green, Barry Manilow, KISS, Nanci Griffith, R.E.M., and the Notorious B.I.G. Rucker fondly recalls Hootie & the Blowfish’s 1985 origins as a group of USC-Columbia students who played their way through local bars. After eight years, they reached mega-stardom with their album Cracked Rear View, which became one of the best-selling albums in music history. In 2008, due to constant touring, the drain of longstanding heavy substance use, and bandmates wishing to explore other life experiences, the group paused touring. Rucker’s desire to make a country record was fulfilled that year; his first number-one song as a country artist soon followed, and his version of the country standard “Wagon Wheel” won a Grammy. The memoir avoids oversharing about personal relationships, and Rucker’s loyalty to friends and family shines through. VERDICT A recommended purchase. Rucker’s easygoing storytelling will have listeners hitting play on his music long after the memoir’s end.—Kym Goering

Tankian, Serj. Down with the System: A Memoir (of Sorts). Hachette Audio. May 2024. 9:57 hrs. ISBN 9781668641965. $27.99. MEMOIR

Debut author Tankian, the front man, lead vocalist, and lyricist of the Armenian American heavy metal band System of a Down, offers a memoir that connects his musical development with the political history and spirituality that have shaped his life. The grandson of Armenian genocide survivors, Tankian was born in Beirut, Lebanon; when he was seven years old, he fled with his family to the U.S. to escape civil war. Tankian narrates his own work with aplomb, providing listeners with a detailed history of his family heritage and explaining how he used his musical platform to bring broader awareness to the Ottoman Empire’s genocide of Armenian people. As he describes the band’s evolution, Tankian demonstrates his deep knowledge of global and U.S. politics, Armenian history, and business, as well as his facility with music, art, and language. Though Tankian is primarily known for his music, his passionate memoir shines a light on his work as an activist, speaking out against genocide, war, and U.S. foreign policy. VERDICT This engaging audiobook expresses Tankian’s love for his Armenian heritage and his family and his commitment to living life to the fullest. Highly recommended for any memoir or music collection.—Lacey Webster