Paul R. Giunta/Getty ImagesA diverse group of alternative musicians are lending their talents to a new project benefiting children’s literacy.
According to Rolling Stone, My Morning Jacket leader Jim James, Pixies frontman Frank Black,Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, grizzled troubadour Tom Waits and the Kills/Dead Weather singer Alison Mosshart are among the 30 songwriters collaborating with a like number of visual artists for Stories of Ways and Means. The 350-page book features illustrated stories with accompanying short films voiced by guest narrators such as Nick Offerman and Danny DeVito.
Organizers describe the project as “original ‘grown up’ children’s story collaborations by some of this era’s most compelling storytellers from the worlds of music and contemporary art.” Noting it’s geared toward ages 17 and up, the creators says Stories for Ways and Means offers "outre art, weird images, graphic displays of nasty stuff and cuss words."
Stories for Ways and Means was conceived by Jeff Antebi, founder of the Waxploitation record label. Proceeds benefit non-profit groups Room to Read and Pencils of Promise.
Currently available for pre-order via the project’s website, Stories for Ways and Means will be released at a still-unspecified date in 2017.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.