The Books

The Books
Company type	Musical duo
Industry	Music
Founded	1999 in New York City, United States
Founder	Nick Zammuto, Paul de Jong
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Area served	International
Products	Studio albums, compilations, EPs, DVDs

The Books were a musical duo originating from the United States and the Netherlands, established in New York City in 1999. The group consisted of guitarist and singer Nick Zammuto alongside cellist Paul de Jong. Their sound was characterized by the integration of samples derived from unusual noises and spoken word fragments. They produced three albums that received widespread critical praise under the German label Tomlab, followed by a fourth studio project, The Way Out, which was released through Temporary Residence Limited in July 2010.

1999–2002: Formation and Thought for Food

Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong crossed paths in New York City in 1999, living within the same apartment complex. De Jong introduced Zammuto to his extensive archive of audio and video snippets, including a record by Shooby Taylor. Discovering their shared musical sensibilities, they began collaborating on what they described as pop music under the moniker the Books.

Their initial album, Thought for Food, began production in 2000. Recording sessions were held across various locations including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, as well as a basement in a North Carolina hostel where Zammuto spent time working after hiking the Appalachian Trail. Released on October 22, 2002, the album garnered critical acclaim for its unique approach, combining dense sampling of obscure sources with predominantly acoustic instrumentation.

2002–2003: Creation of The Lemon of Pink

Following the release of Thought for Food, the duo moved to North Adams, Massachusetts, close to where Zammuto had graduated from Williams College in 1999. The recording process for their second album, The Lemon of Pink, commenced with guest vocalist Anne Doerner contributing; she noted that the production was more demanding, involving approximately five months of work primarily by Zammuto.

The Lemon of Pink was released on October 7, 2003, and received strong critical endorsement. While continuing the sonic style established on their debut, this album incorporated a greater vocal presence, largely provided by Doerner.

2003–2006: Subsequent Projects and Collaborations

In 2004, the Books were commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture to compose music specifically for an elevator within their premises. This composition was later issued as a Mini CD in 2006 titled Music for a French Elevator and Other Short Format Oddities by the Books.

Their third studio album, Lost and Safe, was released on April 5, 2005. The increased prominence of Zammuto’s vocals attracted some criticism; however, overall the album was well-received among reviewers. Earlier that year, the Books collaborated with electronic musician Prefuse 73, contributing to his album Surrounded by Silence and releasing a remix EP entitled Prefuse 73 Reads the Books E.P.. Additionally, their track "Enjoy Your Worries, You May Never Have Them Again" appeared in the 2006 film "The Bridge."

Prior to embarking on a three-month North American tour in April 2006, the Books had only performed live once—at a festival in Chicago during 2003. Zammuto expressed ambivalence about live shows, describing them as "a glorified karaoke" due to the necessity of synchronizing with pre-recorded electronic elements. Despite reservations regarding touring, he acknowledged it was essential to maintain financial viability amid difficulties caused by widespread music file-sharing.

2006–2012: Hiatus, The Way Out and dissolution

Following the release of Music for a French Elevator, the group took a break from recording to dedicate time to family commitments, touring, and individual endeavors. During this period, Zammuto composed the score for a documentary centered on Biosphere 2.

In 2007, The Books issued Play All, a DVD compiling thirteen music videos alongside three previously unreleased tracks. These videos predominantly utilized found footage collaged with their music and were frequently showcased during live performances.

From 2005 through 2007, the band embarked on extensive tours across Europe and Canada. Early in 2009, they collaborated with José González to record a cover of Nick Drake's "Cello Song" for the Red Hot Organization's charity compilation Dark Was the Night.

Work on The Way Out commenced in late 2008. Zammuto described the album’s themes as New Age-inspired, incorporating samples from self-help and hypnotherapy recordings. Announced in April 2010 with a planned July release through Temporary Residence Limited, the album included the track "Beautiful People," which Zammuto characterized as a fusion of Christian harmony, euro-disco rhythms, and orchestral elements. The album was officially released on July 20, 2010.

The Books appeared at the ATP New York 2010 event and toured North America alongside The Black Heart Procession. In July 2011, they were chosen by Portishead and ATP to perform at the ATP I'll Be Your Mirror festival in London.

In January 2012, Nick Zammuto announced through Pitchfork that The Books were disbanding to explore new projects independently.

After the breakup, Nick Zammuto launched his solo career with the album Zammuto in April 2012, followed by Anchor in 2014. Paul de Jong also pursued solo work, releasing IF in 2015 and You Fucken Sucker in 2018.

Musical style

Critics frequently regard The Books as occupying a unique genre space. Zammuto referred to their music as collage music, while Paul de Jong described it as "the new folk music," emphasizing their use of custom-built instruments and distinctive sound collections to craft music resonating on a human level. Although influenced by artists such as Nirvana, David Bowie, Roxy Music, new wave, and classical traditions, these influences remain subtle within their sound. Zammuto specifically cited electronic acts Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin as significant inspirations.

Their compositions commonly blend acoustic folk melodies played on guitar, cello, banjo, and other instruments with an array of samples gathered from thrift store cassette tapes that are digitally manipulated and edited. Instead of conventional drum kits, they utilize everyday objects—like children's toys and filing cabinets—to create sampled percussion elements. While some categorize their work as aleatoric music, Zammuto insists that their compositions are carefully structured and controlled.

DVDs

Playall (2007)
Freedom from Expression (2012)