Author Nate Patrin welcomes readers into the construct of his new book with an exercise; think of a memorable moment in a cherished movie. Now ask yourself if the music played into that memory. The Needle and the Lens focuses on such moments, highlighting iconic "needle drops" in film.
On the heels of his work Bring the Beat Back (named best music book of 2020 by Kirkus and Rolling Stone), Patrin focuses on sixteen consequential films and the moments therein that incorporated impactful, unexpected, and memorable songs to aid in the telling of the tale. Essays throughout the book touch on Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound of Silence from The Graduate, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody in Wayne's World, The Trammps Disco Inferno from Saturday Night Fever, and many others.
The Needle and the Lens can be found at most booksellers and online through the University of Minnesota website.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
