Ongoing History of New Music

The Ongoing History of New Music, episode 884: Big picture stuff, part 1

When it comes to music, it’s so easy to get lost in the weeds, to become distracted by all the minutiae and trivia. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course–hell, that’s how I make my living–but there is a can’t-see-the-forest-for-the-tress aspect to all this.

Sometimes we need to stand back, waaaaaaay back, before some vital things start to come into focus. I don’t just mean seeing the forest, but the whole of the countryside.

No, wait. We need to do more than that. We need altitude, beyond even 35,000 feet all the way into geosynchronous orbit in order to assess everything about a certain subject.

Okay, this metaphor is out of control. What I’m trying to say is that if we step back far enough, we can learn some really interesting things about why music is the way it is.

This program might change the way you think about the entire history of music. Let’s dig in.

Songs heard on this show:

  • Subhumans, The Big Picture
  • Green Day, Brain Stew
  • Oyen, The Prime Numbers Have a Hidden Pattern
  • Megamath, Pythagoras
  • Jack White, Lazaretto
  • Tegan and Sara, Closer
  • Luscious Jackson, Daughters of the Revolution
  • Oasis, Rock’n’Roll Star
  • Scott Joplin, Maple Leaf Rag
  • Outkast, Hey Ya
  • Pearl Jam, Let the Records Play

Here’s a nice playlist from Eric Wilhite to go along with everything.

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on the following stations:

We’re still looking for more affiliates in Calgary, Kamloops, Kelowna, Regina, Saskatoon, Brandon, Windsor,  Montreal, Halifax, Charlottetown, Moncton, Fredericton, and St John’s and anywhere else with a transmitter. If you’re in any of those markets and you want the show, lemme know and I’ll see what I can do.

If you ever miss a show, you can always get the podcast edition available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your on-demand audio.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 39665 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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