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A Little Mystery on Ocean Avenue

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 5h

If you're gonna be near Jersey soon...
www.culturesonar.com/a-little-mys...

This November, the Beatles meet Jersey at a special gathering of Everything Fab Four. Ken Womack, Max Weinberg, and more discuss Rubber Soul.

Electrical Language: The Secret History of Synth Pop

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 19h

“…for every Ultravox or Gary Numan ascending to synth-pop stardom, the British music scene of the '80s held dozens more electronic hopefuls whose names would never be uttered on Top of the Pops — artists who were just as exciting…”
www.culturesonar.com/electrical-l...

Beyond Human League and OMD: a new box set showcases some underrated 70s and 80s synth pop from the UK.

The Professor Will See You Now: The Many Lives of Thomas Dolby

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 23h

It’s Thomas Dolby’s birthday! “Understanding that he developed the visual concept for "She Blinded Me With Science" before coming up with the song that fit it so perfectly makes it clear that he's not enslaved to conventional approaches.”
www.culturesonar.com/thomas-dolby/

34 years after his monster hit, Thomas Dolby is blinding students with knowledge, and has a memoir on the way.

Here Comes the Help: George and Bangladesh

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 1d

You'd think doing a good deed would be simple, but George Harrison found out otherwise.

www.culturesonar.com/here-comes-t...

George Harrison had an impulse to help. But his fame and connections didn't make it easy. A look at the realities of the Bangladesh concert.

Stephen Colbert asks his guests a particular question. We've added a twist. Wanna be part of the conversation?

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 1d

“Late-night host Stephen Colbert does a bit with his guests called “The Colbert Questionnaire.” It’s a thought experiment. One of the questions he asks is, “You only get to listen to one song for the rest of your life. What is it?”
www.culturesonar.com/what-are-you...

What Are Your "Five"?

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 2d

Spot on. But better than looking like Voldemort.

Paul Simon: America's Most Intelligent Songwriter

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 2d

Happy birthday, Paul Simon! “Simon began to further develop his melodic compositional approach, drawing influence from the work of traditional Tin Pan Alley writers and early jazz musicians.”
www.culturesonar.com/paul-simon-a...

From his folky days to his dive into world music, Paul Simon has always written compelling lyrics that speak to generations.

Underrated Outsiders Who Rock

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 2d

If you've never heard of them, part of it is by design.
www.culturesonar.com/underrated-o...

Musicians, by and large, are "outsiders." But some are waaay outside the norm. Yet, they make interesting music. Here are five worth knowing.

Some Overlooked Bands of the 70s

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 2d

“The group was formed by guitarist and singer Dave Brock and guitarist Mick Slattery in 1969 and is considered one of the first "space rock" bands.”
www.culturesonar.com/some-overloo...

We've gotten so used to the Usual Suspects on rock radio that several cool bands from the 70s go unnoticed. Time to show 'em more love.

Chris O'Dell: Standing By Her Rock Men

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 3d

“I wasn’t a groupie or even a muse, but more of an emotional support. I eventually became a therapist, an addiction counselor…just without a license.”
www.culturesonar.com/chris-odell-...

Chris O'Dell began as a secretary at Apple Records. Then she became a key player (and muse) in the rock scene -- with stories to tell.

The One-Hit Wonder File: "Tighter, Tighter"

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 3d

“…the song’s summery vibe, groovy horns, and memorable guitar solo propelled it to number 7 on the charts in 1970.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...

Tommy James planned to record "Tighter, Tighter", but then decided this Brooklyn band could take it further, further.

The Epic Track: ZZ Top's "La Grange"

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 4d

“What do you get when you combine ZZ Top, a real-life village brothel, the hit show The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and bluesman John Lee Hooker? The enduring blues rock classic, “La Grange.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-epic-tra...

The lyrics are barely intelligible, but the down and dirty blues riffs says it all in this epic ZZ Top track.

Who Are the Unknown Singers?

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 4d

You may know the song, you may know the group, but do you know the name of the actual singer?
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There are a raft of songs that catch your ear, but the individual singers themselves? The names escape you. A look at some Unknown Singers.

10 (More) Worst Songs of the 80s

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 4d

“As if the relentless sampling (“I I I I I need you”) wasn’t 80s enough, Stacey Q – in all her baby-voiced, crimped hair glory -- did a guest shot on The Facts of Life performing the track as the fictional singer “Cinnamon.”
www.culturesonar.com/10-more-wors...

The 80s brought us over-the-top glitz, glamour, and some truly terrible songs. We picked some of the worst offenders.

The Best Use of Classic Rock in Movies

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 5d

“No matter why you think it is, there’s no better way to pump some hype into a scene than to blast some classic rock. Let’s take a look at some of the best uses of classic rock in movies.”
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In recent decades, classic rock hits or artists have been used effectively in the movies. Here are some of the best.

The One-Hit Wonder File: "Smoke From A Distant Fire"

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 5d

“One of the most enduring of those songs from the decade was the Sanford-Townsend Band’s “Smoke From A Distant Fire,” the group’s lone Top 40 hit.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...

"Smoke From A Distant Fire" was their only big hit -- but this blue-eyed-soul earworm burned hot in the 70s.

Driven! John Lennon's Scalextric Cars

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 6d

Because it's his birthday, another great Lennon story.
www.culturesonar.com/driven-john-...

Few things gave John Lennon more pleasure than his collection of Scalextric cars, an early version of "Hot Wheels."

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 6d

Happy birthday, John! “…critics and experts have begun to stroke their chins and ask academically, “Who was this John Lennon…really? Did we ever really know him?”
www.culturesonar.com/who-was-john...

Lou Reed's "The Blue Mask": Another Listen

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 7d

“Released in 1982, The Blue Mask features many of Reed’s strongest songs. That’s quite an achievement, considering his innovative work with The Velvet Underground and the David Bowie-produced album Transformer.”
www.culturesonar.com/lou-reeds-th...

Released in 1982, Lou Reed's "The Blue Mask" touches on his avant-garde work with a meditation on growing older.

Reconsider Me: "Hail To The Thief" by Radiohead

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 8d

Happy birthday, Thom Yorke! “It does indeed seem like it was made with no other intention than being a continuation of the recording cycle, a need for the band to flex their recording muscles so that they wouldn’t atrophy.”
www.culturesonar.com/radioheads-h...

Ahead of their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we examine one of Radiohead's most overlooked- and underrated- albums.

What If AI Picked the Movies You See?

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 8d

Here at headquarters, we have mixed feelings about AI. How about you?

www.culturesonar.com/what-if-ai-p...

AI is everywhere these days. Now, theater chains are experimenting with letting it pick the movies that show up. Thoughts?

Mal Evans Lived the Beatle Legend

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 8d

“Like discovering the contents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Womack’s exclusive access to Evans’ unpublished archives, diaries, notes, unfinished autobiography manuscripts, and previously unseen pictures ...conveys another view of the Beatles’ stunning history.”
www.culturesonar.com/mal-evans-li...

Our friend Ken Womack has written the definitive book on Mal Evans, who kept the Beatles on track. In more ways than one.

George Harrison and The Quarrymen

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 9d

“Now you know why my friend calls me The Beatles Detective!”
www.culturesonar.com/george-harri...

Beatle fans know when Paul met John and joined the Quarrymen. But George's entry into the band has been a little less clear. Until now.

Let Vinnie Explain: Eddie Van Halen's Guitar Sound

CultureSonar @culturesonar.bsky.social · 9d

Five years ago today, we lost Eddie Van Halen.
www.culturesonar.com/let-vinnie-e...

No one sounds like Eddie Van Halen. Pro musician Vinnie DeMasi explains a little of the magic to his technique.