“Listen Again: A Momentary History of Pop Music” offers a vibrant, unconventional look at pop music’s evolution, eschewing traditional timelines for a focus on pivotal moments. Inspired by the Experience Music Project Pop Conference, this collection of essays explores artists, songs, and studio accidents that have shaped the genre. Delve into discussions on topics ranging from Bert Williams’s complex legacy to the impact of Ghoulardi on punk music. Contributors like Greil Marcus and Robert Christgau examine the cultural significance of everything from “Louie, Louie” to hip-hop sampling, providing a unique lens on pop’s enduring appeal and influence. A must-read for music enthusiasts and cultural critics alike.
Listen Again: A Momentary History of Pop Music (Experience Music Project)
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Arguing that pop music turns on moments rather than movements, the essays in Listen Again pinpoint magic moments from a century of pop eclecticism, looking at artists who fall between genre lines, songs that sponge up influences from everywhere, and studio accidents with unforeseen consequences. Listen Again collects some of the finest presentations from the celebrated Experience Music Project Pop Conference, where journalists, musicians, academics, and other culturemongers come together once each year to stretch the boundaries of pop music culture, criticism, and scholarship.
Building a history of pop music out of unexpected instances, critics and musicians delve into topics from the early-twentieth-century black performer Bert Williamss use of blackface, to the invention of the Delta blues category by a forgotten record collector named James McKune, to an ER cast members performance as the Germs front man Darby Crash at a Germs reunion show. Cuban music historian Ned Sublette zeroes in on the signature riff of the garage-band staple Louie, Louie. David Thomas of the pioneering punk band Pere Ubu honors one of his forebears: Ghoulardi, a late-night monster-movie host on Cleveland-area TV in the 1960s. Benjamin Melendez discusses playing in a band, the Ghetto Brothers, that Latinized the Beatles, while leading a South Bronx gang, also called the Ghetto Brothers. Michaelangelo Matos traces the lineage of the hip-hop sample Apache to a Burt Lancaster film. Whether reflecting on the ringing freedom of an E chord or the significance of Bill Tate, who performed once in 1981 as Buddy Holocaust and was never heard from again, the essays reveal why Robert Christgau, a founder of rock criticism, has called the EMP Pop Conference the best thing thats ever happened to serious consideration of pop music.
Contributors. David Brackett, Franklin Bruno, Daphne Carr, Henry Chalfant, Jeff Chang, Drew Daniel, Robert Fink, Holly George-Warren, Lavinia Greenlaw, Marybeth Hamilton, Jason King, Josh Kun, W. T. Lhamon, Jr., Greil Marcus, Michaelangelo Matos, Benjamin Melendez, Mark Anthony Neal, Ned Sublette, David Thomas, Steve Waksman, Eric Weisbard
Dive into the fascinating and eclectic world of popular music with "Listen Again: A Momentary History of Pop Music (Experience Music Project)," a captivating collection of essays that challenges traditional linear narratives and instead celebrates the power of fleeting moments in shaping the sonic landscape we know and love. This thought-provoking paperback, published by Duke University Press Books in 2007, offers a fresh and unconventional perspective on pop music history, venturing beyond established genres and embracing the unexpected intersections of art, culture, and society. Forget chronological timelines and rigid classifications. "Listen Again" champions the ephemeral the unexpected studio accidents, the cross-genre experiments, and the artists who defy easy categorization. This isn't your typical music history textbook; it's a vibrant tapestry woven from diverse voices journalists, musicians, academics, and passionate "culturemongers" all stemming from the celebrated Experience Music Project (EMP) Pop Conference. Renowned rock critic Robert Christgau has hailed the EMP Pop Conference as "the best thing that's ever happened to serious consideration of pop music," and this book encapsulates that spirit of intellectual curiosity and passionate debate. Within these pages, prepare to encounter a captivating array of subjects, each offering a unique lens through which to examine pop's evolution. Explore the complex legacy of early 20th-century black performer Bert Williams and his use of blackface, a provocative topic sparking critical reflection on representation and performance. Unearth the forgotten origins of the Delta blues through the diligent work of record collector James McKune. Witness the surreal spectacle of an "ER" cast member channeling the spirit of Darby Crash at a Germs reunion show, blurring the lines between fiction and reality, performance and authenticity. But the journey doesn't stop there. Legendary Cuban music historian Ned Sublette dissects the iconic riff of "Louie, Louie," revealing the hidden depths of this garage-band anthem. David Thomas of Pere Ubu pays homage to Ghoulardi, the unforgettable late-night monster-movie host who captivated Cleveland audiences in the 1960s, exploring the influence of pop culture on musical innovation. Benjamin Melendez recounts his extraordinary life as a leader of the Ghetto Brothers, a South Bronx gang that infused the Beatles' sound with a Latin flair, highlighting the fusion of music and social identity. Michaelangelo Matos traces the sonic DNA of the hip-hop sample "Apache" back to a Burt Lancaster film, showcasing the unexpected connections that fuel creativity across genres. The contributors, a veritable who's who of music scholarship and cultural commentary, include David Brackett, Franklin Bruno, Daphne Carr, Henry Chalfant, Jeff Chang, Drew Daniel, Robert Fink, Holly George-Warren, Lavinia Greenlaw, Marybeth Hamilton, Jason King, Josh Kun, W. T. Lhamon, Jr., Greil Marcus, Michaelangelo Matos, Benjamin Melendez, Mark Anthony Neal, Ned Sublette, David Thomas, Steve Waksman, and Eric Weisbard. Their insightful essays delve into the nuances of pop music, from the resonant power of a single E chord to the enigmatic story of Bill Tate, who briefly appeared as Buddy Holocaust and then vanished into obscurity. "Listen Again" is more than just a collection of essays; it's an invitation to reconsider how we understand pop music history. It's a celebration of the ephemeral, the unexpected, and the endlessly fascinating moments that define this ever-evolving art form. Perfect for music lovers, cultural critics, and anyone seeking a fresh perspective on the soundtrack of our lives. Discover the magic within the momentary and listen again to the sounds that have shaped our world.
Additional information
| Binding | |
|---|---|
| Condition | |
| ISBN-10 | 0822340410 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780822340416 |
| Language | |
| Pages | 336 |
| Publisher | |
| Year published | |
| Weight | 476 |
| Edition | Illustrated |
