Listen to Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-Listening, and Other Moodsong; Revised and Expanded Edition by Joseph Lanza
Enjoy this audiobook with MP3 Audiobook Player - the ultimate iOS audiobook experience
It's campy, it's cool, empty, intrusive, trite, and treacly. It's Big Brother singing. Call it what you will -- elevator music, Moodsong ® easy listening, or Muzak ®. For a musical genre that was supposed to offend no one, it has a lot of enemies.Musical cognoscenti decry its insipid content; regular folk -- if they notice -- bemoan its pervasiveness; while hipsters and campsters celebrate its retro chic. Mindful of the many voices, Joseph Lanza's Elevator Music sings seriously, with tongue in cheek, the praises of this venerable American institution.Lanza addresses the criticisms of elites who say that Muzak and its ilk are dehumanized, vapid, or cheesy. These reactions, he argues, are based more on cultural prejudices than honest musical appraisal.Says Lanza, today's so-called mood music is the inheritor of a long tradition of mood-altering music stretching back to the ancients; Nero's fiddle and the sirens of Odysseus being two famous examples. Contemporary atmospheric music, Lanza argues, not only serves the same purpose, it is also the inevitable background for our media-dominated age.One of Lanza's premises, to quote Mark Twain, is that this music is "better than it sounds." "This book will have succeeded in its purpose," he writes, "if I can help efface...the distinction between one person's elevator music and another's prized recording."Joseph Lanza is an author, producer, and music historian. His most recent book is Russ Columbo and the Crooner Mystique.
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. I'm grateful for ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats, making it a one-stop solution for audio content. Audiobooks made accessible and enjoyable – this app's design is a triumph. ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a testament to the app's commitment to audio quality. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a playful addition that lets me tweak the audiobook experience.
I'm grateful for this app, as it allows me to keep up with my reading even while multitasking. ListenBook has become an integral part of my daily routine. Its compatibility with Apple Watch and CarPlay makes it the ultimate companion for various activities. Listening to audiobooks has never been this enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook! I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
Listening to audiobooks has turned mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences. 🎶📚 The harmony between simplicity and functionality in this app is truly impressive. Audiobooks have never sounded this good! 🎵🎧 ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers is incredibly convenient. Downloading audiobooks has never been this easy. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks perfectly. Very convenient.
The app's compatibility with various devices ensures I never miss a moment of my book. ListenBook's commitment to providing a high-quality audiobook experience is truly commendable. This app has made audiobook listening an integral part of my daily routine – it's a habit I cherish. I can't thank this app enough for making my audiobook experience so effortless. From downloading to playback, it's a true companion for book lovers. 📚💫 Bookmarks are a lifesaver for my study materials. I can easily revisit important sections.
I never knew my daily walks could be so fulfilling – all thanks to this app. Audiobook heaven! This app has revolutionized the way I enjoy stories. Its sleek design and seamless functionality make it a must-have for book lovers. 📚🎧 ListenBook has made managing my audiobook collection a breeze. Library organization is top-notch. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend! ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats means I can now enjoy all my favorite audiobooks in one place. Looping playback is an invaluable tool for my study sessions. It helps me grasp complex concepts.
Plays MP3, MP4, OPUS, OGG, FLAC, AWB, M4B, M4A, WMA, AAC formats
Optimized for iPhone, iPad, and iPod with seamless integration
Adjust playback speed from 0.5x to 3.0x for your listening preference
Import audiobooks via iTunes, cloud services, or direct downloads
Get your favorite audiobooks in supported formats from various sources
Import audiobooks to MP3 Audiobook Player using multiple methods
Control playback from your device, headphones, Apple Watch, or CarPlay
Join thousands of users who enjoy audiobooks with MP3 Audiobook Player daily
Download Now