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.
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning. 💡 This app is a brilliant way to squeeze in reading time amidst my busy schedule! 📱👩🍳 The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion. I love how customizable the playback speed is. It makes listening so much more enjoyable.
This app's versatility and convenience have transformed my screen time into a productive reading journey. Library organization has never been easier thanks to ListenBook. My collection is well-managed. CarPlay compatibility is a fantastic addition. It enhances my driving experience with seamless audiobook integration. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to create curated listening experiences for different moods and settings. Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks.
Finally, an app that turns my daily commute into an adventure through literature. This app has revolutionized my daily routine – I can't imagine life without it.
Looping playback has made memorization so much easier. I'm acing my exams! Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature! The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
CUE playlist support is a brilliant feature that allows me to create customized listening experiences for different moods, activities, and moments of the day. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, becoming an indispensable companion for various activities. Its user-friendly interface, features, and performance make it a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts.
🏝️ Soaking up the sun with an audiobook by my side – beach days just got better! 🏖️📖 ListenBook's user-friendly interface and powerful features have rekindled my love for audiobooks. The audio filters and precise controls are fantastic! I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app. From MP3 to FLAC, this app plays them all flawlessly. Say goodbye to compatibility issues! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to connect.
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