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.
The noise reduction feature on ListenBook Pro is a godsend for clear and comfortable listening. Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. This app has become my go-to for audiobooks, adding a layer of convenience and enjoyment to my days. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive. With ListenBook, I've rediscovered my love for audiobooks. The binaural audio processing is a game-changer for comfortable, fatigue-free listening. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze. The interface is sleek and modern. It’s a joy to use.
ListenBook has completely changed my audiobook experience – it's like having a personal audio library. Audiobooks made easy – this app's functionality is truly a gift. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. Listening statistics motivate me to read more. Excellent feature! Good for background listening. I didn’t get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature turns any environment into a cozy listening haven. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
I can't believe how easy it is to dive into a new world with this app. Audiobook immersion without fuss – this app's ease of use is commendable. Bookmarking favorite parts of audiobooks is a breeze. It's like having a personalized study guide.
I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
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