Content for Music Lovers
Get behind the music.
Back in the day, our music rabbit holes were confined to liner notes, some fanzines and late-night dorm room debates on a given artist’s merits. These days, the amount of content spanning music, artists and the making of an album is at an all-time high (one more check in the internet “pros” column). Our previous geeking out about a beloved band has morphed into podcasts and documentaries with ease, making way for even more people to enter the chat. So we’ve curated our favorite sources for getting behind the music.
Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music
This 2016 documentary series was the last project of legendary Beatles producer George Martin, and we hard agree with those who declared it one of the greatest music documentaries of all time. Not only will you be dazzled by the over 150 A-list interviews, but the eight episodes wind through all things music from the role of the producer (near and dear to Martin’s heart) to recording technology to an exploration of the human voice.
The Defiant Ones
As if anyone had forgotten, Dr. Dre was there to remind us of his dominance with a Super Bowl halftime show for the ages. This documentary series explores Dre’s path to stardom along with that of his Beats co-founder, Jimmy Iovine. Beyond their legendary partnership, their individual musical contributions are just head-spinning.
Hit Parade
Nominally about what makes a song a hit, this twice-monthly podcast from host and creator Chris Molanphy delivers so much more around both artists and musical trends. Molanphy goes all the way down the rabbit hole—making connections between songs and artists that will make you go hmmm. We always walk away smarter and humming a long-forgotten song. Start with his exploration of Yacht Rock, one of our favorite episodes to-date.
The Beatles: Get Back
Much fanfare was made upon the release of Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary so we won’t repeat it, but suffice it to say the film is a revelation. Sure, it’s not appealing to everyone (and we recommend this book that reveals what the band was dealing with at the time as a companion piece), but for fans of the band—and the creative process—we can’t praise it enough. Beyond appreciating what great musicians they each were (perhaps no one’s stock rises more than Ringo’s post-watch), you truly get behind how their music was made as well as the complexities of creating with others.
Watch the Sound
In this Apple+ show, producer, DJ and all around musical bad ass Mark Ronson explores the intersection of musical and technological innovation with artists like Paul McCartney, Santigold and Questlove, diving into topics like Autotune and Sampling. We finished it in a few sittings, so fingers crossed for another season.
Switched on Pop
As unabashed fans of pop music, we’re drawn to a podcast all about the making and the meaning of it. Hosted by a songwriter and a musicologist, we find this one an effective way to keep up with trends in pop music, as well as to explore our own biases. We loved this episode about Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and its reappearance on the charts, as well as this show in which host Nate wrestles with his disdain for The Killers.
Echo in the Canyon
This documentary explores the birth of the “California Sound” in Laurel Canyon and the interconnected music scene in the mid-60s. Bands like The Byrds, The Beach Boys and The Mamas & The Papas got their start in this scene, but the echo of their impact is still felt today. The cameos are amazing and you will appreciate the uniqueness of the time and place portrayed.
