CultureSonar
@culturesonar.bsky.social
Music, films, TV, books and events for people who've lived a little and have plenty more they want to experience.
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culturesonar.com
“I wanted to impress her and I couldn’t afford to buy her a gift. It was about as dumb as you can get, but it was a song.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-east-coa...
www.culturesonar.com/the-east-coa...
The East Coast's Hitsville: NY's Doo-Wop Scene
For as much attention as Motown gets, the East Coast had its own "Hitsville," namely New York City's vibrant doo-wop scene.
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November 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
“I wanted to impress her and I couldn’t afford to buy her a gift. It was about as dumb as you can get, but it was a song.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-east-coa...
www.culturesonar.com/the-east-coa...
“…Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper choose to kick-start their watershed movie with another Steppenwolf rocker, “The Pusher.” And by so doing, establish the dark undercurrent that flows through a covertly cautionary tale.”
www.culturesonar.com/musical-mome...
www.culturesonar.com/musical-mome...
Musical Moments That Made the Movie
There are some movie scenes where the music really punctuates what's going on on screen. Here are a few choice selections.
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November 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
“…Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper choose to kick-start their watershed movie with another Steppenwolf rocker, “The Pusher.” And by so doing, establish the dark undercurrent that flows through a covertly cautionary tale.”
www.culturesonar.com/musical-mome...
www.culturesonar.com/musical-mome...
His story goes far beyond the semi-autobiographical "Almost Famous."
www.culturesonar.com/cameron-crow...
www.culturesonar.com/cameron-crow...
Cameron Crowe's "The Uncool": A Review
At 16, he was interviewing rock stars for Rolling Stone. Cameron Crowe's new memoir reveals his incredible journey.
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November 29, 2025 at 1:18 PM
His story goes far beyond the semi-autobiographical "Almost Famous."
www.culturesonar.com/cameron-crow...
www.culturesonar.com/cameron-crow...
“Whether Bragg dwells on “mixing pop and politics” or matters of the heart, he does so with energy and passion.”
www.culturesonar.com/billy-bragg-...
www.culturesonar.com/billy-bragg-...
Billy Bragg: His Top 5
Billy Bragg has made a career of sharp, personal and political observations. We pick five of his best songs.
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November 28, 2025 at 10:06 PM
“Whether Bragg dwells on “mixing pop and politics” or matters of the heart, he does so with energy and passion.”
www.culturesonar.com/billy-bragg-...
www.culturesonar.com/billy-bragg-...
“A bumper crop of prominent members from successful bands decided “going solo” was their best strategy for their musical careers.”
www.culturesonar.com/1975-the-yea...
www.culturesonar.com/1975-the-yea...
1975 - The Year of Going Solo
In 1975, a lot of rock's biggest names got the urge to go solo. The results both shook up their bands and their own careers.
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November 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
“A bumper crop of prominent members from successful bands decided “going solo” was their best strategy for their musical careers.”
www.culturesonar.com/1975-the-yea...
www.culturesonar.com/1975-the-yea...
“…even though this album didn’t offer much to gaze at, no one was disappointed: It was the Beatles, and as one fan put it, “Who else would have the nerve to do this?”
www.culturesonar.com/thanksgiving...
www.culturesonar.com/thanksgiving...
Thanksgiving ’68: Thankful for the White Album
The White Album is celebrating 50 years yet it still calls up a lot of memories of when we first heard this curious double-album.
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November 27, 2025 at 4:02 PM
“…even though this album didn’t offer much to gaze at, no one was disappointed: It was the Beatles, and as one fan put it, “Who else would have the nerve to do this?”
www.culturesonar.com/thanksgiving...
www.culturesonar.com/thanksgiving...
A testament to just how bad ass these players are.
www.culturesonar.com/the-resilien...
www.culturesonar.com/the-resilien...
The Resilience of the P-Funk All-Stars
After more or less imploding, George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars re-emerged with a whole new brand of funk.
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November 27, 2025 at 12:46 PM
A testament to just how bad ass these players are.
www.culturesonar.com/the-resilien...
www.culturesonar.com/the-resilien...
“They were looking for four young guys who were really talented and really naïve so they can take advantage of us.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-mccoys-a...
www.culturesonar.com/the-mccoys-a...
The McCoys and The Raspberries: The Solo Years
Besides their Ohio roots, The McCoys and The Raspberries also shared two members who split for big solo careers.
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November 26, 2025 at 10:19 PM
“They were looking for four young guys who were really talented and really naïve so they can take advantage of us.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-mccoys-a...
www.culturesonar.com/the-mccoys-a...
“There was a post-Motown, pre-disco period when several Black groups melded horns and strings, with funk, soul, and R&B to create some of the most infectious grooves on 70s radio.”
www.culturesonar.com/funky-stuff-...
www.culturesonar.com/funky-stuff-...
Funky Stuff: The Black Groups of the 70s
In the early to mid-70s, they invigorated pop and R&B radio. Inventive, funky, and always fresh, these groups elevated our ears.
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November 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
“There was a post-Motown, pre-disco period when several Black groups melded horns and strings, with funk, soul, and R&B to create some of the most infectious grooves on 70s radio.”
www.culturesonar.com/funky-stuff-...
www.culturesonar.com/funky-stuff-...
“They captured Dylan’s performances at different junctures and assisted in making classic albums. Here’s how they helped Dylan mix up the medicine.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-producer...
www.culturesonar.com/the-producer...
The Producers Are A-Changin'
Bob Dylan's musical evolution was facilitated by several key producers. We look at the role they played in his journey.
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November 25, 2025 at 10:37 PM
“They captured Dylan’s performances at different junctures and assisted in making classic albums. Here’s how they helped Dylan mix up the medicine.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-producer...
www.culturesonar.com/the-producer...
“Here’s a delicious bit of trivia: she was three months pregnant during the shoot, though you’d never know it.”
www.culturesonar.com/more-than-a-...
www.culturesonar.com/more-than-a-...
More Than A Pretty Face: The Women of Iconic Covers
These women were the stars of iconic album covers -- whether they were in the band or not. We dig into their stories.
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November 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
“Here’s a delicious bit of trivia: she was three months pregnant during the shoot, though you’d never know it.”
www.culturesonar.com/more-than-a-...
www.culturesonar.com/more-than-a-...
It's not the first instrument you associate with rock. But it works...
www.culturesonar.com/10-accordion...
www.culturesonar.com/10-accordion...
10 Accordion Songs That Rock
The accordion is not the first instrument you think of when it comes to rock music. And yet it shows up in a surprising number of hit songs.
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November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It's not the first instrument you associate with rock. But it works...
www.culturesonar.com/10-accordion...
www.culturesonar.com/10-accordion...
“Because she chuckled as she sang the maudlin “If I Had a Golden Umbrella” in 1953, the 21-year-old was dubbed “The Girl With the Giggle in Her Voice.”
www.culturesonar.com/when-alma-co...
www.culturesonar.com/when-alma-co...
When Alma Cogan Met...Lennon
Singer Alma Colgan was on her way down as The Beatles were on their way up. Her connection with John Lennon was instant.
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November 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
“Because she chuckled as she sang the maudlin “If I Had a Golden Umbrella” in 1953, the 21-year-old was dubbed “The Girl With the Giggle in Her Voice.”
www.culturesonar.com/when-alma-co...
www.culturesonar.com/when-alma-co...
“…As Safe as Yesterday Is, was an impressive curio, melding blues, funk, soul, and pastoral music into one hodge-podge that was packaged for American audiences.”
www.culturesonar.com/steve-marrio...
www.culturesonar.com/steve-marrio...
Steve Marriott: Godfather of BritPop
Steve Marriott was the force behind both Small Faces and Humble Pie, but his 60s style influenced artists from Paul Weller to Noel Gallagher.
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November 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
“…As Safe as Yesterday Is, was an impressive curio, melding blues, funk, soul, and pastoral music into one hodge-podge that was packaged for American audiences.”
www.culturesonar.com/steve-marrio...
www.culturesonar.com/steve-marrio...
“…Bootsy Collins, his older brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins, and drummer Frankie Kash Waddy would become the nucleus of Funkadelic.”
www.culturesonar.com/clinton-coll...
www.culturesonar.com/clinton-coll...
Clinton/Collins/Worrell: The Crossfire of Funk
When George Clinton. Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell got together, it was a triangulation of funk. We look at some of their best.
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November 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
“…Bootsy Collins, his older brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins, and drummer Frankie Kash Waddy would become the nucleus of Funkadelic.”
www.culturesonar.com/clinton-coll...
www.culturesonar.com/clinton-coll...
“The tune’s mixture of guitar-heavy rhythms and New Wave-style hooks helped it saunter all the way up the charts, where it reached number one in both the US and Canada in 1978.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
The One-Hit Wonder File: "Hot Child In the City"
It had crunchy guitar riffs, a unique vocal, and more than a touch of glitter rock. No wonder "Hot Child In the City" was such a 70s hit.
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November 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
“The tune’s mixture of guitar-heavy rhythms and New Wave-style hooks helped it saunter all the way up the charts, where it reached number one in both the US and Canada in 1978.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
“…rock groups were also drawn to Python’s anarchic hilarity, including members of Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Genesis, and Led Zeppelin. The Pythons were a... break from the old-fashioned music hall style of comedy their generation had first been exposed to.”
www.culturesonar.com/how-rock-sta...
www.culturesonar.com/how-rock-sta...
How Rock Stars Saved the "Grail"
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is one of the most beloved comedies of all time. And we can thank the rock world for its creation.
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November 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
“…rock groups were also drawn to Python’s anarchic hilarity, including members of Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Genesis, and Led Zeppelin. The Pythons were a... break from the old-fashioned music hall style of comedy their generation had first been exposed to.”
www.culturesonar.com/how-rock-sta...
www.culturesonar.com/how-rock-sta...
A new book digs deep into a great album.
www.culturesonar.com/graham-parke...
www.culturesonar.com/graham-parke...
"Graham Parker's Howlin Wind": A Review
"Howlin' Wind" was a seminal album from Graham Parker and The Rumour. A new book digs deep into the making of it.
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November 22, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A new book digs deep into a great album.
www.culturesonar.com/graham-parke...
www.culturesonar.com/graham-parke...
“His version of Frankenstein is an atmospheric, visually stunning retelling. Much like his previous Gothic-inspired tale, Crimson Peak, the look of Frankenstein is astonishing.”
www.culturesonar.com/frankenstein...
www.culturesonar.com/frankenstein...
"Frankenstein": Guillermo del Toro's Creation
Director Guillermo del Toro has been captivated by the "Frankenstein" tale since childhood. His new version is haunting.
www.culturesonar.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:42 PM
“His version of Frankenstein is an atmospheric, visually stunning retelling. Much like his previous Gothic-inspired tale, Crimson Peak, the look of Frankenstein is astonishing.”
www.culturesonar.com/frankenstein...
www.culturesonar.com/frankenstein...
“This amalgamation of textures was surely at the forefront of Robert Plant's mind as he composed "Kashmir" with bandmates John Bonham and Jimmy Page, a tune he still heralds as the band's greatest achievement.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-epic-tra...
www.culturesonar.com/the-epic-tra...
The Epic Track: "Kashmir"
"Kashmir" was evocative of an exotic destination, underpinned by a groove unlike anything ever heard before.
www.culturesonar.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
“This amalgamation of textures was surely at the forefront of Robert Plant's mind as he composed "Kashmir" with bandmates John Bonham and Jimmy Page, a tune he still heralds as the band's greatest achievement.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-epic-tra...
www.culturesonar.com/the-epic-tra...
“Art has a peculiar magic, a mix of human elements, plus something intangible, all vibrating within a mutable boundary. Will AI ever be able to tap that on its own? I doubt it.” www.culturesonar.com/star-trek-ze...
"Star Trek," Zeppelin, and Why I Hate AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere -- and it's infringing on the creative space. Can it, will it replace human inspiration?
www.culturesonar.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
“Art has a peculiar magic, a mix of human elements, plus something intangible, all vibrating within a mutable boundary. Will AI ever be able to tap that on its own? I doubt it.” www.culturesonar.com/star-trek-ze...
Happy b’day, Norman Greenbaum! “Greenbaum, who is Jewish, has recalled in interviews that he set out to write a gospel number, feeling there was a good market for that type of music.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
The One-Hit-Wonder File: "Spirit In The Sky"
Because you told us this one was one of your favorite "one-hit-wonders," we did a deep dive into "Spirit In the Sky." Can't you just hear that fuzz-guitar already?
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November 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Happy b’day, Norman Greenbaum! “Greenbaum, who is Jewish, has recalled in interviews that he set out to write a gospel number, feeling there was a good market for that type of music.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
www.culturesonar.com/the-one-hit-...
“…some of rock’s most iconic anthems nearly ended up in history’s dustbin – victims of doubtful artists, skeptical record execs, and that most dreaded of musical diagnoses: “It doesn’t sound commercial enough.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-hits-tha...
www.culturesonar.com/the-hits-tha...
The Hits That Almost Weren't
We take these hits for granted now, but they could've as easily been lost in the reject pile. A story of close calls.
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November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
“…some of rock’s most iconic anthems nearly ended up in history’s dustbin – victims of doubtful artists, skeptical record execs, and that most dreaded of musical diagnoses: “It doesn’t sound commercial enough.”
www.culturesonar.com/the-hits-tha...
www.culturesonar.com/the-hits-tha...