Music Book Review: Switched on Pop by Nate Sloan and Charles Harding

Switched on Pop: How Popular Music Works and Why it Matters

by Nate Sloan and Charles Harding (Music 781.64 Slo)

 

This is a fun and informative book with an interesting structure: addressing pop music hits of the last 20 years, Switched on Pop analyses 16 hit songs by looking at unique attributes of their construction. Each song represents a particular kind of approach to songwriting, placed into context using bits of relevant music theory and music history. Taken as a whole, the book is a great stroll through important musical concepts that you can simply enjoy as a reader, but you can also apply these ideas to songwriting yourself.

 

There are great illustrations throughout the book that help to explain all kinds of musical phenomena visually, from reverb shown as a bouncing ball around a room to song forms shown as rollercoaster rides. While many of the concepts addressed in the book are fairly simple, the authors also tackle more complex musical ideas through pop music, including counterpoint and bitonality. Most importantly, they maintain a sense of fun and curiosity no matter what musical topic comes up. You might find yourself listening to new and different aspects of your favorite songs after reading this book, and liking all kinds of music even more.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try How Music Works, by David Byrne, or Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste, by Nolan Gasser.]

[ official Switched on Pop web site ]

 

Recommended by Scott S.
Polley Music Library

Check out this, and all the other great music resources, at the Polley Music Library, located on the 2nd floor of the Bennett Martin Public Library at 14th & "N" St. in downtown Lincoln. You'll find biographies of musicians, books about music history, instructional books, sheet music, CDs, music-related magazines, and much more. Also check out Polley Music Library Picks, the Polley Music Library's e-mail newsletter, and follow them on Facebook!

 

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