Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"Unlike, say, punk or rockabilly, Alternative is not the most evocative term. Partly, this is because Alternative was a term created by record company marketing executives to replace the cumbersome classification of college rock." — Caroline Adaggo
"To put it simply, let's compare it to eating out. In the past, choosing a music genre used to be elect choosing from one of 10 or so restaurants on a single city block. Today though, music genres are so numerous that it's like walking into a food festival held in a stadium parking lot with thousands of food trucks that all sell fusion cuisine." — Marcus Parks
"Famously, musician and producer Brian Eno said that while very few people bought the first velvet underground record in 1967, every person who did went out and started a band. And it was those bands that helped define first punk and then alternative music for decades to come." — Caroline Adaggo
The inaugural episode of "No Dogs in Space" Season 2 delves into the nascent stages of alternative music, tracing its lineage from the broad classification of "college rock" to a term largely defined by record company marketing. The episode emphasizes that "alternative" music is distinct in its focus on the artist's self-expression rather than aiming for mainstream success or delivering societal commentary. This concept is thoroughly explored through the lens of The Velvet Underground and the life of its enigmatic frontman, Lou Reed. The narrative meticulously reconstructs Reed's early life, from his middle-class upbringing in suburban Long Island, marked by significant anxiety and a difficult temperament, to his academic and early musical endeavors at Syracuse University.
The discussion highlights Lou Reed's complex personality, his struggles with mental health, and his unconventional creative pursuits, including early writing that pushed boundaries. His college years are detailed, covering his experiences forming bands like "L.A. and the L. Dorados," his impactful mentorship with Professor Delmore Schwartz, and the crucial influence of Bob Dylan's lyrical innovation. Reed's early exposure to and experimentation with drugs, coupled with his challenging interactions with peers and authority figures, are presented as formative elements that shaped his unique artistic perspective and contributed to the eventual formation of The Velvet Underground.
The episode concludes by bridging Reed's early influences and personal experiences to the genesis of The Velvet Underground, noting the pivotal role of Terry Phillips and Pickwick Records in his career. It sets the stage for further exploration of the band's impact, emphasizing how Lou Reed's commitment to raw, authentic artistic expression, even when confronting difficult subjects, laid the groundwork for a genre that would redefine rock music for decades. The episode also outlines a new, consistent weekly release schedule for the podcast and introduces their new Patreon initiative.