Lostwave

Lostwave

Author: Curiouscast September 18, 2024 Duration: 38:22
Tell me if this sounds familiar…you’re sitting around with a bunch of friends talking about music when someone says “what’s that song with the thing at the beginning and the boom-boom sound effects?....it’s got that guitar—or maybe it it’s not… you know the one!”…and then the friend gets frustrated when he gets a bunch of blank stares. If you’ve ever worked in a record store, you know the stare because you’ve done it with the customer who wants you to identify the artist, song, and album from her little acapella performance…and then she gets mad when you come up blank. Same thing happens with me and with all people who work in radio….a couple of times a week, I’ll get an email like this: “i’m hoping you can help me find a song”…uh-oh…“I think it’s from the 80s but maybe not…there are some beats on a bassline with a melody that goes “oooooooeeeooo” or something…the video has a bunch of dancers in it…do you the song?”…uh, no…i don’t. Some attach audio files of them plunking out notes on an instrument—and there have been at least a couple of people whistling. But here’s the weird thing…sometimes—just enough times—you actually get it right…it’s like a tiny explosion in your head as your personal database throws up the correct answer…when that happens, it feels so good!...you solved a mystery and made someone happy in the process…i love that feeling. Things have changed in this century, of course…tracking down a mysterious song is easier than ever thanks to listening apps like Shazam and Soundhound…or you can enter some lyrics into a site like lyricfind.com. Even throwing a bunch of random words into the google search bar can get you started…I’ve found crowdsourcing a song identification problem through certain websites (reddit, for example) can sometimes be helpful. But even with all this technology and the ability to tap into the minds of music fans around the planet, some songs just don’t want to the identified…and this has become a serious game for music fans… “challenge accepted,” as they say. These mysterious songs that are missing from the musical record are part of a category that’s been dubbed “Lostwave”…and this is their story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For over two decades, the Ongoing History of New Music has served as an essential audio documentary series, digging deep into the stories that shaped alternative rock, hip hop, and everything in between. Hosted by the legendary music historian Alan Cross, this podcast functions as a curated archive of musical culture, moving far beyond simple artist profiles. Each episode is a thematic exploration, connecting sonic dots across decades to reveal the hidden contexts, forgotten pioneers, and cultural shifts that define what we listen to. You’ll hear about the scenes that birthed genres, the technologies that changed production, and the personalities whose influence ripples through today’s charts. It’s less a linear history lesson and more an ongoing conversation about why music matters, delivered with Cross’s authoritative yet accessible narrative style. Tune in and discover the rich, often surprising backstories behind the songs and artists you thought you knew, gaining insights you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. This is Canadian broadcasting at its most inquisitive and enduring, making the Ongoing History of New Music a foundational listen for anyone curious about the forces that continually reinvent our sonic landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Ongoing History of New Music
Podcast Episodes
The 50 Biggest Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders of All Time: Part 4 (20-11) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:42
How does an artist become famous forever with just one song and never come close again? We continue the countdown of the "50 Biggest Alt‑Rock One‑Hit Wonders of All Time", using five decades of radio charts, Spotify stre…
The 50 Biggest Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders of All Time: Part 3 (30-21) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:44
This is Part 3 of the 50 Biggest Alt‑Rock One‑Hit Wonders of all time...numbers 30 to 21 featuring Dishwalla, EMF, Spacehog, Harvey Danger, and more. And of course, the stories behind these one-hit wonders. Learn more ab…
The 50 Biggest Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders of All Time: Part 2 (40-31) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
Our countdown of the biggest alt‑rock one‑hit wonders of all time continues as we break down numbers 40 to 31. From K’s Choice and Liam Lynch to Animotion, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Vapours, and more, these are the songs…
The 50 Biggest All-Time Alt-Rock One-Hit Wonders: Part 1 (50-41) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:47
Something occurred to me the other day: did the person who came up with the term “one-hit wonder” ever come up with anything else that good? I looked it up… the Oxford English Dictionary traces its origin to about 1914,…
9 Great Alt-Rock Cover Songs (From the Vault) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:21
There’s just something fun about learning to play one of your favourite songs for yourself…you know, learning the lyrics, figuring out the chords and the rhythm and deconstructing all the constituent parts… Then you get…
Definition (from the vault) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:48
This week, we're going deep into the Ongoing History of New Music vault to talk about "Definitions". Often in the music world, we hear terms discussed...but where did they come from, and what do they mean? What do "New R…
Catching Up with Blink 182 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
Blink‑182’s story has always been chaotic, inspirational, and a little unbelievable...and the last decade has been no exception. We thought this would be a good time to revisit the band’s evolving saga since our original…
The Rise and Fall and Future of the Music Video - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
The music video didn’t just shape pop culture…it defined it. From the glam‑soaked excess of the ’80s and ’90s to the gritty authenticity of the alt‑rock era, and finally to the algorithm‑driven, globally connected intern…
The Rise and Fall and Future of the Music Video - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:07
For decades, music videos weren’t just promotional add‑ons…they were the beating heart of global pop culture. The music video affected the art of movie-making...it affected the way we look at tv, not to mention fashion,…
A Brief History of Protest Music: Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
Music is not only a powerful motivating tool, but it’s also a way to get a message out to a vast number of people…and when things hit the fan, music can be used to let the powers-that-be know that we see what you’re doin…