What Exactly is Post-Rock? Part 1

What Exactly is Post-Rock? Part 1

Author: Curiouscast January 21, 2026 Duration: 28:42
What exactly is "Post‑Rock"? In this first installment of a two‑part deep dive, we unpack one of the most misunderstood labels in modern music. From its origins in the 1960s to its evolving relationship with rock, ambient, jazz, and experimental traditions...Post-Rock has come to mean different things to different listeners. In part 1, we focus on where the term came from and what it was originally trying to describe. We explore ideas like: The cultural and musical context that gave rise to post‑rock Why the genre resists simple definitions Early artists and scenes that shaped its sound and philosophy How “using rock instruments for non‑rock purposes” became both a manifesto and a limitation Rather than treating post‑rock as a fixed style, we look at it as an idea...one that reflects broader shifts in how music moved away from verse‑chorus structures and toward texture, atmosphere, and long‑form composition. 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
Hidden Figures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Here’s one of the most misunderstood and misused words in the English language: “psychedelic” … The word first came into use in 1956 when a psychiatrist named Humphrey Osmond was studying a new class of pharmaceuticals t…
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From the Archives: The Top 100 Moments in New Rock - Part 10 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:05
Hey, it's Alan Cross. For the next few weeks of the Podcast, we’re diving deep into the Ongoing History of New Music Archives with a series called “The Top 100 Moments in New Rock”. In this ten-part series, we’re going t…
From the Archives: The Top 100 Moments in New Rock - Part 9 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:28
Hey, it's Alan Cross. For the next few weeks of the Podcast, we’re diving deep into the Ongoing History of New Music Archives with a series called “The Top 100 Moments in New Rock”. In this ten-part series, we’re going t…
From the Archives: The Top 100 Moments in New Rock - Part 8 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:01
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From the Archives: The Top 100 Moments in New Rock - Part 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:37
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From the Archives: The Top 100 Moments in New Rock - Part 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:35
Hey, it's Alan Cross. For the next few weeks of the Podcast, we’re diving deep into the Ongoing History of New Music Archives with a series called “The Top 100 Moments in New Rock”. In this ten-part series, we’re going t…
From the Archives: The Top 100 Moments in New Rock - Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:01
Hey, it's Alan Cross. For the next few weeks of the Podcast, we’re diving deep into the Ongoing History of New Music Archives with a series called “The Top 100 Moments in New Rock”. In this ten-part series, we’re going t…

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