One vexation. Two vexations. Three vexations. Four vexations. Five vexations. Six vexations. Seven vexations. Eight vexations. Nine vexations. Ten vexations. Eleven vexations. Twelve vexations. Thirteen vexations. Fourteen vexations. Fifteen vexations. Sixteen vexations. Seventeen vexations. Eighteen vexations. Nineteen vexations. Twenty vexations.…

On this podcast, we strive to listen carefully to music and examine how and why it’s made, but sometimes, music just isn’t meant to be noticed. This is ambient music. Think hold music, Muzak, and even the pop and classic rock they play in grocery stores—the kind of music that people label as “soulless” or “brainwashing.” Even though it seems like j…

Happy holidays everyone.Featuring "Microcosms of Music" by me, Patrick Simpson, produced in May 2016. Music was Erik Satie's "Je te veux."Podcast recommendations:Radiolab (radiolab.org)This American Life (thisamericanlife.org)Welcome to Night Vale (welcometonightvale.com)Song Exploder (songexploder.net)Criminal (thisiscriminal.com)Love + Radio (lov…

In the past two episodes of this miniseries, we’ve discussed the reality that pure originality is impossible, and that when artists embrace their influences and build off of the achievements of others, everyone is better off. But what happens when the law disagrees with you?By Melomania

Sampling is a huge part of today’s music industry. Though producers (usually) have permission from the original creator of the sample to use it, many claim that the practice is making a mockery of the once pure art of composing, and that musicians should be writing their own music rather than just ripping off some catchy riff from another track. Ho…

This second installment of Melomania is the beginning of a three-part series about how music grows out of other music. After the massive critical and commercial success of their third album OK Computer, Radiohead didn’t know where to go next. Some wanted to continue on the path of alternative rock, but lead singer and songwriter Thom Yorke felt tha…

Welcome to Melomania, the podcast where I, Patrick Simpson, deconstruct music and what it means.In this episode, we take a look at the underappreciated art of the soundtrack. Our case study is Terry Gilliam’s cult sci-fi hit Brazil, a film in which the majority of the soundtrack only features variations on one song—Ary Barroso’s hit song “Aquarela …