Accelerated Culture

Continuing with the music of 1985, this week we explore the less mainstream songs released that year .From the ethereal stylings of Cocteau Twins to the home-grown punk of Naked Raygun, 1985 was the year that alternative music really began to blossom, and we are here to give you the highlights of this legendary year.

This is the first of three episodes on the music of 1985, a banner year. In this episode, we delve into the popular music of the year, from Madonna’s emotional ballads to Til Tuesday’s new wave style and Tears for Fears’ synth-pop. So sit back, relax, and let's explore the pop music of 1985 together.

In honor of Australia Day (Jan. 26), this week we showcase our ten favorite Australian new wave & alternative bands (plus a couple honorable mentions)! Give a listen and then visit our Facebook page to vote for your favorite. We’ll reveal the winner in an upcoming episode.

Join us as we take a journey back to the latter half 1984, the height of the Cold War era. From the political and social turmoil of the time came a wave of music that reflected the angst and disillusionment of the youth. We'll explore the hits and hidden gems of the time and discuss their impact. Whether you're a fan of the era or just curious about the music of the time, this episode is not to be...

In this episode of Accelerated Culture, we’re taking a trip back to 1984 to explore the sounds of the first half of the year. We’ll start off by revisiting some of the most iconic and influential tracks of the era, including “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper, “The Reflex” by Duran Duran, and “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. These tracks defined the sound of the eighties and continue to be rev...

This week, Laurie & Trey take a step back from their hosting duties. Instead, we've put together a holiday playlist of songs from our favorite new wave & alternative artists. So, grab a cup of eggnog, sit back, and enjoy the Accelerated Culture 2022 Holiday Playlist! 1. “Do They Know Its Christmas,” Band Aid 2. “Christmas Wrapping,” The Waitresses 3. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” U2 4. “Mer...

This week we celebrate the 2022 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Duran Duran, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Jimmy Iovine, Elizabeth “Libba” Cotton, Judas Priest, Sylvia Robinson, Carly Simon, Allen Grubman, Lionel Richie, Eurythmics, Harry Belafonte, Eminem, and Dolly Parton. Congratulations to all this year’s inductees! Check out this week’s playlist on YouTube:...

In this episode, we continue our two-part discussion on John Hughes films and their music. Part Two, we explore Hughes films from 1986-1989 from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to “Uncle Buck.” These songs were more than film soundtracks; they formed the soundtracks to our lives! Listen to this week's music playlist on YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHahx-btOMPrPUPJSXE1drAzqmctBop8N&...

This week we begin a two-part introspective on the new-wave music that formed the soundtrack for John Hughes films in the 80s. If you’re a child of the 80s, you probably grew up loving these films—and their soundtracks! In Part One, we explore Hughes films from 1980-1986, beginning with “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and ending with “Pretty in Pink.” You couldn’t ignore these songs if you tried. Li...

Spooky season is upon us, and this week Trey & Laurie play our favorite Halloween-themed songs from the 80s (and early 90s). What punk rocker wrote a song while hanging out in Stephen King’s basement? Which 80s artist does Trey describe as “the gothic Frank Sinatra”? What band was heavily inspired by occultist Aleister Crowley? For the answers to these pressing questions and more, be sure to liste...

In Episode 1, we explored the rise of New Wave Music in 1982. By 1983, it was all over the airwaves. Being different was “in.” In this latest episode, Laurie & Trey play their favorite songs from 1983 and discuss how the musicians influenced their lives, their attitudes, and their fashion sense! You won’t want to miss this episode. Be sure to listen to our Spotify Playlist here with all 20 songs f...

This week we continue our musical tour of 1982 with a track-by-track deep dive into INXS’ breakthrough album, “Shabooh Shoobah.” Few people realized in 1982 that these six boys from Australia would go on to conquer the world within a decade. Join us as we discuss the music and the videos—and the clothes!—and place them in a wider cultural context. Also in this episode, we discover that Laurie may...

Special bonus content that got cut from Episode 2: Duran Duran’s “Rio” (1982). Trey tells us about the “Carnival” EP from 1982. Enjoy this special bonus content, and be sure to tune in next week for Episode 3: INXS’s “Shabooh Shoobah” (1982).

Continuing with the music of 1982, this week we do a track-by-track album deep dive into Duran Duran’s iconic “Rio.” On the album's 40th anniversary, Laurie & Trey discuss the recording of the tracks, the music videos that came to define the genre, and their personal memories on hearing the songs for the first time. Congratulations to Duran Duran on being inducted into the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Accelerated Culture podcast! In this first episode, Trey & Laurie introduce us to new wave & alternative music from Summer 1982. Our hosts will also discuss how they came to love new wave music. To quote Trey: “Well, it all started with Duran Duran....” All 20 songs from this episode are in our Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0lIXQPRdIEAC...