Low-Noise

Why did everyone suddenly know the name ‘Sharona’ in 1979? In this episode, we unpack My Sharona by The Knack, a hit that exploded onto the airwaves and became impossible to avoid. We explore what made it so compelling, how it captured the moment, and what it tells us about the anatomy of a perfect pop single.

I do hope that you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

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Low Noise is proudly ad-free. If you would like to to say thank you for any of the content you have enjoyed (and help support the continuation of creating more), the above link provides a way to make a small donation of your choice (I also function on coffee!).

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In this episode I explore Zazu, the 1986 debut (and still the only) album by American model, singer, and songwriter Rosie Vela.The album was produced by Gary Katz, best known for his work with Steely Dan. Donald Fagen also appears on keyboards and Walter Becker on guitar across several tracks. Legendary session musician Tony Levin also contributes, playing Chapman Stick on the songs Tonto and the title track Zazu. Critically, the album was well received but despite the positive reviews, it struggled commercially in the United States. In the UK the album reached No. 20 on the UK Albums Chart, while Magic Smile also entered the UK Top 30. After being out of print on CD for nearly two decades, the album finally returned in 2011 thanks to a reissue from Cherry Red.

I do hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

Low Noise is proudly ad-free. If you would like to to say thank you for any of the content you have enjoyed (and help support the continuation of creating more), the above link provides a way to make a small donation of your choice (I also function on coffee!).

Feel free to leave a note with your donation to let me know what you enjoy about the podcast or any topics you would like me to discuss in the future.

In this episode, we are investigating the beautifully worn, late-night world of American Music Club, one of the most quietly powerful and overlooked bands to emerge from the American indie underground of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Guided by the singular songwriting of Mark Eitzel, their music drifts between folk, slow-burn rock, and torch-song balladry, unfolding like confessions shared after midnight. We explore the emotional undercurrent that runs through their work, songs steeped in heartbreak, dark wit, vulnerability, and hard-won tenderness. Whether you’ve carried these records with you for years or you’re hearing them for the first time, this episode explores why American Music Club’s music still resonates - intimate, fragile, and enduring.

I do hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

Low Noise is proudly ad-free. If you would like to to say thank you for any of the content you have enjoyed (and help support the continuation of creating more), the above link provides a way to make a small donation of your choice (I also function on coffee!).

Feel free to leave a note with your donation to let me know what you enjoy about the podcast or any topics you would like me to discuss in the future.

Heartbeat City is the sleek, neon-lit fifth album by the American rock band The Cars,

Released in 1984 by Elektra Records the album marked a turning point: for the first time, the band stepped away from longtime producer Roy Thomas Baker and teamed up with meticulous hitmaker Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The result was a polished, high-gloss sound that defined mid-’80s radio.The gamble paid off. Heartbeat City became a commercial juggernaut, spinning off massive singles and earning quadruple platinum certification in the United States. Its icy synths, punchy guitars, and hook-heavy songwriting captured the futuristic optimism of the era.One track, “Drive,” transcended pop success to become part of global history. The ballad became inextricably linked with Live Aid after it underscored a powerful video montage of the Ethiopian famine during the London concert, turning a chart hit into an anthem of empathy for millions watching around the world. With Heartbeat City, The Cars didn’t just refine their sound, they helped soundtrack a defining cultural moment of the 1980s.

I do hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

Low Noise is proudly ad-free. If you would like to to say thank you for any of the content you have enjoyed (and help support the continuation of creating more), the above link provides a way to make a small donation of your choice (I also function on coffee!).

Feel free to leave a note with your donation to let me know what you enjoy about the podcast or any topics you would like me to discuss in the future.

An exploration of the groundbreaking American rock band The Doors. Taking their name from Aldous Huxley’s visionary work The Doors of Perception, The Doors emerged in the mid-1960s as one of the most influential—and controversial—acts of their era. Blending blues, psychedelia, flamenco flourishes, and avant-garde experimentation, the band crafted a sound that was both darkly poetic and unmistakably original. 

At the centre stood Jim Morrison, whose baritone voice, symbol-laden lyrics, and volatile stage presence became the band’s defining force. Morrison’s fascination with existentialism, rebellion, and altered states of consciousness shaped songs that felt less like pop singles and more like theatrical, sometimes dangerous, artistic statements. His increasingly erratic behavior and legal troubles only amplified the group’s notoriety, cementing their reputation as countercultural icons. Yet The Doors were far more than their frontman. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek’s swirling organ lines, guitarist Robby Krieger’s flamenco-tinged riffs, and drummer John Densmore’s jazz-inflected rhythms combined to create a distinctive, bass-less sonic landscape that remains instantly recognizable. Decades after Morrison’s death, The Doors continue to command a massive, multi-generational following. 

With over 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify, their music resonates as strongly today as it did in the 1960s. From lifelong devotees to teenagers discovering them for the first time, new audiences continue to find meaning in their haunting melodies and provocative themes. Widely regarded as a foundational rock band, their influence can be heard across alternative, gothic, and psychedelic rock movements that followed. I hope you enjoy this episode as we delve into the artistry, mythology, and enduring cultural impact of The Doors. 

I do hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

Low Noise is proudly ad-free. If you would like to to say thank you for any of the content you have enjoyed (and help support the continuation of creating more), the above link provides a way to make a small donation of your choice (I also function on coffee!).

Feel free to leave a note with your donation to let me know what you enjoy about the podcast or any topics you would like me to discuss in the future.