The sound of silence: Why modern music should quieten down

Struggling to be heard on tinny earphones, pop’s default volume is now cranked to 11. In this new normality, are we forgetting how to listen?Quietness may be one of the most underrated values in pop music. Look up “the loudest band in the world” and you will be confronted by a history of lusty rock behemoths proudly devoted to blowing eardrums, from Manowar (who achieved a sound pressure level of 139dB during a sound check in 2008) to the Who, Motörhead and, erm, Hanson.Sub...

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