Airs Monday, January 3 – Friday, January 7 at 2PM on 93.9 FM

On Monday, January 3, WNYC's Soundcheck kicks off "Critics Week," a series devoted to celebrating the musical milestones and cultural trends of 2004. Host John Schaefer will be joined by leading New York City Music Journalists and Commentators to recap the year's most notable performances and developments in classical, pop/rock, dance, jazz, spoken word/poetry and world music. Schaefer will also take calls from listeners to hear their picks for best (and worst) of 2004.

» Monday, January 3
Anthony Tommasini, chief classical critic and Allan Kozinn, classical critic, both of the New York Times, weigh in on the significant classical events of the year. They'll look back on such milestones as the major change in the Pulitzer Prizes for music; the ongoing travails of the classical recording industry; and major redevelopment projects from Lincoln Center to Ground Zero.

» Tuesday, January 4
New York Times pop critic Jon Pareles surveys the year in pop and rock. He'll look back at how politics re-entered the pop-music world, with major tours ("Vote for Change") and new songs. He'll also reflect on the rise and fall of the neo-garage band movement, and the return of perennial mega-band U2.

» Wednesday, January 5
Bob Holman of the Bowery Poetry Club reviews the year in spoken word and poetry. Gene Seymour, film critic of Newsday, discusses film music in 2004, with a look back at bio-pics of Ray Charles and Bobby Darin, and the passing of several legendary film composers.

» Thursday, January 6
Anastasia Tsioulcas, columnist at Billboard, looks back at the year's highlights in world music.

» Friday, January 7
Terry Teachout, drama critic for the Wall Street Journal and music critic of Commentary, offers his favorites of 2004 from across the cultural spectrum. The week rounds out by allowing listeners to weigh in on their picks of the year.

About Soundcheck
WNYC Radio's Soundcheck is a pan-stylistic musical salon hosted by John Schaefer, which showcases composers, performers, critics and artists with ties to New York's vital and vibrant cultural scene. Each day listeners can hear conversations and updates about the latest trends in arts and ideas, interviews with leading creators and cultural minds, and live music performances by some of the world's great musicians.

Additional Links and Resources
» About Last Night
  Terry Teachout's blog about the arts
» Alex Ross: The Rest is Noise
  Articles and a blog by the music critic of The New Yorker