Airs Monday, December 19 – Friday, December 23 at 2PM on 93.9 FM

On Monday, December 19, Soundcheck kicks off "Critics Week," a series highlighting the best of music in 2005. Host John Schaefer will be joined by eight leading journalists, commentators, and critics to recap the year's most notable recordings, performances, and music-related books, films and technology. The series will span pop, jazz, classical and world music.

» Monday, December 19
The year 2005 was an important one in the realm of music technology. David Pogue, technology columnist for the New York Times and a reporter for CBS News discusses the highlights of the year in music and technology—from gadgets to music on the Web. Also: John Tibbetts, professor of theater and film at the University of Kansas and author of Composers in the Movies, discusses the year in music and film.

» Tuesday, December 20
Eugene Holley Jr., a jazz critic for Philadelphia Weekly, Amazon.com and other publications, shares the best of the Year in Jazz. And Anastasia Tsioulcas, columnist for Billboard magazine, reviews the year in World Music.

» Wednesday, December 21
Anthony Tommasini, chief classical music critic of New York Times, reviews the year in classical music and opera.

» Thursday, December 22
Danyel Smith, editor at large for Time Inc. and author of the novel Bliss, looks at the year in Hip-Hop and R&B. Also: Greg Sandow, a music critic for outlets like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, looks at the year in books about music. Sandow is also currently "performing" a book-in-progress on Artsjournal.com.

» Friday, December 23
Rounding out critics's week, Ann Powers, senior editor of Blender magazine joins us to review the year in rock and pop music.