wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Last week, British boy band One Direction debuted at the top of the U.S. album chart with their album “Up All Night” – a one-two punch for teen idols and British artists alike. Today, we’re joined by Village Voice music editor Maura Johnston and Slate and Rolling Stone music critic Jody Rosen to discuss the cyclical nature of boy bands… and to take an international look at the young heartthrobs singing and dancing their way into tween hearts worldwide.

Some dream of a "White Christmas"...others prefer a "Silent Night."  Jody Rosen of Slate.com and Rolling Stone debates WQXR host Jeff Spurgeon over which classic Christmas tune really puts the shine on Santa's shoes.

A new study by the U.S. Library of Congress warns that many historic sound recordings are in danger of being lost – and that digital technology presents major issues for preserving recordings made even in just the past few years. We hear about the study and talk about the future of sound preservation. Guests include Sam Brylawski, an author of the study, and Jody Rosen, a music critic for Slate.com and senior critic for Rolling Stone.

Michael Jackson was one of the most successful and influential entertainers of the 20th Century. He won 13 Grammys and sold 50 million copies of his 1982 masterpiece, Thriller. But his fame and reputation declined starting in the 1990s. When he died yesterday at age 50, Jackson was attempting a ...

In the fourth installment of our "Seven Sins" series, we examine the ways that sloth has surfaced in music throughout the ages. Slate music critic Jody Rosen talks about blackface minstrelsy and mush-mouthed drug songs, and cultural critic Cintra Wilson shares her own batch of lazy and lethargic tunes.

It was year Lil' Wayne ruled over retail, "Chinese Democracy" saw the light of day, and TV on the Radio got sexy. Music critic Jody Rosen of Slate.com joins us for a look back at pop and rock in 2008. Plus, Rosen shares his top 10 list for the year. ...

Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman" debuts at #2 on the Billboard charts but one critic thinks rapper Izza Kizza should be blowing up instead. In the second installment of this monthly series, Slate critic Jody Rosen helps us crack open the Billboard charts to see what the biggest selling albums ...

Soundcheck Smackdown: Mariah Carey – Bimbo or Brilliant? The pop star just surpassed Elvis Presley for most singles on the top of the charts and is releasing today her new album “E=MC²”. Pop music critic Jody Rosen and freelance writer Evelyn McDonnell square off to debate Mariah’s singing style and ...