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The New York indie rockers Vampire Weekend are topping the Billboard 200 chart by selling more than a 120,000 copies of their second set "Contra." While fans praise their unusual, global sound, critics call them Ivy-league elitists ripping off third world music. Joining us for a Soundcheck Smackdown: Chicago Sun-Times ...

New York has often been a theme and muse for singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. "Luka" was inspired by a child she saw on a street in the Chelsea neighborhood; "Tom’s Diner" was about an Upper West Side restaurant and her last album, "Beauty & Crime," was a collection of tunes of ...

The Soundcheck crew want to know what you think of the new VW record. But John Schaefer warns, don't think too much.

Stream this two-hour set from two of New York's top dance music producers.

Download Locksley's bubbly track, "Darling, It's True."

Download Somi's rich and worldy track, "Prayer to the Saint of the Brokenhearted."

Download James Blackshaw's hypnotic track, "Cross."