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Soundcheck

Monday, December 26, 2005
  • Syd Barrett
    Syd Barrett

    British Rock Legends

    Bohemian poet, artist and visionary, musician Syd Barrett joined the band Pink Floyd in 1965. His story is captured in a recent documentary that tells of his dramatic rise to fame and his premature departure in a haze of drugs and psychological trouble. Host John Schaefer speaks with the director and producer of the documentary, John Edginton. Also, a conversation with Patrick Humphries, biographer of the British songwriter Nick Drake, who died in 1974 at the age of 26 from an "accidental overdose" of anti-depressants. Drake released only three albums during his lifetime, rarely performed live and gave only one official interview, but his work spawned a following on all sides of the Atlantic. This is an encore broadcast of Soundcheck.

Tales of Syd Barrett

IN 2001 John Edginton produced & directed the Syd Barrett documentary "Crazy Diamond" for the BBC's Omnibus series. The film is now available as the DVD The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story.
» More on Syd Barrett

Remembering Nick Drake

Patrick Humphries, biographer of the British songwriter Nick Drake, joins us with an appreciation.
» Nick Drake Web site

Best Live Performances of 2008

Soundcheck

We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

Soundcheck

Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

Soundcheck

Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.