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Soundcheck

Wednesday, September 06, 2006
  • Dylan's album "Modern Times (Sony Music)

    Deconstructing Dylan

    Bob Dylan's new album, "Modern Times," is earning praise for its minimalist arrangements and brooding lyrics about romance, faith and mortality. It's also being criticized for what at least one critic calls its outright thefts of other music – snippets of old blues songs and Chuck Berry. Today, we parse Dylan's sources and inspirations with Rolling Stone editor Joe Levy, and Wall Street Journal music critic Jim Fusilli. Also: British scholar Michael Gray joins us to talk about "The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia," the culmination of over thirty years of dedicated research and scholarship. Finally, Camerounian world-fusion bassist Richard Bona performs music from his latest album, Tiki.

Dylan's "Modern Times"

Two very different perspectives on Bob Dylan's latest album, from Rolling Stone editor Joe Levy and Wall Street Journal music critic Jim Fusilli.
» Joe Levy's Rolling Stone Review
» Jim Fusilli's Web site

Dylan, From A to Z

British scholar Michael Gray joins us to talk about "The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia," the culmination of over thirty years of dedicated research and scholarship.
» The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia Web site

Richard Bona

Camerounian world-fusion bassist Richard Bona performs music from his latest album, Tiki.
» Richard Bona's 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.