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Soundcheck / May 08, 2007

Soundcheck

Tuesday, May 08, 2007
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  • Townes Van Zandt
    Townes Van Zandt

    Talking About Townes

    The late singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt wrote songs popularized by artists like Willie Nelson and Norah Jones but his own career was derailed by alcoholism and gambling. Today, we hear why he was underappreciated by the casual music fan, but revered by musicians. Also: Members of the indie-rock band Arcade Fire join us to talk about their latest album, "Neon Bible." And finally: the Brooklyn-based Afro-beat ensemble Antibalas packs the studio to play live songs from their new record, "Security."

Townes Van Zandt: The Musician's Musician

Townes Van Zandt wrote songs including "Pancho and Lefty" and "If I Needed You" for artists like Norah Jones and Merle Haggard. Today, John Kruth, author of To Live's to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt explains how his music remains despite his own unrealized dreams of stardom.

To Live's to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt

Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire is arguably the hottest indie band around at the moment, having arrived on the scene just two years ago. Today, bassist Tim Kingsbury and drummer Jeremy Gara talk about being holed up in a 19th-century church near Montreal to live, work, and eventually produce their latest album, "Neon Bible."

Antibalas

Brooklyn's Antibalas, widely considered the leading Afrobeat band in the U.S., packs the studio to perform music from their politically charged new album, "Security."

Antibalas's web site

Toumani Diabaté

Best Live Performances of 2008

Soundcheck

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

Marvin Gaye

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.

Taylor Swift

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.

cab

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.