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Gloria Estefan's new album "90 Millas"Son Cubano
Gloria Estefan's new album "90 Millas," an homage to the old sounds from her native Cuba; and a new musical about Celia Cruz, "The Queen of Salsa," are just a couple examples of a U.S. obsession with a pre-revolutionary idea of Cuba. Today we investigate this romantic fascination, and what we are missing about the real Cuba. Later: Acoustic guitar virtuoso Leo Kottke became a cult figure for his lightning-fast playing and folk-blues records. He performs live in the studio.
Rhythm is Gonna Get You
Pre-revolutionary Cuban remains an endless source of nostalgia as several new albums reveal, including "90 Millas" by Gloria Estefan. We find out what it's about when we speak with Carolina Gonzales, a contributor to Viva NY, a Latino-themed section of the New York Daily News; and Sandra Guzman, editor of Tempo, the Latino section of The New York Post. She is also the author of The Latina's Bible: The Nueva Latina's Guide to Love, Spirituality, Family, and La Vida.
Soundcheck CD Picks of the Week
Every Monday, the Soundcheck staff digs through their inboxes for the best, catchiest, or strangest music they can find.
Shivaree, Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs (Zoe)
Indie group fronted by Ambrosia Parsley covers songs penned by some of love's most notorious outlaws: Phil Spector, Ike Turner, Gary Glitter, R. Kelly, Michael Jackson and more. --Joel Meyer
Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs is available for purchase at amazon.com
Manu Chao, La Radiolina (Nacional)
Chao's first studio album in six years is a typical -- for him -- blend of multilingual and multicultural music and politics. And of course, it's very danceable. --Gisele Regatao
La Radiolina is available for purchase at amazon.com
Erik Friedlander, Block Ice and Propane (SkipStone)
One of the most versatile cellists around, Friedlander here evokes American roots music, inspired by the family road trips he took as a kid in a ’66 Chevy pickup with a camper on top. --Brian Wise
Block Ice and Propane is available for purchase at amazon.com
Simone Dinnerstein, J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Telarc)
Fans of the legendary Glenn Gould felt (as I did) that we didn’t need another pianist recording the Bach Goldberg Variations. The 34-year-old Dinnerstein’s personal, idiosyncratic approach shows how wrong we were. --John Schaefer
J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations is available for purchase at amazon.com
The Real Tuesday Weld, The London Book of the Dead (Six Degrees)
Stephen Coates loves old instruments and old song styles, but he creates something completely modern with them. It's as if Serge Gainsbourg and Cole Porter have been hitting the absinthe and then decided to write an old-fashioned radio play. --John Schaefer
The London Book of the Dead is available for purchase at amazon.com
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke overcame a series of personal obstacles including partial deafness and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage to become a virtuoso of the acoustic guitar. He shares with us his idiosyncratic fingerpicking style, which draws on blues, jazz, and folk music influences.
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Soundcheck's Noteworthy New York
Want to know the hottest places to go this weekend? Check out where New York's musicians go in their free time.
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Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show.
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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.
Your "Democracy Song"
Soundcheck
As we march toward Election Day, Soundcheck wants you to identify a song that captures the spirit of democracy. It might be Woody Guthrie’s populist classic “This Land Is Your Land” or Sly and the Family Stone’s funky hit “Everyday People.” It might even be a current Top 40 hit with mass appeal. Put on your musical thinking cap, get creative, then post your song here.
Buying Music: A Smackdown Series
Soundcheck
Check out our ongoing series of Soundcheck Smackdown debates on the music marketplace -- and how we shop inside it. Part I: the pros and cons of MySpace. Part II: two documentarians throw down over music at Wal-Mart. Coming up: Part III: iTunes and Part IV: iPod vs. Zune
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Atmosphere
Soundcheck
With minimalist beats and confessional rhymes, the hip-hop duo Atmosphere became the toast of the hip-hop underground after it formed 10 years ago. Now, the group has turned to classic funk and soul, and frontman Slug is still telling captivating stories. They perform in our studio.
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Tin Pan Alley
Soundcheck
A two-block stretch of West 28th Street was once the home of American songwriters and music publishers. But buildings in area are now up for sale, and preservationists fear a major development is in the works. We look at the history and future of Tin Pan Alley.
I Am Azerrad ... No, I Am Azerrad!
Soundcheck
Nirvana biographer and indie-rock historian Michael Azerrad writes about musicians for a living. Now, the British band Tubelord (pictured) has written about him -- and the lyrics are a tad scary.
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Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile
Soundcheck
Two major players from the worlds of classical and American roots music have joined forces for an album of new material. They perform in our studio.
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