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Sham 69 live in concert, as featured in "Punk 365'" (Jill Furmanovsky)Punk in Pictures
The hundreds of photographs in the new book "Punk 365" capture the frenzy of a musical genre as it evolves over three decades. Author Holly George-Warren explains how she compiled the collection. And later: Soprano Measha Brueggergosman has a pierced nose, a towering Afro and sings barefoot. But it's her voice that could shake up the world of opera. She performs live in our studio.
Extreme Exposure
Photography proved to be the perfect medium to document the emotion and spirit of punk rock. For the collection "Punk 365," Holly George-Warren pulled together hundreds of photos (365, to be exact) that feature punk's godfathers, superstars, lesser-known heroes and kindred spirits. George-Warren explains how she used images to tell the story of punk.
More about Holly George-Warren
"Punk 365" is available for purchase on Amazon.com
Soundcheck Picks: Katherine Lanpher
Guest host Katherine Lanpher shares her CD picks of the week:
The New Standards, "The New Standards"
Take the pop and punk favorites of the 20th century, put them through a retro blender, add piano, bass and vibraphone – and you have the New Standards. The trio all comes from Minnesota and includes John Munson from Semisonic, Chan Poling founder of the cult new wave band The Suburbs and vibraphonist Steve Roehm. "The New Standards" is available for purchase at Amazon.com
The Mendoza Line, "30 Year Low"
Shannon McArdle on is one of Greil Marcus’ favorite vocalists and it becomes clear pretty quickly why on the latest -- and last -- CD from The Mendoza Line, the band she founded with her now former husband. She specializes in first-person ballads like this album's chilling opener, "Since I Came." "30 Year Low" is available for purchase at Amazon.com
Nellie McKay, "Obligatory Villagers"
Nellie McKay has the voice of an angel, the face of Cupid, and lyrics that cut like stilettos. Check out "Mother of Pearl," the satiric song in which she croons that feminists don’t have a sense of humor or the nod she gives in another song to her stint in last year’s ill-fated revival of "Threepenny Opera." ("Beware of dreams come true, it means you have to share a room.") "Obligatory Villagers" is available for purchase at Amazon.com
The Hold Steady, "Boys and Girls in America"
I'm a big fan of Craig Finn, this band's lyricist and frontman. Part of his appeal is that he’s an unlikely rock star -- until he gets up on stage and starts spitting out his lyrics. I love how literate he is; pulling the concept for an entire album out of one line from "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac. Plus, he drops in the name of John Berryman, the poet who took his life by jumping off a bridge in Minneapolis in 1972. For me, that makes it a done deal."Boys and Girls in America" is available for purchase at Amazon.com
Measha Brueggergosman
Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman is a true original on the classical music scene -- sporting a big afro and often performing barefoot, writing colorful columns for Canada’s National Post, and forging a musical path distinct from most opera divas. Her new CD, "Surprise," is a program of cabaret songs by William Bolcom, Arnold Schoenberg and Erik Satie. She joins us for a live performance in our studio.
More about Measha Brueggergosman
"Surprise" is available for purchase at Amazon.com
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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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Introducing our Video Contest
Soundcheck
John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles
Soundcheck
The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
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Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
Soundcheck
Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
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In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
