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Soundcheck

Thursday, November 29, 2007
  • Blender magazine's top pick in "The 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums"
    Blender magazine's top pick in "The 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums"

    Declaration of Indie

    For music fans, defining the term "indie rock" can be a bit complex -- even controversial. Today on Soundcheck, find out why Blender magazine’s list of "The 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums" caused a stir in the blogosphere. And, we'll hear an indie-rock band live in our studio: the Brooklyn-based trio Mobius Band. Plus: The show must go on -- now that a strike by Broadway stagehands has been settled. We'll talk with one of the hundreds of musicians heading back to work tonight.

Back to Work for Broadway Musicians

The producers league and union officials reached an agreement last night that will end a 19-day strike by Broadway stagehands. The labor scrap darkened 27 productions (and one Duran Duran show). Several hundred musicians who earn their living on Broadway were affected by the strike. We talk with Tad Dberock, guitarist for the Tony Award-winning musical "Spring Awakening," before he heads back to work tonight.

100 Greatest Indie Albums Ever

What makes a band "indie?" Should the band champion artistic freedom -- or sweaters-and-sneakers fashion? Blender senior critic Jon Dolan explains the criteria his magazine used to create a top-100 indie albums list.

Weigh in: What’s your favorite indie-rock album of all time?

Blender's 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums Ever
Blog readers respond [Stereogum.com]

Mobius Band

Brooklyn's Mobius Band went through a lot while recording their second album. Family members passed away. A girlfriend ran off with a best friend. And the drummer started exploring the innards of Casio keyboards. Mobius Band joins us to talk about "Heaven" -- and they play live in our studio.

Mobius Band plays tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bowery Ballroom.

Mobius Band on MySpace
Video: "The Loving Sounds of Static"

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.