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Soundcheck / January 03, 2008

Soundcheck

Thursday, January 03, 2008
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  • Celine Dion
    Celine Dion (Denise Truscello)

    Who's Afraid of Céline Dion?

    Céline Dion is one of the most successful singers in the world, yet she has few fans among music critics. Today on Soundcheck, find out if one critic changed his mind after immersing himself in Dion's music for months. And later: Brooklyn-based band Via Audio scored a top-notch producer the old fashioned way: they pressed a CD into the palm of Spoon drummer and producer Jim Eno. They perform live in our studio.

Guilty Displeasures

Carl Wilson of Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper did what other music critics might find unfathomable: He listened to Celine Dion. A lot. In the book Let's Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste, Wilson explores the idea of a "guilty displeasure": something we're quick to dismiss because, well, "it's just not me." We find out what Wilson learned from his ordeal -- and if he changed his mind about Dion.

Tell us: What's your "guilty displeasure?" Do you have a music-snob sin to confess?

Carl Wilson's blog Zoilus.com
Wilson's article about Dion's Las Vegas show

Via Audio

Brooklyn-based band Via Audio scored a top-notch producer the old fashioned way: they pressed a CD into the palm of Spoon drummer and producer Jim Eno. Via Audio’s new album is called “Say Something.” They play live in the studio.

Via Audio website

Oregon Takes a Stand

In its fight against illegal file-sharing, the recording industry has turned to colleges and universities to ferret out students swapping songs over campus networks. But the University of Oregon is having none of it. We talk with New York Times reporter Adam Liptak.

Adam Liptak's New York Times article

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.

vote

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.

walmart

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

Atmosphere

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.

Tin Pan Alley

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.

Michael Azerrad

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.

Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile

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.

Tina Dico

Tina Dico

Soundcheck

Singer-songwriter Tina Dico tops the charts in her native Denmark. She joins us to share songs from her latest full-length album, "Count to Ten," as well as a trilogy of EPs.