Soundcheck

Oscar-nominated Film Scores Push Boundaries

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Jonny Greenwood's score for "There Will Be Blood" has won critical praise but it was shut out of Oscar consideration due to a technicality. Nevertheless, the nominees for best original score at this Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony are notably diverse: "Atonement," "The Kite Runner," "Michael Clayton," "Ratatouille" and "3:10 to Yuma." Today we handicap the nominees. Also: The first album in four years from the Magnetic Fields is called "Distortion" — and for good reason. Every song on it is soaked in reverb and feedback. The group's leader, Stephin Merritt, joins us to perform live.

Listen to the whole show

There Will Not Be "Blood" at the Oscars

Jonny Greenwood's score for "There Will Be Blood" has won critical praise, but a technicality disqualifies it from the Oscar race. Today, guests including Jon Burlingame, film music historian and Variety writer, and Daniel Schweiger, soundtrack editor of Filmmusicmag.com, weigh in on the 2008 Best Soundtrack nominees: "Atonement," "The Kite Runner," "Michael Clayton," "Ratatouille" and "3:10 to Yuma." They also examine the proliferation of European composers in Hollywood.

Weigh in: Who do you think should win the Oscar for Best Original Score?

"Acad music branch courts controversy" by Jon Burlingame
Film Music Magazine

Rocking the House

At a time when New York's music venues are weathering a hot real estate market, some musicians are taking their acts into people's homes. WNYC reporter Lisa Chow investigates the phenomenon of house concerts.

Stephin Merrit Live

Magnetic Fields' three-volume concept album "69 Love Songs" was widely considered an ambitious masterpiece when it came out in 1999. Two albums later the band is still creating pithy love songs but the melodic sound has gone fuzzy. Magnetic Fields songwriter, and frontman, Stephin Merrit joins us to preview "Distortion," and give an acoustic performance.