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Oscar-nominated Film Scores Push Boundaries
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.
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.
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Soundcheck Blog
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: 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: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
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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.
