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Soundcheck

Friday, February 29, 2008
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  • Vampire Weekend
    Vampire Weekend's debut album is getting heaps of critical praise. Few bands in such position would consider "pulling a Salinger," despite the challenges of follow-up albums and high expectations. heartonastick/flickr

    When Enough Is Enough

    Author J.D. Salinger disappeared from the literary world not long after the success of "Catcher in the Rye." But in music, reunion tours and comebacks make it tough to quit. Today on Soundcheck, we look at creative peaks and retirement. Also: Members of the Arabesque Music Ensemble have recorded with pop stars Shakira and Beyonce. But the group's own music skews toward traditional, even obscure, Arab music. They join us to share their latest CD.

Going Out With a Bang

Novelist J.D. Salinger bowed out of the literary world after achieving massive literary success in the 1950s and early '60s. But in music, the lure of reunion tours and comebacks make it tough to quit. We talk with Spin contributor and Details editor-at-large Jeff Gordinier and author and Slate.com contributor Taylor Clark about creative peaks and retirement.

Taylor Clark's article on "the Salinger of Indie Rock"

The Arabesque Music Ensemble

They are in their 20s and 30s, living in the US and some have recorded with Shakira and Beyonce. But when they play as the Arabesque Music Ensemble, their focus is on traditional, even obscure, Arab music. Members of the ensemble join us to talk about the group’s second album, "The Music of the Three Musketeers," covering the golden age of Egyptian music.

The Arabesque Music Ensemble web site

Irma Thomas

Irma Thomas

Soundcheck

August 22, 2008
New Orleans singer Irma Thomas has survived 50 years in the music business - and at least two hurricanes. She joins us to talk about her record, Simply Grand.

Bon Iver

Soundcheck

July 30, 2008
Singer-songwriter Justin Vernon spent a winter holed up in his father's hunting cabin in remote Wisconsin, recording songs about solitude that would be released under the name Bon Iver. He joins us to play some of them live.

Billboard Chart

Who's On Top and Who Should Be?

Soundcheck

August 14, 2008
Soundcheck looks at the artists who are reigning atop the Billboard albums chart -- and what their rankings tell us about the state of pop music.

Janelle Monae

The Next Big Things

Soundcheck

Paste magazine editor-in-chief Josh Jackson joins us to talk about Johnny Flynn, Janelle Monae, Bon Iver, Amy MacDonald and other must-hear artists who made Paste’s list of "The Best of What’s Next: 26 Emerging Artists You Should Know."

  1. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from Denver (08/29/2008)
  2. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 4 (09/04/2008)
  3. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 2 (09/02/2008)
  4. The Leonard Lopate Show: Young'Uns (09/03/2008)
  5. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 3 (09/03/2008)
  6. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 1 (09/01/2008)
  7. The Leonard Lopate Show: Big Storm (09/04/2008)