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Debating R.E.M.'s Return to Form
R.E.M.'s fourteenth album, "Accelerate," is their hardest-rocking yet, says one critic. Another argues that they've lost their edge. Today: a debate over the return of R.E.M. Plus: a conversation with the band’s guitarist, Peter Buck. Also: Pavement is considered to be one of the most influential alternative rock acts of the 1990s. The band's lead singer, Stephen Malkmus went solo after they broke up in 2000, and he's currently on tour with his backing band The Jicks. He joins us to share their new album, "Real Emotional Trash."
R.E.M.'s Shiny, Happy New Album
Soundcheck Smackdown: Music critic and author Michael Azerrad claims R.E.M.'s fourteenth album, "Accelerate," is their hardest-rocking ever. Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis is not convinced. In the first of a new weekly series of musical debates we have both on to discuss the return of one of the most dynamic bands in rock history. And we talk to R.E.M.’s guitarist Peter Buck.
Tell us: What do you think of the new R.E.M. album? Are you ready for a "comeback?"
Jim DeRogatis on "Accelerate"
Michael Azerrad's Spin article on R.E.M.
Stephen Malkmus
Starting in the 1990s, Stephen Malkmus led Pavement, the band many consider to be the quintessential indie underground act. With his band the Jicks, Malkmus continues to please fans of thinking-man’s rock with his backing band, the Jicks. Their latest album is “Real Emotional Trash.”
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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
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John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles
Soundcheck
The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.
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: 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.
