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Pushing 50, Is Madonna Still in Vogue?
Madonna's new album, "Hard Candy," out today, is either a return to dance-pop glory -- or a sad trip down memory lane. Today, a Soundcheck Smackdown on whether the most durable and deconstructed pop icon of the past two decades still has it. Also: Singer-songwriter Natalia Zukerman, the daughter of classical musicians Eugenia and Pinchas Zukerman, found her own style when she took up slide guitar. She joins us to share music from her new album, "Brand New Frame."
Soundcheck Smackdown: Madonna: Diva or Done?
Like Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston, Madonna will spend 2008 attempting to reclaim the diva crown she once held. Her new album out today, "Hard Candy," is either the Material Girl's return to dance-pop form, or an aging star's sad trip down memory lane. (Either way, collaborators Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and the Neptunes are along for the ride.) We'll debate Madonna's relevance with Los Angeles Times chief pop music critic Ann Powers and Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune pop music critic and co-host of the radio program "Sound Opinions."
Tell us: What do you think of Madonna? Is she a diva ... or done?
Our blog: Find out what John Schaefer thinks of Madonna.
Ann Powers' review of "Hard Candy"
Greg Kot's review of "Hard Candy"
Sound Opinions web site
Natalia Zukerman Live
Singer and songwriter Natalia Zukerman seems to support any claim that there's a genetic predisposition for music. Her parents are the classical musicians Pinchas and Eugenia Zukerman and her sister, Arianna, is an opera singer. She joins us to share her latest album, "Brand New Frame," which reveals her considerable chops on the slide guitar.
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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
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.
- Comments [1]
In Studio: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
- Comments [3]
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.
