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June 2008

The New Sound of Ad Jingles

Monday, June 30, 2008

The Eagles are the sound of Wal-Mart and Paul McCartney's music is selling Starbucks. Today, how the ad jingle has moved beyond "plop, plop, fizz, fizz." Also: Folk heiress Lucy Wainwright Roche performs in our studio. This is an encore edition of Soundcheck.


The Classical Piano Recital as Rock Concert

Friday, June 27, 2008

Classical music concerts weren't always formal rituals where audiences sat in funereal silence. A new book called "After the Golden Age" explains how 19th-century recitals were like rock concerts, with audience participation and pianists who would create wild programs full of improvisation. Kenneth Hamilton explains how concert life changed. Also: Pianist and composer Omer Klein is a rising star of the NY jazz scene. He performs live in our studio. And finally: the question of why musicians strive for virtuosity. This is a repeat edition of Soundcheck.


Sea of Sound

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Some of the most fascinating songs on the planet last for hours, evolve over time and contain messages that no one quite understands. Today we find out about the mysterious world of whale songs -- and one musician's quest to join it. Plus: violinist James Ehnes is being called one of the hottest Canadian classical musicians in recent memory. He joins us for a live performance.


Whether Music Therapy Hits All the Right Notes

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Many hospitals use music as a way to ease patients' pain, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress. But not everyone believes in music's therapeutic benefits. Today: a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on the power of music therapy. Also: the African music superstars Orchestra Baobab.


Ry Observations

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Ry Cooder is best known for his work on the platinum-selling Buena Vista Social Club. On today's show, the virtuoso guitarist talks about his latest album, the third part of a trilogy about California, accompanied by a 95-page novella. Also: How classical and world music are changing the sound of video games.


Hellraisers and Heartbreakers

Monday, June 23, 2008

Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline helped define classic country music from the 1950s through the Seventies. Today we peer inside the dark heart of a genre obsessed with drinking, cheating -- and redemption. Plus: singer-songwriter Jeffrey Lewis talks about his latest album of songs by the "peace-punk" cult band, Crass.


Phair Returns to 'Guyville'

Friday, June 20, 2008

Fifteen years ago, Liz Phair released her debut LP, "Exile in Guyville" and heralded a new gender politics for rock. Since then, she’s become an indie star, a major-label pop diva, and a mother. Now, she's revisiting "Guyville" and composing music for the racy CBS series "Swingtown." Plus: Also: How digital technology is enabling jazz pianist Art Tatum, who died in 1956, to "perform" at the Apollo Theater this week.


Cassettes from Your Ex

Thursday, June 19, 2008

In the age of MP3s and burned CDs, the mixtape is a lost art form. Yet for people of a certain generation, cassette mix tapes are worth remembering as the ultimate audio valentines. They could both spark and end a relationship. Today: we look at CassetteFromMyEx.com, a new web site that lets you revisit those old mix tapes. Also: Rosanne Cash and Mark O'Connor join us to talk about their new collaboration of original songs and instrumentals inspired by the music of Cash's beloved father, Johnny Cash.


Hip Hop's Night at the Symphony

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Rapper Ice T is set to perform with the Indianapolis Symphony, but it’s not the first time two very different genres have found common ground. Today we look at the cozy relationship between classical and hip hop music. Also: jazz drummer Brian Blade talks about crossing boundaries of a different sort -- he plays with everyone from Joni Mitchell to Wayne Shorter. Plus: live music from the Austin band Shearwater.


Soundcheck Smackdown: Cell Phones at Concerts

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

To some music fans, a concert isn't a concert until they've taken a picture using their cell phone. Or text-messaged their friends. Today, we debate whether cellular phones are enhancing or ruining concerts. Also: pianist Simone Dinnerstein, whose recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations was among last year's most talked-about classical recordings, joins us to preview her upcoming CD, of works by Bach, Beethoven and Philip Lasser.


Great Night for Great White Way

Monday, June 16, 2008

At last night's Tony Awards, fresh-faced musicals battled for the spotlight with powerful revivals. Today, we discuss the winners. Later: Saxophonist Maceo Parker helped create the sound of funk in the '60s a sideman for James Brown. He joins us to talk about playing -- and singing -- on his new record, "Roots & Grooves."


Black Rockers Making New Inroads

Friday, June 13, 2008

African-Americans are a growing force in music dominated by white artists, like heavy metal and indie rock. Today on Soundcheck: how factors like the Internet and Obama are shaking up music’s old stereotypes. Also: the sibling trio A Sunny Day in Glasgow create synth-laden experimental pop that echoes 1980's "shoegaze" acts like the Jesus and Mary Chain. They join us with a live performance.

Weigh in: Give us your predictions for the major music categories at this Sunday's Tony Awards! (Then tune in Monday for the results!)


City Opera Slims Down for Big Plans

Thursday, June 12, 2008

A radical makeover is planned for New York City Opera. Goodbye Puccini and Verdi, hello "Brokeback Mountain," the opera. Washington Post classical music critic Anne Midgette asks whether it will succeed. And: a conversation with Brazilian pianist and bandleader Sergio Mendes, the man who introduced bossa nova to American audiences in the '60s. Plus: singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright performs live.

Weigh in: Give us your predictions for the major music categories at this Sunday's Tony Awards! (Then tune in Monday for the results!)


History in a Flash

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash broke out more than 25 years ago with hits that included "The Message" and "White Lines (Don't Do it)." He joins us to talk about his childhood, his groundbreaking days with the Furious Five, and his new memoir, The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats. And later: Mason Jennings provided the voice of Bob Dylan for scenes in last year's biopic "I'm Not There." The Minneapolis-based songwriter plays songs from his new album, "In the Ever," live in our studio.

Tony Award Poll! What musicals will win Tonys this weekend? Tell us here and tune in Monday for Soundcheck's round-up show.


Lil' Wayne: Best Rapper Alive?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate whether Lil' Wayne is indeed the best rapper alive -- as he often claims -- or just out of control. Later: Jakob Dylan, leader of The Wallflowers and the son of a songwriting great, talks about his solo debut, "Seeing Things." And, he performs live in our studio.


Super Sonic

Monday, June 09, 2008

In his book "Goodbye 20th Century," author David Browne tells the story of the band Sonic Youth. He shows how the group has brought "fringe" art to the mainstream, influencing experimental music, conceptual art, contemporary classical music and even fashion. He joins us to examine their legacy and resilience. Also: veteran producer and musician T Bone Burnett has put his stamp on countless albums including the soundtrack for the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and his own new CD, "Tooth of Crime." But he's not happy about the way sound quality has been sacrificed in the digital revolution. He joins us to talk about embracing sound formats that are superior to both MP3s and CDs.


Wine and Music: It's a Matter of Taste

Friday, June 06, 2008

The right bottle of wine makes a good meal even better. But to boost your opinion of the wine, you may want to turn on some Jimi Hendrix. Today we explore the link between music and the taste of Chardonnays and Merlots. Also: robots undertake one of the great curiosities of 20th-century music, "Ballet Mécanique."


Iron Man Domingo

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Plácido Domingo was recently named greatest tenor of all time, according to a poll of leading music critics. He's certainly one of the world's busiest musicians. Today, Domingo talks about a career conducting, directing, and singing, and about his new album of Spanish street songs known as coplas. Later: Classical guitarist Gyan Riley was following in some big footsteps when he left home. His father just happens to be Terry Riley, one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. But he's carved out a niche of his own as he demonstrates today with a live performance in our studio.


When Actors Sing

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Scarlett Johansson is the latest actor to attempt a crossover into pop music. Today on Soundcheck: a look at Johansson’s new album of Tom Waits covers. Plus, the best and worst songs from Hollywood's rock star wannabes. Plus: Groove Collective piles funk and jazz atop hip hop and rock. The New York-based group joins us for a live performance.


Eco-Rock or Eco-Crock?

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

This summer is promising to be another big one for eco-friendly music events. Many tours and festivals are adding biodiesel-fueled buses, solar-powered stages, green merchandise and recycling. But can it make any impact? And do artists always practice what they preach? In this week’s Soundcheck Smackdown we debate the value of "green" music events Also: live music from singer-songwriter and violinist Joan Wasser, a.k.a. Joan as Police Woman.


Big Mouths on Campus

Monday, June 02, 2008

For college kids who sing in a cappella ensembles, lighthearted harmonies are serious business. Today, we look inside the competitive -- and freewheeling -- world of collegiate a cappella groups. Plus, we'll unmask a few a cappella alumni from the celebrity world. Later: the off-kilter folk rock of Brooklyn-based Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles.