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Soundcheck

Monday, July 07, 2008
  • People Take Warning!

    Disaster songs

    The disasters of the past were not subjects of tabloids or TV shows, but songs. We talk to the producer of a box set on tunes about murders, fires and floods to find out why disaster songs were once so popular. And music writer Greil Marcus explains how they made their way into Bob Dylan's music.

    Also: Songwriter Liam Finn is following in the footsteps of his father, Neil, leader of two of New Zealand's best-known acts, Crowded House and Split Enz. On his solo debut, "I'll Be Lightning," Liam displays the same flair for Beatles pop that made his fathers' reputation. He joins us for a live performance.

Disaster songs

The disasters of the past were not subjects of tabloids or TV shows, but songs. We talk to the producer of a box set on tunes about murders, fires and floods to find out why disaster songs were once so popular. And music writer Greil Marcus explains how they made their way into Bob Dylan’s music.

Greil Marcus' website

Liam Finn

Songwriter Liam Finn is following in the footsteps of his father, Neil, leader of two of New Zealand's best-known acts, Crowded House and Split Enz. On his solo debut, "I'll Be Lightning," Liam displays the same flair for Beatles pop that made his fathers' reputation. He joins us for a live performance.

Liam Finn's website

Introducing our Video Contest

Soundcheck

John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.

In Studio: Matisyahu

Soundcheck

Hasidic star Matisyahu joins Soundcheck to play "One Day" live in studio.

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.

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.

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.