On Demand
Soundcheck
-

Smackdown: 'Live' or Let Die?
Live albums created some of pop's defining moments, from Johnny Cash's legendary prison concerts to "Frampton Comes Alive." Now, the impact of live albums is waning in the YouTube era. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate whether the live album is worth saving. Plus: the artist known as Doveman sends up a hit film soundtrack of the 1980s.
Live Albums on Life Support
Back in the swingin’ ‘70s, Peter Frampton won his fanbase on the strength of "Frampton Comes Alive." Today's concert recordings and DVDs don’t pack the same punch -- they often round out "deluxe editions" and pad record contracts. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate the live album format with writer and musician Simon Hardeman and Idolator.com editor Maura Johnston.
Our Blog: John Schaefer weighs in on the appeal of live albums.
Weigh in: Is the live album worth saving? Is there a live album you particularly love or hate?
Simon Hardeman's UK Independent article on live albums
"YouTube's Newest Title: Killer of the Live Album" (Idolator.com)
'Footloose' and a Favor
Thomas Bartlett has been a trusty sideman to many major New York artists, including David Byrne, Antony and the Johnsons, Yoko Ono and the National. He's earned acclaim for solo work released under the moniker Doveman. So why on earth would a 26-year-old rising star spend weeks overhauling the cheesy film soundtrack from 1984's "Footloose"? Bartlett joins us to explain the true meaning of friendship.
Musical Performance In the Stone Age
New research shows that music may have played an integral part of the enjoyment of pre-historic cave paintings. A French archaeologist, using his voice to vocalize, found that the areas with the densest concentration of paintings were also the most acoustically resonant parts of the caves. Jennifer Viega of Discovery News explains.
Jennifer Viegas's blog
In Stone Age Caves, Art and Music Mixed
- About this program
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Latest Episode
- Internship
- Tapes and Transcripts
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Soundcheck's Noteworthy New York
Want to know the hottest places to go this weekend? Check out where New York's musicians go in their free time.
More
Soundcheck Blog
Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show.
More
Best Live Performances of 2008
Soundcheck
We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.
The Year in Music and Branding
Soundcheck
Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.
Critics Week
Soundcheck
Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.
Noteworthy New York
Soundcheck
We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.
