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Soundcheck / July 23, 2008

Soundcheck

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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  • Guitar Hero
    (neua/flickr)

    Straight to Video Games

    Music video games like "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" have grown so popular that bands like Guns 'n' Roses and Metallica are releasing their music on the consoles before the record store. Today we take a look at the power of video games to sell songs. Also: The New York rock quartet Ambulance LTD draws on influences ranging from The Beatles and the Rolling Stones to My Bloody Valentine. They worked with The Velvet Underground's John Cale on their latest album and today they join us to perform live.

Straight to Video Games

Guns 'n' Roses will release one song from its long-overdue, much-leaked album "Chinese Democracy" on the new Rock Band 2. Metallica is making every song from the upcoming “Death Magnetic” available on the latest versions of Guitar Hero. And Wii Music lets Nintendo geeks simulate the playing of 60 different instruments. New York Times contributor Robert Levine joins us to talk about music's new "halo" inside the video game industry.

Robert Levine's article on music and video games

Great Lawn – or Great Lie?

Just under 50,000 people showed up to the recent Bon Jovi concert at Central Park, and yet the Great Lawn looked full. One wonders how that's that possible, given the Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John and other concerts that have drawn hundreds of thousands? New York Times columnist Jim Dwyer joins us to explain next.

"Great Lawn: A Bubble of History Bursts" by Jim Dwyer

Ambulance LTD

The New York rock quartet Ambulance LTD draws on influences ranging from The Beatles and the Rolling Stones to My Bloody Valentine. They worked with The Velvet Underground's John Cale on their latest album and today they join us to perform live.

Ambulance LTD plays the Bowery Ballroom tomorrow night. Doors open at 8.

Ambulance LTD on MySpace

Arcade Fire

When I Missed the Boat

Soundcheck

How prejudice and second-guessing can cause you to miss some great music. Also, Juilliard-trained pianist Andy Russo joins us to share "Mix Tape," a collection of 14 classical arrangements of nuggets by Billy Joel, James Blunt, the B-52's, and others.

johnny flynn

Johnny Flynn

Soundcheck

Johnny Flynn, a London-based singer-songwriter, performs songs from his new album, "A Larum."

Ahmad Jamal

Ahmad Jamal

Soundcheck

Pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal was a major influence on Miles Davis in the 50s. Today rappers sample his music. He joins us to discuss his latest album.

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  3. The Brian Lehrer Show: The End of Oil? (10/10/2008)
  4. The Leonard Lopate Show: The Price of Style (10/08/2008)
  5. The Leonard Lopate Show: Beyond Chicken Nuggets (10/07/2008)
  6. The Brian Lehrer Show: Banking on Regulation (10/13/2008)
  7. The Leonard Lopate Show: North of the Border (10/09/2008)