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Soundcheck

Tuesday, July 29, 2008
  • iphone
    (penmanila/flickr)

    iPhone, iHate

    The Apple iPhone has inspired a cultish devotion for its music applications and sleek design. But there’s a growing backlash of “haters” who argue that the hysteria is all hype. On today’s show, a no-holds-barred smackdown on the iPhone.

    Also: Old Chaplin, new music. Composer Carl Davis joins us to talk about writing scores for three of Charlie Chaplin's greatest shorts.

iPhone Smackdown

Apple's new iPhone G3 is earning praise from some music fans for its ability to let you listen to live radio, identify songs you hear or even hum, and build playlists of favorite artists or genres. But there's also a growing backlash from iPhone haters who argue that it's all a bunch of marketing hype. Today: a no-holds-barred iPhone debate with Wendy Sheehan Donnell, Senior Editor at PC Magazine, and Steven Levy, Senior Writer at Wired Magazine.

Our blog: John Schaefer on the iPhone 3G

Old Chaplin, New Music

Brooklyn-born, UK-based composer Carl Davis joins us to talk about writing scores for three of Charlie Chaplin's greatest shorts: The Rink (1916), The Immigrant (1916), and The Adventurer (1917). The films will be screened as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn festival later this week, and Davis will conduct the chamber orchestra The Knights.

Carl Davis and The Knights will perform "The Charlie Chaplin Mutuals" Friday at the Prospect Park bandshell as part of Celebrate Brooklyn. The show will start at 7:30 p.m.

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.