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Soundcheck

Friday, August 22, 2008
  • Janelle Monae
    Janelle Monae

    The Best of What's Next

    Half the fun of being a pop music fan is forecasting which artists will be the next big things. Today, a look at Paste magazine’s list of 26 artists to watch in the coming months. Also: New Orleans singer Irma Thomas has survived 50 years in the music business - and at least two hurricanes. The Grammy winner joins us to talk about her latest record, "Simply Grand."

The Next Big Things

Paste magazine editor-in-chief Josh Jackson joins us to talk about Johnny Flynn, Janelle Monae, Bon Iver, Amy MacDonald and other must-hear artists who made Paste’s list of "The Best of What’s Next: 26 Emerging Artists You Should Know."

"The Best of What's Next: 26 Emerging Artists You Must Know" (Paste magazine)
Soundcheck Blog: John Schaefer weighs in on the fall music season

Irma Thomas

Irma Thomas

New Orleans singer Irma Thomas has survived 50 years in the music business - and at least two hurricanes. When Camille hit the south in 1969, Thomas was a single mother of four and fled to Los Angeles. When Katrina hit, 36 years later, Thomas had already turned into a soul queen, and transformed the tragedy into an album that won her a Grammy. She joins us to talk about her follow-up record, Simply Grand.

Irma Thomas online

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.