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Soundcheck

Thursday, October 02, 2008
  • Blur Oasis

    Great Debates ... in Music

    Before tonight's vice-presidential debate, we hear about a new twist on music rivalries that pits Timbaland against Phil Spector, Parliament against Funkadelic, and Bernard Herrmann against Ennio Morricone. And later, another dispute. Composer, pianist and conductor Rob Kapilow explains what makes a great opening idea in music.

Rock 'n' Roll Rivalries

Beatles vs. Stones. Blur vs. Oasis. Axl Rose vs. everyone else. Rivalries make the music world go round. Today, music writer Sean Manning talks about "Rock and Roll Cage Match: Music’s Greatest Rivalries, Decided," a compilation of essays on some familiar (Jay-Z vs. Nas) and not-so-familiar (Phil Spector vs. Timbaland) music rivalries.

Tell us: Do you have a favorite music rivalry? Who comes out on top?

"Rock and Roll Cage Match" on Amazon.com
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer weighs in on music's rivalries

ROB KAPILOW

First Impressions are everything

Classical music has had its own history of rivalries - Mozart vs. Salieri being the most famous. Today, Rob Kapilow, conductor, composer, and author of the new book, "All You Have to Do is Listen: Music from the Inside Out," talks about these, and also about what makes for a good opening idea in music.

Rob Kapilow site
"All You Have to Do is Listen" on Amazon.com

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.