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December 2008

Bruce Springsteen Saved My Life

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

In the memoir Greetings from Bury Park, author Sarfraz Manzoor recalls growing up in the '80s as a British Muslim -- and a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. Today: Manzoor discusses the appeal of the Jersey rocker on a Muslim kid in working-class England. Also: Justin Timberlake promised to bring sexy back, but Norwegian dance-rock band Datarock are bringing nerdy back. The tracksuit-wearing duo, Fredrik Saroea and Ketil Mosnes, join us to share their funk tinged indie-dance sound live in the studio. This is an encore edition of Soundcheck


Best Live Performances

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

In the final episode of a four-part series, Soundcheck highlights some of this year's most memorable live performances in our studio. We revisit sets by Bon Iver, Cyro Baptista, the Calder Quartet, Abigail Washburn, and others.


Best Live Performances of 2008

Monday, December 29, 2008

In the third episode of a four-part series, Soundcheck highlights some of this year's most memorable live performances in our studio. We revisit sets from Cat Power, Regina Spektor, Puerto Plata, Quartet San Francisco, Avishai Cohen Trio, and others.


Best Live Performances of 2008

Friday, December 26, 2008

In the second installment of a four-part series, Soundcheck highlights some of most memorable live performances in our studio this year. We revisit sets from pianist Marc-André Hamelin, Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, and others.


Best Live Performances of 2008

Thursday, December 25, 2008

In the first episode of a four-part series, Soundcheck highlights some of the most memorable live performances in our studio this year. We revisit sets from the Blind Boys of Alabama, Canadian violinist James Ehnes, bluegrass outfit Punch Brothers, and others.


Fifty Greatest Christmas Carols

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

BBC Music Magazine recently polled choirmasters and choral experts on the greatest Christmas carols ever. We find out what songs made the Top 50. (It’s not “Silent Night.”) Plus: cellist Yo-Yo Ma talks about his star-studded holiday album.


Smackdown: Christmas Music

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The right Christmas carol can melt hearts -- or turn stomachs. Today: the battle over Christmas music, in a Soundcheck Smackdown debate. Later: the early music group Lionheart previews the medieval Italian Christmas music it will perform tonight at the Met Museum. Plus: the Soundcheck staff reveals their CD picks of the year.


The Era of Auto-Tune

Monday, December 22, 2008

When music historians look back at 2008, they might remember it for Auto-Tune, the robotic vocal effect that turns up on countless R&B and rap songs. Today, New Yorker pop music critic Sasha Frere-Jones discusses Auto-Tune and its abusers. Also: jazz guitarist Mary Halvorson, who has built a name in contemporary-music circles thanks to her association with Anthony Braxton and others, joins us to share her latest album, "Dragon's Head."


Critics Week: The Worst of 2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

Soundcheck has spent all week honoring the best music of 2008 - now, we call out the worst. Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis dishes on the most unlistenable and overrated albums of the year. Also, Eliot Van Buskirk of Wired.com talks about the big stories in online music. Later: Virtuoso banjo superstar Béla Fleck puts a multicultural twist on holiday music.


Critics Week: World and Latin Music

Thursday, December 18, 2008

For the fourth installment of Soundcheck's Critics Week series, Jon Pareles of the New York Times gives his list of the best in world music, while Daily News contributor Carolina Gonzalez shares the best in Latin. Later, Alash performs traditional music from the republic of Tuva.

Soundcheck Poll: Cast your vote for best album of 2008


Critics Week: Classical and Jazz

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

All this week, music critics are joining Soundcheck for a look back at the year in music. Today: a look at the best songs and albums from the world of classical and jazz. And later: Live music from the Austin, Texas-based art-rock outfit And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead.

Soundcheck Poll: Cast your vote for best album of 2008


Smackdown: Music Critics

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Our Critics Week special continues with a Soundcheck Smackdown debate over the role -- and relevance -- of music critics today. We'll take your calls and comments. Plus: The latest album from Of Montreal is making many critics' end-of-year lists. The group joins us to talk about "Skeletal Lamping" and to play live in the studio.

Soundcheck Poll: Cast your vote for best album of 2008


Critics Week: Pop, Rock and Hip Hop

Monday, December 15, 2008

We kick off our annual Critics Week series with a look back at the year in music. Jody Rosen of Slate.com gives us his list of the 10 best things in pop music in 2008. Plus: the year in hip hop, with Jake Paine, editor in chief of HipHopDX.com. And later: The Canadian Brass is the world's best-known brass quintet. They join us to share a new album -- and to perform live in our studio.

Soundcheck Poll: Cast your vote for best album in four genres


A Holiday Gift Guide for the Budget-Minded

Friday, December 12, 2008

Gift giving is a lot of hard work -- and expensive. So today, Soundcheck offers a musical gift guide for all budgets. Plus: Burt Bacharach has been compared to some of the great songwriters of the 20th century, including George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Lennon & McCartney. He joins us to talk about six decades in the music industry, and to share his latest album, "Live at the Sydney Opera House."


Jewish Music, Old and New

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Join us for two very different takes on Jewish music. First: a treasure trove of kitschy album covers featuring well-known and obscure Jewish musicians. And later: Erran Baron Cohen, the brother of the creator of satirical characters Ali G and Borat, explains how he reworked and remixed the familiar songs of Hanukkah.

Crowdsourcing: Tell us what holiday music you're hearing in stores this season. (Anything unusual? Or the same old chestnuts?)


Free Agents of a Different Flavor

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A 60's teen idol who drifted to dark avant-garde music, Scott Walker is one of pop music's most compelling and elusive outsiders. Today: the director of a documentary film on Walker offers an appreciation. Also: Anna Netrebko's velvety voice has earned hordes of opera fans, even as her smoldering looks can drive magazine sales. She joins us today to share "Souvenirs," her new collection of salon songs, operetta classics, lullabies and more.

Crowdsourcing: Tell us what holiday music you're hearing in stores this season. (Anything unusual? Or the same old chestnuts?)


Smackdown: iPod vs. Zune

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Apple’s iPod may be the most popular MP3 player on the market, but Microsoft’s Zune has dedicated fans and some new tricks up its sleeve. Today: the iPod and the Zune go head to head in a Soundcheck Smackdown debate. And later: live music from New York-based songwriter Larkin Grimm.

Crowdsourcing: Tell us what holiday music you're hearing in stores this season. (Anything unusual? Or the same old chestnuts?)


The Record Doctor Is In

Monday, December 08, 2008

Sometimes a piece of music can provide relief in a time of crisis -– a layoff, a divorce, a disastrous day on Wall Street. Today: The Record Doctor (a.k.a. music critic Norman Lebrecht) suggests classical recordings that can be used to cope with life’s big dilemmas. Also: Composer Michael Gordon and filmmaker Bill Morrison join us to share their multimedia piece "Lightning at Our Feet," inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Plus: tell us about your shopping soundtrack this holiday season.


Who's on Top... and Who Should Be?

Friday, December 05, 2008

With a skeptical eye, Soundcheck conducts its recurrent survey of the Billboard landscape to see who has made the cut, and who should have. Plus: Moreno Veloso is the son of Caetano Veloso, the singer-songwriter who fathered Tropicalia in 1960s Brazil. In the family tradition, Moreno re-imagines his native sound today with the samba syndicate Kassin +2.

Ask the Record Doctor! if you’ve ever been confounded by the process of buying a classical recording, tune in Monday when the Record Doctor pays a visit. Want to know what recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is the best? The Doc - music critic Norman Lebrecht - will provide both diagnoses and cure. Send us your questions now!


The Heartbreak in '808s'

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Fans of Kanye West are divided over the rapper and producer's sharp left turn into minimalist hip hop. Today, a look at the the new album "808s and Heartbreak." Plus: the life and death of rapper O.D.B. and live music from saxophonist Miguel Zenon.

Ask the Record Doctor! if you’ve ever been confounded by the process of buying a classical recording, tune in Monday when the Record Doctor pays a visit. Want to know what recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is the best? The ever-opinionated music critic Norman Lebrecht will provide both diagnoses and cure. Send us your questions now!


Terminal Music

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Killing time at the airport often means spending hours in a dreary food court. But travelers at some airports are watching live music -- and even dancing. Today, a look at how musicians are easing the stress of flight delays. Plus: violinist Kersten Stevens stretches the boundaries of jazz with touches of gospel and hip hop. She joins us for a live performance.

Attention: if you’ve ever been confused or put off by the process of buying a classical recording, tune in Monday when the Record Doctor pays a visit. Want to know what recording of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is the best? Or where to start with Wagner? The Record Doctor – aka British music critic Norman Lebrecht -- will be with us to provide both diagnoses and cure. Send us your questions now!


Rock History Arrives in New York

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has opened a new branch in Manhattan. But new exhibits won’t hide old controversies. Today on Soundcheck: the thorny question of defining the rock ‘n’ roll canon. Also: a look at a new venture called the YouTube Symphony Orchestra and Spanish electronica artist El Guincho.


Country Aims for Swift Appeal

Monday, December 01, 2008

Eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is changing the way music fans think about country music. Today on Soundcheck: how country’s rising stars are testing conventional wisdom in Nashville. Later: genre-bending quintet Imani Winds celebrates the 75th birthday of jazz great Wayne Shorter with a live performance.