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February 2009

Seven Sins: Greed

Friday, February 27, 2009

Our Friday series "Seven Sins: The Deadly Medley" continues with a look at how greed has inspired songwriters and composers. Hip-hop writer Oliver Wang and author Dan Kennedy talk about the role money, wealth and materialism play across the musical spectrum. Plus, we take your calls and comments.


Buying Shares in Your Favorite Musician

Thursday, February 26, 2009

With the record industry in decline, aspiring artists are turning to "DIY" financing plans, such as the web sites Sellaband and Slicethepie. A musician posts their music on Sellaband and invites investment. As soon as they have signed up enough fans (or "believers") and raised $50,000 they can record an album. But are there potential compromises and pitfalls in this model? Today, we explore its future. Also: New Hampshire indie-pop band Wild Light performs live in our studio.


Domestic Violence in Pop Music

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

R&B singer Rihanna's alleged assault by boyfriend and pop star Chris Brown has triggered a discussion about music content and pop stars as role models. Today: the long history of violence against women in pop music. Later: French pianist Hélène Grimaud joins us to discuss her new all-Bach album and to perform live.


Smackdown: Actor Albums

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

If actor Joaquin Phoenix makes good on his promise to pursue a rap career, he would join Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Bacon and other Hollywood celebrities who have dabbled in music. But "actor albums" often meet with mixed success and skepticism. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate whether "actor albums" get a fair shake. Plus: violinist and author Daniel Hope talks about how war has influenced music over the centuries, from Beethoven to Stravinsky and beyond.


How Composers Make a Living

Monday, February 23, 2009

Just one out of ten composers in the U.S. can pay their bills through their music alone. That's one of the findings in "Taking Note," a survey conducted by the American Music Center. The study also looks at incomes, ethnic and gender make-up, and how composers use new technologies. AMC CEO Joanne Hubbard Cossa joins us to explain the results. Also: singer-songwriter Clare Burson talks about a multimedia song cycle about her grandmother, a German Jew who at 19 escaped Nazi Germany in 1938.


Seven Sins: Gluttony

Friday, February 20, 2009

Our Friday series "Seven Sins: The Deadly Medley" continues with a look at how gluttony has inspired songwriters and composers. Music journalist Amanda Petrusich and music critic and food writer Fred Plotkin share songs that show how our darkest desire to consume -- food, among other things -- shapes music. Plus: live music from Christopher Janney and the Persuasions.


Oscar Scores, from Elegant to Exotic

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Oscar nominees for best song and score range from the exotic sounds of “Slumdog Millionaire” to the lush elegance of “Milk” and “Benjamin Button” to the colorful “Wall-E” and the violin-flavored “Defiance” (with soloist Joshua Bell). Today, we survey the music categories and look at who stands a shot at taking home a statuette. Also: Oregon songster M. Ward, shares his cheerful and eclectic new album "Hold Time."

The Best Original Score Poll: Vote for your favorite!


The Return of Alice Tully Hall

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

For years, it was hard to find Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center complex. Now, thanks to a dramatic renovation, the concert venue is hard to miss. Join us for a look at Alice Tully Hall's revamped architecture and acoustics. Plus: jazz pianist and composer Randy Weston.

Academy Awards Poll: Vote for your favorite Oscar-nominated film score and tune in tomorrow to hear about the nominees.


The King of Mope Returns

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The singer-songwriter Morrissey has made an colorful career singing witty songs about heartache and his unrequited desire. Today: a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on Morrissey’s music and career. Also: Emily Hope Price is a classically-trained singer/songwriter who sings with her cello and works with electronic loops; Bridget Kibbey is a harpist with a taste for genre-blurring collaborations. The two perform live in our studio and share the unusual story of how they met.


In Search of true Americana

Monday, February 16, 2009

American culture has produced the riches of gospel, bluegrass, and folk music; it has also spawned Cracker Barrel, Clear Channel and Wal-Mart. Music journalist Amanda Petrusich talks about hitting the road to find true Americana. Also: jazz piano legend Ahmad Jamal looks back on his eventful career. This is a repeat edition of Soundcheck.


Seven Sins: Lust

Friday, February 13, 2009

Today we launch Seven Sins: The Deadly Medley, a weekly series that explores how each of the so-called "seven deadly sins" has shaped music in every genre. On the eve of Valentine's Day, we hear about a big one: lust. Joining us are Anne Midgette of the Washington Post and Jeff Gordinier of Details magazine. Also: the experimental electronic duo High Places performs live in our studio.


Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Muzak, the company that made "elevator music" famous, is going bankrupt. Sirius XM Satellite radio may be next. Meanwhile, the music industry giants Live Nation and Ticketmaster are merging. Today: a look behind the turbulent times in the music industry. Also: New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint joins us to perform live in our studio.


Jump-start for the Arts

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Congressional leaders are facing off over relief money for the arts in the economic stimulus package. But controversy is nothing new when it comes to funding culture. In another installment of our series "The Culture of Change: The First 100 Days," we look at lessons learned from arts initiatives in the New Deal of the 1930s. Also: our picks of the week. And: indie supergroup The Sway Machinery joins us to perform live.


Why Music Magazines Love Lists

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Lists ranking top musicians, songs and albums have long been a staple of music magazines like Rolling Stone and Blender. But do magazine lists generate debate and conversation or undermine the craft of music journalism? It's the subject of today's Soundcheck Smackdown. Also: Spoken word artist Gil Scott-Heron joins us to perform live in our studio. Plus: Mariza, the reigning queen of Portuguese fado music, shares her latest album.


Music's Big Night

Monday, February 09, 2009

The 51st Grammy Awards were held last night. On today's show, we review the night’s winners and losers and a look at what the troubled music industry can learn from nominees like Radiohead and Lil Wayne. Also: singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding and novelist Rick Moody.


Slave to the Rhythm

Friday, February 06, 2009

Armies around the world train by marching in step. A new study out of Stanford suggests that synchronized activities like this actually improve cooperation. On today's show: Why marching to the beat of the same drum is so important to how societies function. Also: Austin, Texas-based blues-rock trio The Heartless Bastards performs live in our studio.


The Album That Changed Your Life

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Nirvana inspired thousands of teenagers to pick up a guitar, but the band's music might have sounded very different if frontman Kurt Cobain had never picked up a Beatles album. Today: listeners and music critics tell us how one album changed their lives. Plus: live music from rock-powered jazz trio The New Standards.


Bad Music Made Easy

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Irreverent music fans used a new piece of software from Microsoft to transform the Billy Idol hit White Wedding in a banjo-picking country song. On Today's show we a look at the program called Songsmith and the culture of music 2.0. Also: Singer-songwriter Erin McCarley performs live in our studio.

Pssst! Has an album ever changed your life? Tell us about it here, and we might share your story on tomorrow's show.


Soundcheck Smackdown: Kelly Clarkson

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Kelly Clarkson made Billboard history by leaping from #97 to the top of singles charts this week. But some critics say she is all fireworks and no heart. On today's Soundcheck Smackdown: we debate the original American Idol. Also: Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers joins us live in our studio.

Pssst: Has an album ever changed your life? Tell us about it


Cheap Date

Monday, February 02, 2009

Many people think of the concert hall as a playground for the rich. But you can get a ticket to the Met for as little as $15. On today's show: where to see the city's best music on the cheap. Also: Puerto Rican pianist and bandleader Eddie Palmieri performs live in our studio.