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Smackdown: Rock Operas
Green Day’s chart-topping new album has all the trappings of a rock opera: big ideas, star-crossed characters and an epic song cycle. But the art form pioneered by The Who and The Kinks is notoriously uneven. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate rock operas. Later: Cardigans frontwoman Nina Persson joins us to play live with her band A Camp.
Rock Operas: Brilliant or Bloated?
Forty years ago, The Who set the tone for rock operas with the album "Tommy." Everyone from Queensrÿche to The Decemberists have attempted this rite of passage, with varying levels of success. Now, Green Day is topping the charts with 21st Century Breakdown, an album about two characters and their struggle with optimism at the dawn of this decade. Today, we debate rock operas with music critic Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times and Sean Manning, editor of the essay collection "Rock 'n' Roll Cage Match."
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on rock operas
Tell us: What do you think of rock operas? Leave a comment.
Ann Powers' review of 21st Century Breakdown
Rock 'n' Roll Cage Match on Amazon
A Camp
Nina Persson fronted Swedish popsters The Cardigans and scored a hit with the ridiculously catchy "Lovefool." With her main band on hiatus, she joins us to perform live with A Camp, her side project with husband and Shudder to Think guitarist Nathan Larson.
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See Tori Amos Live!
Join us Tuesday, Dec. 9 at The Greene Space
Singer and pianist Tori Amos joins us to talk about reworking and reinventing seasonal carols on her new holiday album. And, she performs for a live audience in The Greene Space! Click the link for ticket info.
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