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If you were a kid in the 1970's, or if you raised kids during that decade, you probably spent time with Free To Be... You And Me. The seminal album and popular television special was ... (episode)
In this episode: It seems like everywhere you look these days, someone’s thoughtfully strumming a ukulele: in the Spike Jonze film Her; on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother; or, in... (episode)
Is the ukulele a charming, portable composer's dream... or a twee novelty whose time has passed? Vulture writer Jesse David Fox, and Ben Greenman, contributing editor to The New Yorke...
Jenifer Ringer recently retired from the New York City Ballet, where she was a principal dancer. She talks about her nearly 23 years as a professional ballet dancer, which she chronic...
<p>Hear the young Oklahoma singer-songwriter perform songs from his latest album in the <em>Soundcheck</em> studio.</p>
In this episode: Before the Academy Awards on Sunday night, we talk about the candidates for Best Original Song (even one that got kicked off the list along the way) and Best Original... (episode)
This year's Academy Award fields for Best Original Song and Best Original Score are dominated by a who's-who in the pop and symphonic music worlds, making for a stiff competition. Sou...
On her superb 2013 record, The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas, Courtney Barnett sings of long-winding and darkly comedic tales and matter-of-fact observations. Watch the Australian so...
In this episode: With former Kinks frontman Ray Davies will be inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame this year, explore the British rock band’s must-hear tracks, deep cuts and, ... (episode)
<p>Before Ray Davies of The Kinks is inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame this year, we examine the often-overlooked British band in our Soundcheck Guide to The Kinks. </p>
Data scientists at music streaming site Pandora think they can tell what your political preferences are, given your musical tastes and your zip code. And they're willing to sell that ...
The Chapel Hill collective eschews the sweeping strings and chamber music arrangements for a sleeker, dance pop sheen on its latest album, Past Life. Hear them perform live in the Sou...
In this episode: Next week, in honor of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first playing in the U.S., Soundcheck is reigniting the most important debate of our day: The Beatles vs. T... (episode)
<p>In his new book, <em>Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story Of The Rolling Stones, </em>Bill Janovitz defines the iconic rock band in 50 songs.</p>
<p>Writer Nate Chinen details the evolution of smooth jazz from airwaves to sea waves. </p>
After two albums of winding polyrhythmic instrumentals, the members of Delicate Steve began to make music that felt far different from what they had done before. So they started a new...
In this episode: Today marks the 30th anniversary of the self-titled debut from the English post-punk band The Smiths. Music biographer Tony Fletcher helps us mark the occasion with a... (episode)
Thirty years ago today, the influential and dour English band The Smiths released its debut self-titled album. Smiths biographer Tony Fletcher guides us through the The Smiths, the ba...
From Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel to Frank Zappa and Sun Ra, Tom Wilson's fingerprints are all over the priceless rock music artifacts of the late 1960's. But chances are, you ma...
Since "Lovefool" and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet soundtrack, The Cardigans have enjoyed international acclaim and Nina Persson has been one of Sweden’s most distinctive and beloved...
In this episode: Dr. Bill Guegold, Olympics music historian, talks about the history of the grand musical themes that we Americans associate with the games; the long-extinct Olympic a... (episode)
<p>To celebrate the anniversary of the Beatles' arrival in America, test your knowledge of the Fab Four's performance on the Billboard charts.</p>
Did you know that the Olympics used to have an arts competition? Or that iconic intro music we hear on tv is actually two seperate pieces? We talk with a self-proclaimed 'Olympic geek...
<p>Hear jazz pianist Helen Sung perform works from her latest recording, <em>Anthem For A New Day</em>, in the <em>Soundcheck</em> studio.</p>
In this episode: Author Philipp Meyer’s epic novel, The Son, ended up on best-of 2013 lists from The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post. Tackling big themes about the ... (episode)
<p>Philipp Meyer, whose latest novel is the Texas oil-family drama <em>The Son</em>, shares three of his favorite songs. (Two are by the Clash.)</p>
Carl Douglas' 1974 song "Kung Fu Fighting" was such an unlikely smash that Soundcheck features it in the intro theme for our occasional series "That Was A Hit?!?" But the song itself ...
<p>Los Angeles singer-songwriter Jonathan Wilson plays 1970s soft-rock inflected songs from his new album <em>Fanfare </em>live in the <em>Soundcheck</em> studio. </p>
In this episode Soundcheck revisits a few recent favorite segments. First: The long-running gospel quintet Blind Boys of Alabama enlisted Bon Iver's Justin Vernon to produce its late... (episode)
<p>John Schaefer listens to some of our favorite nominations in our "Most Romantic Song Ever" project.</p> (episode)
Since Elizabeth and the Catapult's 2010 album, The Other Side Of Zero, frontwoman Elizabeth Ziman stepped away from it all: She took up the guitar, busked in the subways, played drums...