sort order: page size:
Writer Rob Sheffield dives into the wild music references of Thomas Pynchon's novel-turned-film. Judah Friedlander shares funny songs. Paloma Faith plays in the Soundcheck studio. (episode)
Thomas Pynchon's psychedelic stoner-noir is crammed with hundreds of music references. Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield picks which songs may make it into Paul Thomas Anderson's film.
The comedian and '30 Rock' actor shares a Pick Three playlist, plus he tells us about the song he finds funniest and shows us his competitive ping pong shoes.
Hear the band perform in the Soundcheck studio.
Author Caitlin Moran plays some favorite songs and talks about her new book. Shakey Graves performs live in the Soundcheck studio. Kind Of Blue has just been remade, note for note. (episode)
The bestselling author shares a playlist of her favorite songs, and talks about embracing enthusiasm, combating cynicism and coming of age as a teenage girl in 1990's England.
New York-based jazz quartet Mostly Other People Do The Killing have taken apart the 1959 Miles Davis classic and put it back together, note-for-note.
Hear the guitarist and singer Chris Porterfield and his band Field Report perform songs from Marigolden in the Soundcheck studio.
Jill Sobule makes a record out of an old charm bracelet, and plays some of it live; Lydia Denworth explores how sound shapes our world as infants. (episode)
In her new book, I Can Hear You Whisper, journalist Lydia Denworth writes about choosing to get a cochlear implant for her deaf son.
The brassy-voiced British pop star stops by our studio to perform songs from her latest album, A Perfect Contradiction.
A new documentary about Clark Terry helps Soundcheck get smarter about the jazz trumpeter's music. Malian guitarist Rokia Traore performs in the Soundcheck studio. (episode)
A poignant documentary, Keep On Keepin’ On, focuses on the life of the now-93 year old jazz trumpeter and one of his young students.
Hear the Canadian vocalist perform music from her latest recording, Fool's Gold, in the Soundcheck studio.
The sunglasses-wearing superstar talks about his career and new album, Strut. Glass Animals plays in the studio. A walking tour of New York, courtesy of the music of Woody Guthrie. (episode)
The sunglasses-wearing superstar musician and actor talks about his just-released tenth album, Strut, and writing it while shooting the film Catching Fire.
Our interactive map is dotted with locations where Guthrie lived over the years. Click through to see embedded videos at each stop.
Watch the Austin, Texas rocker perform songs from his upcoming album, And The War Came, in the Soundcheck studio.
The iconic frontman of Led Zeppelin returns with a superb new album. The Nashville rock band Those Darlins plays in the Soundcheck studio. A new documentary about David Bowie debuted. (episode)
The rock icon discusses his new record, Lullaby and... the Ceaseless Roar, and reflects on half a century of musical journeys — and a little bit of soccer.
Today, David Bowie Is opened at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art. Soundcheck's John Schaefer reviews a documentary film, also called David Bowie Is, which debuted tonight.
The award-winning Malian singer and guitarist has worked with Ali Farka Toure, poet and playwright Toni Morrison, and the Kronos Quartet. Hear her play solo in the Soundcheck studio.
Actor Jeff Goldblum performs with his jazz quintet in the Soundcheck studio. (episode)
Simon Critchley's new book, Bowie, is part memoir, part philosophical musing. He and fellow David Bowie superfan John Schaefer geek out about their musical hero.
Hear the Indian-born, Norway-raised singer perform in the Soundcheck studio.
David Mitchell, the author of Cloud Atlas and The Bone Clocks, shares three favorite songs; Soundcheck plays listeners' funny songs; Real Estate plays in the Soundcheck studio. (episode)
The author of Cloud Atlas and his latest, The Bone Clocks, shares three favorite songs as part of Soundcheck's Pick Three series.
The ferocious Nashville rock band performs songs from its 2013 album, Blur The Line, in the Soundcheck studio.
Comedian Hari Kondabolu shares his favorite funny songs. Sarah Jaffe performs in the Soundcheck studio. And The Hold Steady's Craig Finn shares his favorite songs by The Replacements. (episode)
Comedian Hari Kondabolu talks about the songs that make him laugh, from artists like Art Brut, Jens Lekman and Morrissey.
The lead singer of the Hold Steady shares a stage with his Minnesotan indie heroes The Replacements tomorrow night at Forest Hills Stadium. He guides Soundcheck through their music.
Known for his roles in The Fly and Jurassic Park, the actor brings his jazz group to our studio.
The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle talks about his latest novel. A short guide to the music and life of Victor Jara. Camera Obscura performs live in the Soundcheck studio. (episode)
John Darnielle talks about his new book Wolf in White Van, backward masking and the ringing in his ears.
Ani Cordero talks about Victor Jara's protest music, the Chilean politics that inspired him, and the latest in the 40-year-long search for his killers.