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Soundcheck / July 04, 2008

Soundcheck

Friday, July 04, 2008
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  • Guitarist
    (Ctd 2005/flickr)

    Learning to write a song

    With a little help from famous friends. After teaching himself how to play the guitar in six months, journalist Will Hodgkinson decided to learn how to write a song. So he got help from people like Keith Richard and Cat Power... and wrote a book about it. He joins us to unveil what he learned... or didn’t really.

    Also: From bad songwriter to one of the most talented songwriters working today. John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats joins us to talk about his new album, about his passion for heavy metal, his writing problem… and he performs in our studio.

Learning to write a song

With a little help from famous friends. After teaching himself how to play the guitar in six months, journalist Will Hodgkinson decided to learn how to write a song. So he got help from people like Keith Richard and Cat Power... and wrote a book about it. He joins us to unveil what he learned... or didn’t really.

Will Hodgkinson's website

John Darnielle

From bad songwriter to one of the most talented songwriters working today. John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats joins us to talk about his new album, about his passion for heavy metal, his writing problem... and he performs in our studio.

cab

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.

vote

Your "Democracy Song"

Soundcheck

As we march toward Election Day, Soundcheck wants you to identify a song that captures the spirit of democracy. It might be Woody Guthrie’s populist classic “This Land Is Your Land” or Sly and the Family Stone’s funky hit “Everyday People.” It might even be a current Top 40 hit with mass appeal. Put on your musical thinking cap, get creative, then post your song here.

walmart

Buying Music: A Smackdown Series

Soundcheck

Check out our ongoing series of Soundcheck Smackdown debates on the music marketplace -- and how we shop inside it. Part I: the pros and cons of MySpace. Part II: two documentarians throw down over music at Wal-Mart. Coming up: Part III: iTunes and Part IV: iPod vs. Zune

Atmosphere

Atmosphere

Soundcheck

With minimalist beats and confessional rhymes, the hip-hop duo Atmosphere became the toast of the hip-hop underground after it formed 10 years ago. Now, the group has turned to classic funk and soul, and frontman Slug is still telling captivating stories. They perform in our studio.

Tin Pan Alley

Tin Pan Alley

Soundcheck

A two-block stretch of West 28th Street was once the home of American songwriters and music publishers. But buildings in area are now up for sale, and preservationists fear a major development is in the works. We look at the history and future of Tin Pan Alley.

Michael Azerrad

I Am Azerrad ... No, I Am Azerrad!

Soundcheck

Nirvana biographer and indie-rock historian Michael Azerrad writes about musicians for a living. Now, the British band Tubelord (pictured) has written about him -- and the lyrics are a tad scary.

Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile

Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile

Soundcheck

Two major players from the worlds of classical and American roots music have joined forces for an album of new material. They perform in our studio.

Tina Dico

Tina Dico

Soundcheck

Singer-songwriter Tina Dico tops the charts in her native Denmark. She joins us to share songs from her latest full-length album, "Count to Ten," as well as a trilogy of EPs.

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  2. The Brian Lehrer Show: Cabinet 2.0 (11/13/2008)
  3. The Brian Lehrer Show: The Hybrid Economy (11/18/2008)
  4. The Brian Lehrer Show: Agriculture Warrior (11/17/2008)
  5. The Leonard Lopate Show: After Oil (11/13/2008)
  6. The Brian Lehrer Show: Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble (11/19/2008)
  7. The Brian Lehrer Show: Pay To Play Nice (11/14/2008)