FRESH AIR
Viggo Mortensen stars in Eastern Promises, a new David Cronenberg thriller set in London, in the dangerous underworld of sex trafficking. It was written by Steve Knight, who wrote the screenplay for Dirty Pretty Things. Cronenberg and Mortensen’s last collaboration was the acclaimed 2005 film A History of Violence. Fresh Air’s music critic Milo Miles considers the work of the art-punk band Sonic Youth; the group’s 1988 album Daydream Nation has just been reissued in a deluxe double-CD edition.
RADIO TIMES
Hour 1
Preview of the upcoming Iraq debate in the U.S. Congress. Did this week’s Iraq progress report change anyone’s minds on Iraq? We’ll talk with Two Pennsylvania Congressmen, republican JIM GERLACH and democrat JOE SESTAK. Then we’ll hear from Congressional observers KATRINA VANDEN-HUEVEL, the editor of The Nation magazine, and BRIAN DARLING, the director of Senate Relations for The Heritage Foundation. Listen to this show via Real Audio | mp3
Hour 2
(Rebroadcast tonight at 11)
The State Supreme court is considering a case that would allow for the purchase of beer in supermarkets that
have restaurants and cafes. Yesterday, the House Liquor Control committee held hearings on a related bill. We hear both sides of the issue from guests DAVE SHIPULA of the Malt Beverage Distributors Association and RANDY ST. JOHN of the Food Merchants Association. Listen to this show via Real Audio | mp3
THE WORLD CAFE
With a sound that combines folk, indie-rock, pop and orchestral elements, Okkervil River crafts a groundbreaking, original and intensely emotional sound, making the Austin band a cultishly beloved up-and-comer. The first incarnation of what would become Okkervil River formed while longtime friends Will Sheff and Seth Warren were still living in their native New Hampshire. Though college took them on separate paths, Warren and Sheff both eventually relocated to Austin, and Okkervil River began in earnest. After a small handful of self-released recordings, the band signed a label deal in time to release 2002’s Don’t Fall in Love with Everyone You See, which drew praise for its delicate songwriting and thoughtful lyrics. It wasn’t until 2003’s Down the River of Golden Dreams, however, that Okkervil River fully came into its own. The songs on the group’s new disc, The Stage Names, number among Okkervil River’s finest work. On the whole more reflective than previous records, The Stage Names finds the band’s devastating wordplay and heartfelt musicianship meshing seamlessly on every song. Consequently, the songs convey a rare depth that contributes to their status as some of the year’s best.
OKKERVIL RIVER: For Real