FRESH AIR
After more than five decades of making movies, Academy Award-winning writer and director Woody Allen recently released his 40th film, Whatever Works. The movie, which stars Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood, tells the story a “genius” professor in New York who ditches his upper-class life for something simpler — winning, along the way, the devotion of a beautiful and very young girl from Mississippi. Allen’s first film, What’s Up Tiger Lily, was released in 1966. The director then went on to make Play It Again Sam, Manhattan 
and Radio Days, to name just a few of his dozens of films. Allen won Academy Awards in 1978 for his screenplay for and direction of Annie Hall, and again in 1987 for his screenplay for Hannah and Her Sisters. In this interview Allen discusses his life and his films — and why audiences shouldn’t confuse the two.
RADIO TIMES
Unions, from autoworkers to newspaper journalists, are struggling. All across the country unions are being asked to make significant concessions to keep their companies afloat. They are being asked to sacrifice hours, retirement benefits and raises. Most recently the United Autoworkers, the UAW, reached an agreement with ailing GM to help keep the auto giant out of bankruptcy. This hour, a look at the future of Unions with veteran labor journalist PHILIP DINE, author of “State of the Unions.” Listen to the mp3
SOUND OPIONIONS
Show #185: 06.12.09
Musician Steve Earle joins Jim and Greg for a discussion of the life and legacy of singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Earle also performs songs written by his friend and mentor. Later Jim and Greg review new records by the Black Eyed Peas and Phoenix.
Steve Earle Flickr Photos: (link)
Footnotes: (link)
Reviews: (link)
Live Songs: (link)
Listen to the MP3 Stream: (link)
Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
ROCK SNOB ENCYCLOPEDIA: Van Zandt, Townes — Long, cool Texan songwriter who could never find enough wine to save him from the bottom of his glass. His Bukowski-of-the-cowboys aura ensures him a hallowed place in alt-country circles. MORE
THE WORLD CAFE
With characteristic energy and dark humor, Deer Tick has won over audiences and critics alike with its edgy, sparse Americana. The four-piece band comes from Providence, R.I., and has unofficially been around since 2004 when it got started as a percussion/guitar duo. Complete with strings, drums, guitars and bass, Deer Tick is a self-described “rock-rock-rock” outfit with a little something more — a twist of alt-country and gritty blues, as demonstrated on its latest studio LP, Born on Flag Day. Like Deer Tick’s first album, War Elephants, Born on Flag Day is full of roughed-out styles, wrapped around a solid indie-rock core.