In his new essay collection, called “Pulphead,” writer John Jeremiah Sullivan covers a whole lot of pop cultural ground – from Christian rock to old weird America to ancient Indian cave paintings in Tennessee. If a theme runs through the book, it might be Southern culture (North Carolina-based Sullivan is also Southern editor for The Paris Review)… but the essays are also all deeply personal – and deeply funny. Today, he brings some of them to life.

This week on Soundcheck, four authors pass along an album recommendation in a chain-like fashion to the next day's guest. Yesterday, writer and cultural critic Touré left behind Das Racist's "Relax" for John Jeremiah Sullivan. Today, the Southern editor of the Paris Review responds to Touré's choice and unveils his pick for tomorrow's guest, musician (and published author) Brian Eno.

Brooklyn punk band Anamanaguchi is a major player on the “chiptune” music scene, where bands rock out with modified videogame consoles and traditional instruments. Game consoles are a medium for the band in more ways than one--they’ve also contributed to a number of videogame soundtracks, including an original score for the adaptation of the cult movie and graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim. Currently touring the U.S. and working on a new album, they join us today to play live - and debut a new track.

Click through for today's playlist.

Girl in a Coma plays the Knitting Factory Thursday night. Download the band's melodic pop song "Smart" here, which is from a record released just last week called Exits & All the Rest.