A rock-guitar lover’s goldmine, ‘Astral Cafe’ finds Illinois guy Jimmy Ryan grooving on his sonic pursuit of an electric Eden.

Roye Albrighton’s dearly missed, but Nektar is still very much alive, very well, and still a band who can conjure the magic of ’70s-era prog rock.

Armando Perez discusses the new project by the Chicago-based funk band Esso Afrojam Funkbeat, and how the issues facing immigrants shape their work.

Mixing humor with intelligent observations, Chip Muellemann’s ‘Life On Low’ is an album where the script is just as stimulating as the music.

Herb Eimerman’s ‘ Five Dimensional Man’ boasts the supremely shaped pop rock sounds he’s lauded for, but explores new ground, as well.

Newcomer Jerry Woods’ phrasing and inflection, mirroring moments ranging from latter-day Beatles to Todd Rundgren, are lively and commanding.

Before there was Cheap Trick, there was Sick Man Of Europe, and before there was Sick Man Of Europe, there was Fuse.