“The ’80s,” John Oates admits, “weren’t as much fun as you might think.”

A number of important lessons emerge from “Weird Al” Yankovic’s new triumph.

‘Numbers’ coolly delivers Payton’s message of natural flow. It’s funky-good, angular vibe jazz.

It doesn’t matter if the experimental music is being rendered by electric guitar or banjo, Seabrook uses technology, virtuosity and a deviously fertile mind to blow the minds of anyone who comes across these recordings. ‘Sylphid Vitalizers’ expands the world of what is possible with a banjo. And guitar, too.

As a collection of children’s songs for grown-ups, ‘Business Is Bad’ would be terribly silly if it wasn’t so damned inconspicuously clever. Thankfully, it *is* clever, and marks the return of Karen Mantler after nearly a decade and a half off without skipping a beat.

After all, it could come out differently than what we’d expect or want.

This arrives looking like every bad thing that sends you back to the old records.

In a twist, Yes’ drummer co-wrote perhaps the new album’s biggest ballad.

David Crosby’s latest went to No. 36, his highest individual finish since 1971.

They sound utterly reinvigorated on this stomping new live release.