Frankly, not a lot of music has excited me through the first half of this year. That is, until Alestorm’s ‘No Grave But the Sea’ arrived.

Bill Laswell and the cast of characters assembled for this 57-minute jam aren’t the ordinary type.

“Owner of a Lonely Heart” wasn’t great progressive rock but, without this track, it’s doubtful the band Yes would still be here today.

It becomes clear on solo live performances such as the one captured on ‘Invisible Touch At Taktlos Zürich’ that the more Matthew Shipp is exposed, the more fascinating is his music.

“Hollywood,” Robert Lamm’s outstanding contribution from 1973’s ‘Chicago VI,’ remains a highlight on a very uneven album.

What’s the difference between an electric piano and an acoustic one? In the hands of The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco, apparently not much, quality-wise.

Baku and Fei’s ‘No One Teaches The Snake To Strike’ is extreme jazz improv, all tracks made up on the spot, no safety net, no overdubs, just a pure outpouring of drums/reeds co-combustion.

A new reissue highlights the often-overlooked Paul Collins’ Beat, one of the great power pop bands from the late ’70s/early ’80s.

There are some songs that simply take me away, and Toto’s “Anna” is one of them. It’s a master class.

Ex-Toto singer Bobby Kimball joins Preston Frazier to discuss his powerful new solo album ‘We’re Not in Kansas Anymore.’