Complete Recordings 1965-1969′ finds the Countdown 5 reveling in the creative freedom of the era – and obviously having fun doing so.

Rock ‘n’ roll has always been considered music of the moment. Then bands like Led Zeppelin and Yes decided they wanted that moment extended.

Long past the hit-making phenomena of the ‘Silk Degrees’ years, Boz Scaggs is still providing some very good reasons to keep listening to him with his third return-to-my-roots record in a row, ‘Out of the Blues.’

With so many influences, Gideon King is always going to be compared to others. On ‘Upscale Madhouse,’ he is finally, definitively, coming into his own.

Vinnie Zummo already had a fascinating career as a sideman, notably with Joe Jackson, before launching a well-respected solo career.

Mainly consisting of lesser-regarded tracks from 1973-79, the Rolling Stones’ ‘Sucking in the Seventies’ serves as a rather interesting memento.

On another AOR band’s album, “If You Belong to Me” would have been a highlight, possibly even a hit. On Toto’s ‘Tambu,’ it’s a song I usually skip.

Preston Frazier offers his take on the best albums of 2018 (so far), with tips of the hat to Neal Morse, Parliament, Take 6 and others.

Music is a universal language, so even if you don’t speak Italian, you are bound to be touched by Francesco Misitano’s becoming new ballad.

‘Vote For Me’ reveals Chicago legend Robert Lamm’s sense of humor, while skewering our political process and the hypocrisy of elected officials.