Stripped of the drum and bass programs and the army of synthesizers, Chicago’s “We Can Stop the Hurtin’” would still be a great song.

Geoff Downes joined us to discuss the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” which arrived 40 years ago today on ‘The Age of Plastic.’

It’s clear how Gordon Grdina?’s Nomad Trio got their name: They wander without a clear map through vast musical terrain few can even attempt, and make it to the other side unscathed.

I think I finally understood David Bowie sometime around Christmas 2019.

With Kait Dunton’s ‘trioKAIT Live at the Blue Whale,’ the integrity of the compositions and the sheer musical ability holds up just fine on stage, thank you very much.

A deep dive into Bert Sommer’s work with the Left Banke and Mountain’s Leslie West, on stage with ‘Hair,’ on screen with ‘The Krofft Supershow’ – and, of course, at Woodstock.

A Temptations classic gets an interesting – but not completely rewarding – new reading from Toto.

As the Radical Empathy Trio, Thollem McDonas, Nels Cline and Michael Wimberly brew up two extended 20-minute performances that liberally mix acoustic with electronics.

The definitive ‘Songs For Groovy Children’ features all 43 songs performed by Jimi Hendrix and the Band of Gypsys during the Fillmore East concerts in their original sequence.

Fred Phillips’ Best of 2019 list includes Gloryhammer, Tom Keifer, Soilwork, Sturgill Simpson, Wind Rose, Parkway Drive – yes, Parkway Drive – and others.