Surprise, indeed. This album, released on May 9, 2006, found Paul Simon broadly expanding his sonic palette through a collaboration with Brian Eno.

Jeff Beck returns to one of the best songs from 1972’s ‘Jeff Beck Group’ album, and ups the ante for an forthcoming concert release ‘Jeff Beck Live+.’

Lyrically and sonically innovative, the Beatles’ “Paperback Writer” and “Rain” sound as spellbinding today as they did all those years ago.

Andree / Doble D featuring Hedras Ramos preview their new album with “Revolucion,” a hard-hitting track with biting lyrics and screaming guitar.

You hear something exceedingly rare for someone of John Lodge’s vintage and accomplishment: He’s pushing himself to new places.

There’s much to pull out of Chris Stamey’s “Make Up Your Mind,” which only seems to grower richer as an experience with each successive spin.

Neal Schon’s “El Matador” underscores a musical symbiosis with Steve Smith that lingers from their time together in Journey.

Richard Thompson is a traveler, always has been, and “Beatnik Walking” — both in its lyric, and in its creation story — speaks to that.

Released as part of ‘Tug of War’ in April 1982, “Take It Away” is McCartney’s last best pop hit – but there was a darker undercurrent at work.

JD Allen’s “A Throng of Millions Can Be One,” just one of many standout moments on ‘Bloom,’ feels like the birth of a new jazz hymn.