Jim McGuinn

Scheduled for release just eight months after 'Sign O' the Times' appeared, 'The Black Album' was said to be Prince's reaction to criticism that his music had become too pop.

With his third album, 'Dirty Mind,' released in October of 1980, Prince leaped to the head of the class, laying the sonic blueprint that would help define the music of the 80s and beyond.

Medicine at Midnight sees Foo Fighters doing what they do best, laying down killer riffs and expressive drumming, lifting the spirits of us all. Listen for influences from the band's favorites - they love their fellow musicians, they love rock and roll, and they're just plain psyched to share that love.

Program director Jim McGuinn shares his favorite songs and albums of 2020.

'Private Lives' reminds us that the chain that is America is only as strong as its weakest link, that we're all in it together, and need to rise together, as hard as that seems at times.

Blu DeTiger joins us for a virtual session to perform a few tracks she's released this summer, and talks to us about sharpening her skills while playing bass over DJ sets in New York clubs pre-quarantine, finding success on Tik Tok, and what she'll be releasing later this fall.

With Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex, we celebrate two artists we lost too soon - T. Rex' Bolan, the boogie glam superstar whose life was cut short by a 1977 car crash, and album producer Hal Willner, who we lost to the Corona virus in April.

Jarvis Cocker, the Britpop legend and former frontman of the band Pulp, spoke with The Current's Jim McGuinn about 'Beyond the Pale,' the new album from Jarv Is, as well as about songwriting versus book writing, about 1980s northern England, and about what happens when royalty visits a cavern known as The Devil's... er, Bottom.

The Jayhawks' new album, 'XOXO,' releases July 10, 2020, and The Current's Jim McGuinn connected with frontman Gary Louris to talk about the new record. 'I think our fans would like to hear new music, especially at this time,' Louris says. 'Music is pretty much a salve.'

'Father Of All...' is a breathless burst of adrenaline, like guzzling Mountain Dew on top of your morning coffee.

This week on Teenage Kicks, we dig into a new release from Bryan Ferry, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, 1974, and The Current has your chance to win a copy of the album.

There's no official record of The Current's Top songs from 2005, but as we look at Current15 with a trip through our collective history, Program Director Jim McGuinn provides our best estimate.

British pop-rock band Coldplay return with their highly anticipated eighth studio album, 'Everyday Life'.

Program director and host Jim McGuinn shares his favorite songs, and albums of 2019.

The Current's Program Director Jim McGuinn reflects on the team's trip to uncover new music at Iceland Airwaves 2019.

Ahead of the release of the Black Keys' new album, 'Let's Rock,' The Current's program director, Jim McGuinn, had the opportunity to spend the day at Easy Eye Studios in Nashville, home base of the Black Keys - aka Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. 'It was one of those rare days when you begin the morning as acquaintances but end the afternoon like friends,' McGuinn writes.

You hear all the trademarks of The Black Keys on "Let's Rock" - the fuzzed out guitar tones, crushing drums, and the melodic rock songs that take in bits of influence from 70s AM radio choruses, and scuzzy garage rock.

For the past two years, The Current has enjoyed sharing the experience of the Iceland Airwaves music festival. From May 2 to 5, The Current and Iceland Naturally collaborated to bring a the culture of Iceland to the Twin Cities. See photos and video from this first-of-its-kind cultural exchange.

The Current's program director, Jim McGuinn, reflects on the passing of Peter Tork, and on the impact Tork made on McGuinn's own life. 'I'm remembering, giving thanks to an artist who maybe never got his full shot, but also managed to have the opportunity to capture the imagination of the world for a few years,' McGuinn writes.

Joe Jackson has been turning out music for more than 40 years, and has just released a new album, 'Fool.' The Current's Jim McGuinn recently connected with Jackson to talk about his career then and now. 'The best work that I've done is always the latest,' Jackson says. 'It's always what I'm most excited about.' Check out the complete interview.