Music Raygun

Paul's solo on this miniepisode because he was sick this week and couldn't record with Kirk when they normally would've. In an all-new, one-time-only format, Paul presents some of his favorite records released over the past few months. Check out new music from up-and-coming bands Hi, Gene!, Corner Boys, Roid Rage, Necking, and the Dead Ringers. Hi, Gene!: https://higene.bandcamp.com Corner Boys: h...

Nearly 60 episodes deep into this podcast but we've never before focused an episode on an iconic record label. Better late than never as the first label we chose for an episode topic is the iconic Def Jam Recordings. In addition to the holy trinity of the labels early years—Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys—this one's got Oran "Juice" Jones, Slayer and the Bangles. Plus lots more. To see...

Paul and Kirk discuss their field trip to the Annenberg Space for Photography to see the exhibit "Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop." Also, Uncle Marc checks in about smooth jazz. Under discussion: Paula Abdul's performance at the Billboard Music Awards, and is Vampire Weekend something Kirk would like in a million years? Finally, Paul tries to defend his three-win streak in the music triv...

We're celebrating Kirk's birthday as he picks the clips for this entire show. It's the long-promised "Music Raygun" smooth jazz episode. All the greats of smooth jazz are here, like Grover Washington, David Sanborn, Bob James and even Sting for some reason that makes sense in Kirk's brain. In fact, this whole episode is like taking a long look inside Kirk's brain. Don't fasten your seat belts; it'...

The show's fifth Beatle, Katie Willert, returns to "Music Raygun" to help celebrate Kirk's birthday, which this miniepisode does by bringing back the "Trading Card Corner" segment. Plus the usual hot takes and trivia. Also, Bazooka Joe comics.

Singer. Songwriter. Producer. Multi-instrumentalist. Power pop godfather. Technologist. Innovator. Born to synthesize. That's Todd Rundgren. He's the musical genius behind Nazz, Utopia and a long solo career full of hits from "Hello, It's Me" to "Bang the Drum All Day." And he's produced a vast and varied group of other artists. Like Badfinger, the New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Hall and Oates, XTC,...

Kirk clarifies Ween and Paul clarifies "Freaks and Geeks." Kirk has a piping hot take about the Knowles sisters. Paul ordains the Sexiest Song Ever. And there's drama in the trivia quiz.

In an episode that focuses on one instrument, Paul and Kirk look closer at some of the great pianists in history. Like Chico Marx. And Dennis DeYoung, of course. Kirk finally realizes, thanks to a little help from "Russian Doll," that he loves Harry Nilsson. Oscar Peterson teaches Dick Cavett to play piano like any of the great jazz pianists. Wolfgang humiliates Antonio right in front of the Holy...

Kirk goes to New York and Paul assembles a Ween playlist. Uncle Marc checks in. Hot takes on Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning" and Beethoven's String Quartet No. 14 in C minor, Op. 131. Paul tries to build a winning streak in the trivia quiz.

Kirk and Paul love exploring U.S. states and cities for their musical histories. But Philadelphia challenged them because it boats such an embarrassment of musical riches. There are so many good Philly artists from every decade and style. Who to pick? Well, this episode is serving you super Philly soul sounds from the '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s. There are punks from the '80s, alt-rock heroes from t...

Paul and Kirk have more to say about Vanity 6, because of course they do, every episode of this podcast should be about Vanity 6. Also under discussion are the Andantes, Epix's new punk doc, Johnny Rotten, Marky Ramone and Richard Hell. And don't @ them about your vinyl collection or Jefferson Airplane/Starship.

Here's a sort-of companion piece to our "Boy Bands" episode, but this one's all all-girl groups. Sorry, but there aren't any Spice Girls or Pussycat Dolls tracks. But you'll get some genuine '60s girl-group girl groups, of course. There's some '90s hip-hop and R&B. And both Kirk and Paul brought some '80s to the show. In fact, in an unplanned coincidence, both hosts independently picked a song eac...

No corrections but a crucial clarification is on offer in this mini, plus some fun chatter about B-list hair metal and "flyover states." Don't @ us about Gang Starr and the Monkees. And will Kirk finally break his music trivia losing streak?

What was Kirk's teen angst like? What was Paul's like? If you've been listening to "Music Raygun" for a while, you can guess. And we suspect you'll get close to the mark. But there are a few curveballs here too. This episode features Nada Surf, Dream Academy, Metallica and Peter Gabriel. It has John Hughes movies and a Wes Anderson movie. It has Alyssa Milano. And Mr. Feinstein from Grant High in...

This is a jam-packed mini. Uncle Marc checks in, the takes fly in "Don't @ Me" and there's the music trivia quiz, of course. But in the middle of it all is another installment of "Trading Card Corner." This time, Kirk and Paul open packs of Pro Set SuperStars MusiCards from 1991 and learn about a few bands they never even heard of before.

We're wrapping up another season of "Music Raygun" with our fourth B-sides episode. Twice a year, we look back on the previous six months' worth of episodes and revisit those topics for one more video clip each. Something that almost made the cut the first time around, something we forgot the first time, or something new we've discovered since. This time, you'll find B-sides for "Zbigniew Rybczyns...

Paul talks about a recent encounter he had with the lead singer of Nada Surf. Then things get vicious in the "Don't @ Me" segment when Kirk attacks Paul personally for no reason. Despite the unprovoked aggression, Paul recovers to defend his music trivia win streak.

Janet Jackson's been a long time coming on "Music Raygun." We've talked about Michael Jackson. We've talked about the Jackson family dynasty. We've done an episode about Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. All along, we've insisted that Janet would have an episode of her own. Now that day has arrived. It starts with Janet's first TV appearance at age 8. And it ends with her 2018 Billboard Music Awards perf...

Paul is still sick but the show must go on so he and Kirk are here to serve you another "Music Raygun" miniepisode as scheduled. No breaks! A past "Don't @ Me" statement is returned to for discussion fodder but no @'s, we promise. Then more hot takes, and a deliriously ill Paul tries to create a music trivia win streak. All that and a little more on this miniepisode of "Music *cough cough wheeze*...

It's the 50th episode of "Music Raygun." Can you believe it? Did you think we'd last? Did you expect us to make it this far? Is anyone even listening? Anyway, the first 50 were only the beginning. There's a lot of "Music Raygun" still to come. But this time, we're opening up the old grab bag once again. That means the theme of this episode is no theme at all. We're talking about a random assortmen...

Welcome to 2019, raygunners. Kirk has stories from his holiday vacation to Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The "Don't @ Me" takes come fast and hot. And who will win the first "Music Raygun" trivia quiz of the new year?

It's our third dance-themed episode. And that means the lovely Isabel Nelson is back in the room. She pops and locks with fellow dancer Kirk and uncoordinated buffoon Paul. This episode has got Janelle Monae, the movie "Fast Forward," and a "Soul Train" line. It's got Christine and the Queens, "Dance Fever," and soul music on "The Lawrence Welk Show." Plus so much more. You're going to want to see...

It's Christmas Eve, and our dear friend Isabel Nelson has returned to the show for some holiday cheer. Everyone's got something to say for "Don't @ Me," and the takes are piping hot. So to cool the tension, we also brought back our newest segment, "Trading Card Corner." You'll leave this episode knowing more about the New Kids on the Block than you ever wanted to know or should know. Merry Christm...

Merry everything and happy always to you raygunners. It’s that special time of year when, for some people, the spirit of Christmas somehow transforms a lot of music that normally would be cheesy and unlistenable into something warm and cheerful. Kirk and Paul are two of those people, so here’s another holiday treat of an episode. Even if you don’t like Christmas music, there’s something here for y...

Paul and Kirk celebrate the holiday season by discussing the rumored Prince jukebox musical, sharing their galaxy-brain "Don't @ Me" takes, and competing in a over-so-fast trivia "contest" in which one of them fails so badly that most of the quiz is just an expo mission.