Music Raygun

Kirk returns to his minepisode chair to weigh in on Paul's music selections in the previous miniepisode. Kirk stans lo-fi hip-hop beats. Also, there's a new "Don't @ Me," and one of these jabronis tries to get a streak going in the music trivia quiz. CHILLHOP/LO-FI HIP-HOP ChilledCow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHW1oY26kxQ ChillhopMusic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bebuiaSKtU4

Every 10th episode of "Music Raygun" is a "grab bag" with no specific topic discussed. But for this grab bag episode, there's a theme: summer. What does that mean? Songs about summer, songs Kirk and Paul remember from particular summers, or just songs that "feel" like summer to them. So celebrate summertime with two people who don't particularly even like summer, but love summer music. It's the summer grab bag. To see the videos featured in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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: https://cornerboys.bandcamp.com Roid Rage: https://roidrageband.bandcamp.com Necking: https://neckingband.bandcamp.com The Dead Ringers: https://thedeadringersmd.bandcamp.com Paul's frequently updated "Best New Music" playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/prc401/playlist/1e8PD6itXw4m9rKm2y1fRP?si=hjF_p1H5Tr23_UxeyG7nAA

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 the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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 trivia quiz.

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's going to be a smooth night. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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, the Psychedelic Furs and more. This episode covers Rundgren and several of the other artists mentioned. He's Todd Rundgren, a wizard, a true star. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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 Roman Emperor. Some snot-nosed college-boy piano player shows Billy Joel how it's done. Plus lots and lots more. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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 the '90s and a '50s doo-wop group. And also one living hip-hop legend born and raised in West Philadelphia. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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 each from the soundtrack album to the movie "Beverly Hills Cop." Knowing that, think you can guess which songs? To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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 Van Nuys is here with his panel of teens to weigh in on punk music. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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 Rybczynski," "New Jack Swing," "Off-Brand Picks," "TV Theme Music," "Bass," "Nile Rodgers," "Halloween II," "Dance III," "Boy Bands" and "Janet Jackson." To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

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 performance at age 52. And along the way, Kirk and Paul each name their top three Janet Jackson songs. To see the videos featured in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.