Music Raygun

Paul and Kirk redress a couple of glaring omissions from a recent episode, answer the question of that "Last American Virgin" soundtrack song, and mark what would've been Michael Jackson's 60th birthday. All that plus "Don't @ Me" and the music trivia quiz.

For the first time on “Music Raygun,” Paul and Kirk have chosen to focus on the work of one particular music video director. In this case, it’s Polish filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczynski. While his isn’t exactly a household name, Rybcynzski’s avant-garde influence was essential to developing music video as an art form during the golden age of MTV in the ‘80s. That’s why he was one of the first winners of the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. And, hey, the music ain’t bad either. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Kirk and Paul talk about an upcoming Anita Baker concert and the time someone won a date with Prince. "Don't @ Me" (them) about OMC or Duran Duran. And this episode's music trivia battle turns quickly into an expo mission, but it's fun all the same.

“Music Raygun” B-sides episodes are when we look back to past episode themes for new videos that we left out, forgot or didn’t know about the first time around. So our third B-sides podcast serves up bonus clips from the following previous episodes: “Funk,” “Minneapolis,” “Madonna,” “Hip-Hop 1992-93,” “Rebel Girls II,” “Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,” “Slow Jams,” “Dance II,” “Detroit,” “Music Videos 1995-97” and “Quincy Jones.” If you have a B-side suggestion for a future episode, go ahead and email it to us: musicraygun@gmail.com. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Kirk has news; the boys discuss summer music festivals and Bass Player magazine; two fresh, hot takes for the "Don't @ Me" segment; and, as always, a cool music trivia contest. It's a miniepisode, you guys!

Our topic for this episode is someone who’s been around for so long, is such a multi-hyphenate and has worked with so many other legends that he’s worth many artists in one package. He’s a composer, a writer, a band leader, an arranger and conductor, and a producer working in jazz, pop, TV and film scores, soul and R&B. He has 27 Grammys and 79 nominations. And he also made Rashida Jones. This episode is given to scratching the surface of the genius of Quincy Jones. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Say yay, because Krag's back! Kirk has returned from his adventures abroad, and he's ready to tell us about fleeing to the Cleve and clubbing up down by the Flats (or not). On "Don't @ Me," one of your hosts has a take so hot it renders the other literally speechless. And your boys learn a thing or two from their music trivia content.

Kirk’s on vacation, so pinch-hitter-in-chief Katie Willert is back in the “studio” to fill in for the Kragman. She and Paul are taking it easy for the Los Angeles summer heat wave, eschewing a themed episode entirely. Which means it’s time for another “Music Raygun” grab bag episode. Paul goes weirdly nostalgic for this one, digging up a bunch of vintage clips while Katie keeps things ever-so-slightly more current. But other than that, be prepared to follow your hosts wherever the wind and their fancy takes them. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Kirk’s on vacation this week, so filling in we have BFF of the show Katie Willert. She and Paul discuss their respective personalized "Your Summer Rewind" playlists on Spotify, then dive into some spicy takes in "Don't @ Me" before polishing off the mini with a hair-raiser of a music trivia contest.

For the first time since the second episode, we’re focusing strictly on music videos from a specific era. In this case, 1995-97. Given the age gap between Paul and Kirk, and their musical tastes, they experienced those years very differently from each other. But that only means this is an especially interesting and eclectic episode. So what were you doing in the mid to late ‘90s? Maybe you’re in for some reminiscing. Or maybe you’ll hear some tunes from 20-plus years ago that are new to you. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

We're back to normal on a truly mini miniepisode, i.e., no guests and no high-stakes, winner-takes-all competitions. But there are a couple of corrections for things we screwed up, plus a new tribute band name guessing game, a new band-name backronym and, of course, "Don't @ Me" and our music trivia contest.

Here’s a new entry in the show’s series profiling music from different cities, states and regions of the USA. This time it’s a long look at Detroit, Michigan, aka Detroit Rock City, aka the Motor City, aka Motown. Detroit is a storied music metropolis that’s generated countless legendary artists. But Paul and Kirk avoid those mythical names to focus on the somewhat lesser-known singers and bands to emerge from the city of the straits. That doesn’t mean this episode doesn’t kick ass, though. Oh, it kicks ass. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Paul and Kirk answer some listener mail; a brain-melting correction changes everything they thought they knew about the "Boston" cover art; a band name backronym is added to the list of all-time greats; the boys play an all-new game; and the Trivial Pursuit: R.P.M. Edition tie is broken at long last after an honest-to-God music trivia slugfest. All that plus "Music Raygun" theme music composer Bagweed serves "A History of Vile Ents." It's the most loaded miniepisode yet! Download Bagweed's EP, "Now I Am Become Def" at https://bagweed.bandcamp.com.

Once again, “Music Raygun” welcomes a past guest back for another episode. Isabel Nelson returns to talk a bunch more about dance with Kirk, a fellow trained dancer; and Paul, a clumsy, oafish idiot. Baryshnikov makes a long overdue appearance, Marlon Jackson reminds us why he used to be “the dancingest Jackson,” Willi Ninja teaches the world how to vogue, and lots more. Just like our first spotlight on dance, this is an especially visual episode, so be sure to check out the featured playlist for yourself. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Say yay, because Isabel Nelson is back as our guest for a new miniepisode. Paul, Kirk and Isabel kick things off on a fun note by talking about rock-star suicides. Then it's another installment of "Don't @ Me," where Kirk drops one of his spiciest takes yet (but don't @ us about it). And the music trivia expo mission is a nail-biter right down to the last question.

It’s time to snuggle up with your lovers under those covers, because you’re listening to the Quiet Storm on Music Raygun. Paul and Kirk welcome back Katie Willert to join them once again. This time they’re talking about slow jams, aka baby-making music. What constitutes a “slow jam” is open to interpretation. But one thing’s for sure: If you put the songs from this episode on an unlabeled cassette tape and play it for someone you invited to your dorm room, you’ll be dry-humping in no time. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Katie Willert was the first guest on Music Raygun, and now she's the first guest on one of our miniepisodes. She spills the tea with some behind-the-scenes secrets from the 2018 Met Gala red carpet, then shares a piping hot Don't @ Me before getting in on our regular trivia game.

Even if you don’t recognize the names of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, you know their work. Because they’re responsible for dozens of the biggest pop hits of the last 30-plus years. Original members of The Time (as in Morris Day and the Time), Jam and Lewis are also the answer to the question, “Why is Prince’s egomania responsible for Janet Jackson’s entire music career?” And, as a human Prince encyclopedia, Kirk of course has a comprehensive knowledge of all things Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Uncle Marc is back with a new email, we say goodbye to Bob Dorough, Paul has podcast recommendations, plus a new "Don't @ Me" and another round of Trivial Pursuit: RPM Edition.

Last April, we gave you our first “Rebel Girls” episode of the podcast, so this year we wanted to make it an annual tradition. Here’s a bunch more badass woman in rock music, including Lunachicks, Liliput (nee Kleenex), Luscious Jackson, Screaming Females, Daddy Issues and more. We'll watch Regis and Kathie Lee try to get to the bottom of the New York hardcore scene in the mid-'80s. Wendy O. Williams drops in because she’s the patron saint of all true rebel girls. And who’s covering Debby Boone? To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.