Back in 2013, The Current staff got together and thought, "What would happen if listeners could sound off on music that the programming team were considering adding to our playlist?" The result is what we hoped: a lively discussion on 11 songs from brand new bands to veterans. Here are the results!

To honor Black History Month, The Current celebrates by spotlighting African-American musical icons from throughout history and across genres. As February approaches, help us pick the artists to feature for Black History Month this year!

Stream Chris Koza's new solo album 'In Real Time' in its entirety.

The rock trio's first album since 2005 sounds as fresh and vital as a debut, but also as nuanced and skillful as the work of three players with a decade-long, inimitable rapport betwixt them. Get a first listen to the entire album.

The Glaswegian folk-pop band's ninth album feels light on its feet, but without sacrificing the thoughtful, careful precision for which Stuart Murdoch and his collaborators are known. Hear the upcoming album in its entirety.

On the Vancouver songwriter's fourth album, he plays with abrupt changes of tone and texture. Carefully conceived instrumental passages expand upon -- and sometimes upend -- his lyrics. Listen to the album before its Jan. 13 release date.

While performing at the nonprofit organization Youthprize as part of The Current's Coffee Break on the Road series, Thao Nguyen captures something of the holiday spirit with an original song about gift cards. The chorus is, ""I give you a gift card of the exact amount of the gift card you gifted me." Listen to the whole song.

Watch the singer and rapper perform "Skeleton Key" and "The Good Fight" with the VocalEssence choir.

With the holidays upon us, many of us at The Current are looking forward to seeing our families, especially our brothers and sisters, which had us thinking about all the great sibling bands. We are family.

The host of Transmission, Jake Rudh, provides a playlist of some of his favorite holiday jams as nice alternatives to the seasonal norm. Just don't ask him for any help explaining what a Cocteau Twin is to Grandma.