New music today comes courtesy of Mixed Blood Majority, a new trio that was formed over the summer that comprises beatmaker Lazerbeak and hip-hop artists Crescent Moon (of Kill the Vultures) and Joe Horton (No Bird Sing). Horton and Crescent Moon have been working diligently to perforate some of the borders that separate our many…

Give Us a Wink is an album released in March 1976 by the British rock band Sweet. It was their first album to be fully written and produced by the band themselves. We played "Action" which reached the Top 10 in many European countries.

This week, much of the new music we're featuring on our airwaves comes from lesser-known acts. Check out some of these great songs, from a lovely hip-hop anthem about universal love to psych-rock revivalism.

It’s not uncommon for musicians to take a break from the hustle of late-night shows and unpredictable paychecks to focus on becoming a parent. For singer-songwriter Katy Vernon, the stakes were especially high as she ventured into motherhood. “My parents died when I was really young. I was 12 when my mom died, and 17…

After 15 years in Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Gibbard is releasing his first solo album, Former Lives. Guy Raz talks with Ben about what it's like to confront older versions of one's creative self, his private life after a very public divorce and the future of Death Cab for Cutie.

The California based band led by the Alvin brothers has been pumping out good ol' fashioned amped-up American roots rock for several decades. "Hard Line" contains the song "Dark Night," which has been used on TV and movie soundtracks ranging from "Miami Vice" to the Robetr Rodriquez/Quentin Tarrantino vampire flick "From Dusk Til Dawn."

Gabriel's 1978 solo album was the second of three known simply as "Peter Gabriel" (his fourth would have had the same title yet again if Geffen Records hadn't balked). This one is sometimes nicknamed "Scratch" for its cover art depicting Gabriel appearing the scratch the air with his fingernails. We played "On the Air."

After a spectacular week-long run that saw Doomtree filling the 7th St. Entry for five consecutive nights and finishing it off with a two-night stand in the Mainroom for Blowout 7, the Minneapolis hip-hop collective will return this December for three back-to-back shows. Doomtree Blowout 8 will take place Friday, December 14; Saturday, December 15;…

Prince brought his best new song in years to the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, performing “RNR Affair” (alternatively titled “Rock ‘n’ Roll Love Affair”) for a crowd of camera phone-wielding fans. If you’re a Current listener you’ll recognize “RNR Affair” as the new Prince song the station has had in rotation since…

As part of our ongoing collaboration with McNally Smith across the street from MPR headquarters, we're pleased to share another installment of their Soundbite Series hosted by David Campbell.