Even when built around familiar pop-song structures, Dan Deacon's music is juxtapositional and wonderful -- a pursuit of the ecstatic that obliterates genre distinctions. Deacon's new album, 'Gliss Riffer', comes out Feb. 24. Get a first listen here.

Lesley Gore has died of cancer at age 68. Discovered by Quincy Jones as a 16-year-old ingenue, Gore performed the indelible 1963 hit “It’s My Party” as well as “You Don’t Own Me,” “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” and “She’s a Fool” – all top five hits, with “It’s My Party” taking Gore to number one just weeks after her…

'Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance' is another strong collection of songs from one of the world's strongest bands; the only diminished area of strength is as an album per se. Fortunately, the band decided to release a deluxe edition, creating an entirely new and vastly more fulfilling experience. Read Mac Wilson's review.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and that turns our thoughts to matters of the heart: sometimes that means new or enduring love — and sometimes that means the end of love. Whatever Valentine's Day means to you this year, we're asking you to submit your requests for love songs and breakup songs.

The same week his latest record, 'Let the Good Times Roll', is released, JD McPherson and his band stopped in to The Current's studio ahead of their gig at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Asked why his music has so many fans in Minnesota, JD says, 'Minnesotans are very intelligent and sensitive, artistic people, with the highest level of taste.' Listen to the full in-studio session.

The lead up to Nina Simone’s State Theater concert in 1991 had been complicated. Reporters for both the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press had been unable to connect with her for an interview. There was no email, and telephone trans-continental telephone connections were hard to make. She lived in France, and her manager was…

While they were in town to play the Turf Club and First Avenue, three members of Dr. Dog stopped by The Current's studios to pick a set of songs to share with our audience.

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, Jeanne from Cinnaminson, N.J., had an idea that's perfect for the day before Valentine's Day: song titles that can fit on those pastel-colored candy hearts. What songs with two- or three-word titles would you like to hear?

Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis joins Steve Seel and Jill Riley to talk about the new film based on E.L. James' best-selling book. "It's a cultural phenomenon," Stephanie says. Listen to the complete review and a discussion about sexy Hollywood films.

When I first was introduced to the music of Dr. Nina Simone…I remember it was the early ’90s.  I was in the music store Tidal Wave in Saint Paul with my mama. She was doing her usual weekly perusing for new music. There I was, 10-year-old me, walking around on exploration mode as Tidal Wave…