Between its bold title, its stark black and white cover, and its gilded pages (!), Jessica Hopper's new collection is presented to readers as a Very Important Book. And you know what? It absolutely is.

It's always a treat when Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw of Metric come by our studio, and today they gave us another wonderful surprise: In addition to playing three songs from three different albums, they worked out an acoustic version of 'Cascades' from their forthcoming 'Pagans in Vegas.' Check out the full in-studio, recorded ahead of Metric's scheduled gig at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

After playing the First Avenue mainroom last week in support of their 'Zaba' album, Dave Bayley and Joe Seaward of Glass Animals stopped by The Current to take over our airwaves and to play songs by some of their favorite artists.

In 1977, the Sex Pistols signed with Virgin Records. The long evolution of the Virgin brand now includes a bank called Virgin Money, which has announced that it will offer a pair of Sex Pistols credit cards. “The Sex Pistols challenged convention and the established ways of thinking,” Virgin Money’s card director told The Guardian, “just as…

Josh Rouse lives in Spain these days, but has a Midwestern background. His latest album is The Embers of Time, out on Yep Roc Records. During a recent tour, he passed through the Radio Heartland studio with his Martin guitar and his harmonicas for a chat and some live music.

The roots-rock band's fifth album doesn't deviate wildly from Heartless Bastards' wheelhouse, but it does give Erika Wennerstrom and company more room to roam.

According tp Paul Huttner, today is going to be the hottest day so far this summer. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear with 'hot' in the title or prominently in the lyrics? Send us your requests.

This week, John Moe stopped by The Current's Morning Show to talk to Jill Riley and Sean McPherson about why losing your phone charger may not be an issue much longer. 'Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle say they are getting closer and closer to a day when you can charge your devices over wi-fi,' John says. Plus, the calming presence of sheep can ease your day.

Tolliver: Rave Deep Jonathan Tolliver has moved to Los Angeles, but he’ll be back in Minneapolis this Friday night for a show at Icehouse celebrating Rave Deep, a solo EP he’s releasing as Tolliver. The EP features Tolliver’s falsetto flying over burbling electronic tracks, miles away both musically and thematically from the buoyant soul of…

Bob Dylan recorded 'Mr. Tambourine Man'; Bruce started assembling the E Street Band; M.C. Hammer's album hit No. 1 in the charts and stayed there nearly six months; Wilson Phillips went to No. 1 with 'Hold On'; and Les Paul was born 100 years ago in Waukesha, Wis., Today in Music History.