Michael Stipe gave himself a birthday present this year - a gift that was shared with legions of fans: two new solo songs, 'Drive to the Ocean' and 'Your Capricious Soul.' The Current's Mac Wilson connected with Michael Stipe to talk about the new music as well as a little bit about R.E.M. and about Michael's other projects.

Let's pick a winner and some losers from among a crop that includes a Disney showstopper, an Elton John banger, Randy Newman's latest Pixar romp and two songs about standing.

Today in 1963, the first Beatles single "Please Please Me" was released in the U.S. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that say please?

To submit music videos for consideration — whether they’re your own, or just new Minnesota music videos you think are awesome — e-mail fridayfive@mpr.org. Early Eyes – “I’m Enough” Early Eyes started making waves in the Minneapolis music scene a few years ago, and they’ve carried that momentum all the way to signing with Epitaph…

The composer and electronic musician hit a wall while making his first solo album in five years. Finishing the record meant finding inspiration in everything from Brian Eno to a tree in his yard.

This week, Mary Lucia welcomes Bill DeVille, and the two pull back the curtain a bit on what it's like to interview the artists you love.

This week on Teenage Kicks, we dig into a new release from Bryan Ferry, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, 1974, and The Current has your chance to win a copy of the album.

Last night Jill glued her finger to a toy she was fixing and it got us thinking - what songs would work well in an adhesive commercial?

For a band who have already sold out their Valentines Day show at The Turf, Heart Bones like to skew the romance with "Open Relations" climbing to #17 this week.

Chris catalogs the shades of melancholy in her gooey synth-pop single.