Music Raygun

Singer. Songwriter. Producer. Multi-instrumentalist. Power pop godfather. Technologist. Innovator. Born to synthesize. That's Todd Rundgren. He's the musical genius behind Nazz, Utopia and a long solo career full of hits from "Hello, It's Me" to "Bang the Drum All Day." And he's produced a vast and varied group of other artists. Like Badfinger, the New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Hall and Oates, XTC, the Psychedelic Furs and more. This episode covers Rundgren and several of the other artists mentioned. He's Todd Rundgren, a wizard, a true star. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Kirk clarifies Ween and Paul clarifies "Freaks and Geeks." Kirk has a piping hot take about the Knowles sisters. Paul ordains the Sexiest Song Ever. And there's drama in the trivia quiz.

In an episode that focuses on one instrument, Paul and Kirk look closer at some of the great pianists in history. Like Chico Marx. And Dennis DeYoung, of course. Kirk finally realizes, thanks to a little help from "Russian Doll," that he loves Harry Nilsson. Oscar Peterson teaches Dick Cavett to play piano like any of the great jazz pianists. Wolfgang humiliates Antonio right in front of the Holy Roman Emperor. Some snot-nosed college-boy piano player shows Billy Joel how it's done. Plus lots and lots more. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Kirk goes to New York and Paul assembles a Ween playlist. Uncle Marc checks in. Hot takes on Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning" and Beethoven's String Quartet No. 14 in C minor, Op. 131. Paul tries to build a winning streak in the trivia quiz.

Kirk and Paul love exploring U.S. states and cities for their musical histories. But Philadelphia challenged them because it boats such an embarrassment of musical riches. There are so many good Philly artists from every decade and style. Who to pick? Well, this episode is serving you super Philly soul sounds from the '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s. There are punks from the '80s, alt-rock heroes from the '90s and a '50s doo-wop group. And also one living hip-hop legend born and raised in West Philadelphia. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Paul and Kirk have more to say about Vanity 6, because of course they do, every episode of this podcast should be about Vanity 6. Also under discussion are the Andantes, Epix's new punk doc, Johnny Rotten, Marky Ramone and Richard Hell. And don't @ them about your vinyl collection or Jefferson Airplane/Starship.

Here's a sort-of companion piece to our "Boy Bands" episode, but this one's all all-girl groups. Sorry, but there aren't any Spice Girls or Pussycat Dolls tracks. But you'll get some genuine '60s girl-group girl groups, of course. There's some '90s hip-hop and R&B. And both Kirk and Paul brought some '80s to the show. In fact, in an unplanned coincidence, both hosts independently picked a song each from the soundtrack album to the movie "Beverly Hills Cop." Knowing that, think you can guess which songs? To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

No corrections but a crucial clarification is on offer in this mini, plus some fun chatter about B-list hair metal and "flyover states." Don't @ us about Gang Starr and the Monkees. And will Kirk finally break his music trivia losing streak?

What was Kirk's teen angst like? What was Paul's like? If you've been listening to "Music Raygun" for a while, you can guess. And we suspect you'll get close to the mark. But there are a few curveballs here too. This episode features Nada Surf, Dream Academy, Metallica and Peter Gabriel. It has John Hughes movies and a Wes Anderson movie. It has Alyssa Milano. And Mr. Feinstein from Grant High in Van Nuys is here with his panel of teens to weigh in on punk music. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

This is a jam-packed mini. Uncle Marc checks in, the takes fly in "Don't @ Me" and there's the music trivia quiz, of course. But in the middle of it all is another installment of "Trading Card Corner." This time, Kirk and Paul open packs of Pro Set SuperStars MusiCards from 1991 and learn about a few bands they never even heard of before.

We're wrapping up another season of "Music Raygun" with our fourth B-sides episode. Twice a year, we look back on the previous six months' worth of episodes and revisit those topics for one more video clip each. Something that almost made the cut the first time around, something we forgot the first time, or something new we've discovered since. This time, you'll find B-sides for "Zbigniew Rybczynski," "New Jack Swing," "Off-Brand Picks," "TV Theme Music," "Bass," "Nile Rodgers," "Halloween II," "Dance III," "Boy Bands" and "Janet Jackson." To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Paul talks about a recent encounter he had with the lead singer of Nada Surf. Then things get vicious in the "Don't @ Me" segment when Kirk attacks Paul personally for no reason. Despite the unprovoked aggression, Paul recovers to defend his music trivia win streak.

Janet Jackson's been a long time coming on "Music Raygun." We've talked about Michael Jackson. We've talked about the Jackson family dynasty. We've done an episode about Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. All along, we've insisted that Janet would have an episode of her own. Now that day has arrived. It starts with Janet's first TV appearance at age 8. And it ends with her 2018 Billboard Music Awards performance at age 52. And along the way, Kirk and Paul each name their top three Janet Jackson songs. To see the videos featured in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Paul is still sick but the show must go on so he and Kirk are here to serve you another "Music Raygun" miniepisode as scheduled. No breaks! A past "Don't @ Me" statement is returned to for discussion fodder but no @'s, we promise. Then more hot takes, and a deliriously ill Paul tries to create a music trivia win streak. All that and a little more on this miniepisode of "Music *cough cough wheeze* Raygun."

It's the 50th episode of "Music Raygun." Can you believe it? Did you think we'd last? Did you expect us to make it this far? Is anyone even listening? Anyway, the first 50 were only the beginning. There's a lot of "Music Raygun" still to come. But this time, we're opening up the old grab bag once again. That means the theme of this episode is no theme at all. We're talking about a random assortment of music we like. And we hope you'll like it too. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Welcome to 2019, raygunners. Kirk has stories from his holiday vacation to Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The "Don't @ Me" takes come fast and hot. And who will win the first "Music Raygun" trivia quiz of the new year?

It's our third dance-themed episode. And that means the lovely Isabel Nelson is back in the room. She pops and locks with fellow dancer Kirk and uncoordinated buffoon Paul. This episode has got Janelle Monae, the movie "Fast Forward," and a "Soul Train" line. It's got Christine and the Queens, "Dance Fever," and soul music on "The Lawrence Welk Show." Plus so much more. You're going to want to see all the actual dancing from this episode's videos. So be sure to check out the video playlist. To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

It's Christmas Eve, and our dear friend Isabel Nelson has returned to the show for some holiday cheer. Everyone's got something to say for "Don't @ Me," and the takes are piping hot. So to cool the tension, we also brought back our newest segment, "Trading Card Corner." You'll leave this episode knowing more about the New Kids on the Block than you ever wanted to know or should know. Merry Christmas!

Merry everything and happy always to you raygunners. It’s that special time of year when, for some people, the spirit of Christmas somehow transforms a lot of music that normally would be cheesy and unlistenable into something warm and cheerful. Kirk and Paul are two of those people, so here’s another holiday treat of an episode. Even if you don’t like Christmas music, there’s something here for you to enjoy. Like Kool Moe Dee. Or Tom Waits. Or GG Allin. What says Christmas better than GG Allin? To see the videos we watch in this episode, visit musicraygun.com/playlists.

Paul and Kirk celebrate the holiday season by discussing the rumored Prince jukebox musical, sharing their galaxy-brain "Don't @ Me" takes, and competing in a over-so-fast trivia "contest" in which one of them fails so badly that most of the quiz is just an expo mission.