Mike Mettler

Both surviving members of The Beatles — Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney — have just released fine new solo albums that take different approaches toward reflecting on their respective long and winding careers. Ringo released his Long Long Road LP on April 24, 2026, while Sir Paul released The Boys of Dungeon Lane a little more than a month later on May 29, 2026. Read Mark Smotroff’s combo review (and AP editor Mike Mettler’s detailed footnotes) to see if either or both of these Fab Two LPs are worthy of purchase and repeat spins accordingly. . .

On any particular night, King Crimson founder/guitar iconoclast Robert Fripp’s penchant for playing music always leaned toward quote, “new whenever it is performed.” That M.O. was most definitely in place for the seven-man band’s four-night run at what was then called the Best Buy Theater in the heart of midtown Manhattan between September 18-21, 2014. A most aptly named 200g 2LP set on black vinyl, 2014 NYC (coming out on July 10, 2026), celebrates some of the best performances of that storied run. AP editor Mike Mettler — our resident KC fanatic who attended three of those four shows — shares all the details. . .

Time for another exclusive AP sneak preview! Check out Ken Micallef’s unboxing video of Soulines’ tt23 turntable. . .

Talk Talk is one of those groups that often fall through the cracks of both music history and mainstream consciousness — beloved by some, overlooked by many. Luckily, we have a pair of new half-speed-mastered LPs from their catalog to share a proper (re)assessment. Read on to see Mark Smotroff’s review of the HSM LPs for 1988’s Spirit of Eden and 1984’s It’s My Life, plus find out what AP editor Mike Mettler thinks of the merits of 2025’s The Very Best of Talk Talk 2LP set. . .