In this supersized episode, we share our very unusual experience purchasing, receiving, and driving our 2023 Fisker Ocean Ultra; there are so many twists and turns to this story, we can’t summarize them here, you’ll just have to listen to the entire wild experience! We also answer audience questions about how to store an EV for long periods of time…

My guest, Ian Crichton, has long been an underrated yet exciting guitarist primarily known for his work in the Canadian progressive pop/rock band Saga. Ian's still a member of that band, but he's also in an exciting trio called Six By Six with vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Robert Berry and Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler. Six By Six dropped its sophomo…

The redesigned 2023 Chevrolet Colorado offers noticeable improvements throughout the truck. We share our first impressions of this midsized pickup truck, exploring its modern convenience features, off-road prowess, improved ride quality, and evaluating if the redesign truly paid off. Additionally, we debate regarding the impact of Toyota's renowned…

Are less expensive cars cool again? The prevalence of cars real people can afford is one of the trends we noticed at the 2024 New York Auto Show. We looked closely at the new Nissan Kicks, Subaru Forester, Honda Prologue, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen ID. Buzz, and many more. Our experts also share their favorite car/trend/feature from the show floor. S…

Hyundai brings significant improvements to the Kona EV over the previous-generation model. We share our first impressions of the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric, the power plant, driving dynamics, controls, and what it has to offer for buyers looking to purchase a sensible electric vehicle. Also, we discuss why it is important for EV owners to pay close…

More info on the 10 Top Picks of 2024 here: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/best-cars-of-the-year-10-top-picks-of-2024-a4675085257/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Consumer Reports annual Top Picks list is out. In this episode we clarify what the Top Picks is and how vehicles get awarded this highly regarded designation. Our experts discuss the 10 cars that…

Canadian power pop-infused party rockers The Kings are my guests for this episode. Well, at least bassist/vocalist David Diamond and guitarist Mister Zero, anyway. We discuss the band's 2023 release, The Longest Story Ever Told, the band's first release in 20 years. We also dove into their musical backgrounds, how they got Bob Ezrin to produce thei…

Kia takes the three-row SUV EV Mainstream with its all-new EV9. We share our first impressions of the 2024 Kia EV9, how it handled around our test track, the third-row seats, controls, and if this newest kia is the best midsized SUV EV or not. And, our experts give advice on what to look for when buying tires to maximize vehicle MPG. We also explai…

Big Big Train has been building momentum in the progressive rock world for years with their brand of quintessentially English, pastoral prog, but the sudden and tragic death of lead vocalist David Longdon dealt the band a huge blow. The band is about to release its first album without David on March 1 through Inside Out Music. New vocalist Alberto …

Lexus has expanded its SUV line with the all-new TX, a three-row model that shares its dimensions and many mechanical bits with the new Toyota Grand Highlander. On this episode we share our initial impressions of the 2024 Lexus TX and discuss its driving characteristics, luxurious interior, controls, and three different powertrains offered by Lexus…

The 2024 Blazer EV is the first Chevrolet vehicle on General Motors’ new Ultium electric platform, which is shared by the Honda Prologue EV and Cadillac Lyriq. We offer our first impressions of the new Blazer, including its driving dynamics, build quality, and why GM ordered dealers to stop selling it. We also discuss the future of internal combust…

We're at CES in Las Vegas, where much of the hype has been around introducing artificial intelligence into your car's infotainment system. But is AI in your vehicle actually going to be useful, or is it just hype? The EV market is maturing, and we got to see where automakers are going to take the unique abilities that electric vehicles are afforded…

Independent progressive rockers Shadow Circus are back after a long hiatus with a brand new album, From the Shadows. The band released its fourth album on Halloween digitally and started shipping out CDs just recently. This latest release sees the band going heavier, darker, and much more introspective and personal than their previous albums, and i…

We wrap 2023 with CR experts sharing their most and least favorite cars they drove in our testing fleet. Where do cars like the Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V hybrid, Rivian R1S, and Honda Accord hybrid fall on our lists? We also share some fun statistics from our testing program from 2023, and answer questions about regenerative braking in the Toyota Pr…

While hybrids and EVs get a lot of attention in the automotive world, they are not the only options for those wanting to lower their carbon emissions; plug-in hybrids, flex fuels, and even hydrogen vehicles have made their way to the US market in recent years. But are these alternatives realistic for many drivers? Dr. Quinta Warren, CR’s Associate …

After a 10-year absence, Swedish melodic progressive rock masters Moon Safari are back with their soaring five-part harmonies, melodic hooks, and fantastic musicianship on Himlabacken Vol. 2, the long-awaited follow-up to Himlabacken Vol. 1. Don't let the title fool you, the lyrics are in English (except for one short song). As good as the band's p…

Ryan Murphy and Jim Benner from the Rushfans community on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter are my guests as we celebrate the recent 30th anniversary of Counterparts by Rush. It's hard to believe that "newer" Rush album is three decades old, but here we are. Ryan, Jim, and I go track by track, discussing the songs that make up this fantastic album an…

More info on the 2023 CR Reliability Survey here: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/guide-to-car-reliability-owner-satisfaction-a9213219653/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Ratings and test results on every car CR purchases and tests: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Every year, Consumer Reports survey…

My guest for this episode is composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Robert Reed, who is best known for his work with the outstanding modern progressive rock band Magenta. However, before there was Magenta, there was Cyan. Rob has put together a new incarnation of Cyan featuring standout musicians and the band has just released Pictures from …

One of Toyota's popular plug-in hybrids (PHEV) the Prius Prime gets a major redesign for 2023. This week we share our first impressions of the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, its new sleek styling, improved fuel economy, driving characteristics, and extended electric-only range. We help a member of our audience find a replacement for her Scion tC with som…

Dave Kerzner returns for the first time since way back in Episode 24, when he and I discussed the Genesis classic, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, along with his music career up to that point. Dave's newest solo album dropped in mid-October. Heart Land Mines Vol. 1 is an outstanding mixture of classic rock, Americana, and progressive rock with dive…

My guest this week is multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist Nick D'Virgilio, who is perhaps best known as the drummer for progressive rock greats Spock's Beard and Big Big Train. Nick joined me to talk about the upcoming release of Sophomore, the appropriately titled second album by D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings, a trio of talented vocalis…

Buick expands its lineup with the all-new Envista, a small, stylish model that transforms elements together from a car and an SUV. We share our first impressions of the 2024 Buick Envista, its driving characteristics, exterior styling, and some of the compromises we have found in our initial time with this test car. Also, we explain how legroom is …

Stuart Nicholson and Dean Baker from Galahad kindly returned to the show for this episode to discuss the band's brand new release, The Long Goodbye. This album was written at the same time as the songs from the band's 2022 release, The Last Great Adventurer, and Stu and Dean were generous with their time in discussing the making of the record and s…

Just when you think you know Glass Hammer, everything changes...the lineup, the vocalist, the style. Arise is another concept album from the Tennessee-based progressive rock project headed by Steve Babb (and, usually, Fred Schendel), but it's the band's first space opera. It's also a much heavier album than what longtime Glass Hammer fans are used …

On this episode, we drive the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Our experts discuss the Mustang’s legacy, V8 powertrain, and race-inspired technology. We explore the future of muscle cars and wonder if the 7th generation Pony Car is the last of its kind. We also answer audience questions about cylinder deactivation and the best vehicle for a long commute. S…

I'm delighted to bring you this interview with Spock's Beard and Pattern-Seeking Animals bassist Dave Meros. Dave was kind enough to spend some time telling me about the upcoming Pattern-Seeking Animals album Spooky Action at a Distance, along with the upcoming 20th-anniversary release of Spock's Beard's Feel Euphoria album on vinyl. He also spoke …

Australian songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sean Timms has had a charmed 2023 as part of four progressive rock releases this year. His new albums with Unitopia and Southern Empire came out a few weeks apart and have captured a lot of attention among prog rock fans this year. Both albums could end up on several "best of 2023" lists by the end of…

We purchased over a dozen of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) for our auto test program at consumer reports, to study deeper and reveal many nuances of the most misunderstood vehicle. This week we share our initial impressions of some of our first interactions with plug-in hybrids and what we have discovered so far. Jake Fisher drafts a comp…

For all the warnings on today's modern vehicles, why don't cars have an alert that a headlight or taillight is out? In the new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander with a Max powertrain, is there risk of the hybrid battery depleting when carrying a large payload? And if it seems like your EV tires wear much faster than you'd expect, you're not alone. We gi…

CR is known for its extensive testing of child seats. But did you know we also perform a crash test on each seat we review? We visit our secret crash lab to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we go beyond the government standards to test each child seat, why our tests better reflect the circumstances of a real world car crash than what is cur…

See our car ratings and reviews at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT We drove the new 2024 Kona 2.0 and 1.6T at our test track, and share our first impressions on the driving dynamics of the standard and turbo versions, redesigned infotainment system, and how it stacks up against its predecessor. How does it stack up against …

Greetings, dear listeners. This episode could not be more different than the others. Rather than having an interview or an album discussion, I wanted to talk about how to choose an album to listen to when you're indecisive, like me, or simply aren't in the mood for any one particular thing. Many of us have sizable music collections and it can be di…

See our car ratings and reviews at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT 2024 Grand Highlander is all-new for Toyota, as the name suggests it's bigger than the Highlander and slots beneath the larger Sequoia. The Grand Highlander shares powertrains with its namesake while borrowing a performance-oriented turbocharged hybrid from …

Swedish progressive rock masters The Flower Kings are back with a new album, Look At You Now, which drops here in the U.S. on Sept. 8. I was fortunate enough to catch up with Roine Stolt to discuss the new album, his songwriting process, the band's current lineup, his musical background, how he ended up in Kaipa and Transatlantic, and much more. To…

Dokken and Lynch Mob legend George Lynch is my guest to discuss a new album he put together with ex-Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson. Heavy Hitters II is the duo's second album of cover songs, done as heavy rock tracks. This time out, the two former bandmates enlisted the soulful Bernard Fowler, backup singer from the Rolling Stones, to lend his voice to…

More info on the 2023 Dodge Hornet here: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/2023-dodge-hornet-review-a4944342068/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Ratings and test results on every car CR purchases and tests: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT With the new 2023 Hornet, Dodge has released its first small SUV since the unimpressive Calib…

It was a treat to talk to the legendary Carlos Cavazo, who rose to prominence in the 1980s playing guitar for Quiet Riot as the band brought heavy metal music to the top of the Billboard charts. Carlos is now in Carmine Appice's 1980s band, King Kobra, and they've got a new album out called We Are Warriors. Carlos talked about how he joined forces …

In my opinion, not enough people know about the excellent music career of Simon Collins. The son of Genesis legend Phil Collins, Simon is a talented musician and songwriter in his own right, both collaboratively and as a solo artist. I spoke with Simon about his musical origin story, going on Genesis tours as a child, the rise and fall of the outst…

More info on the 2024 Subaru Impreza here: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/small-cars/2024-subaru-impreza-review-a8590029622/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Ratings and test results on every car CR purchases and tests: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT The redesigned sixth-generation 2024 Impreza remains true to the established Subaru…

It's a banner year for Enchant, as the band's 1993 debut album, A Blueprint of the World, turns 30 years old in 2023 and their 2003 Tug of War album turns 20. So, for this episode I spoke with guitarist Doug Ott extensively about both albums, his musical background, band personnel changes, searching for his guitar tone, and much more. I'd love to h…

See our car ratings and reviews at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Alfa Romeo advances its electrification with the 2024 Tonale, the small SUV slots beneath the Stelvio and is aimed to compete against the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. We discuss its plug-in hybrid powertrain, spirited driving performance, and whether or not it delive…

David Cousins of the Strawbs returns to MRC! A guest way back on Episode 7, David joins me to discuss the new Strawbs album, The Magic of It All. The band's new record was recorded in Cape Town and has a decidedly South African flavor running through it. David was kind enough to tell me about the recording of the album, how the idea of recording in…

See our car ratings and reviews at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT This week we discuss several topics requested by our audience, including: How does an EV's extra battery weight affect braking? Is it necessary to turn a vehicle's front wheels toward the curb when parking on a steep hill, even if it has an automatic transmi…

On June 28, the legendary Cheap Trick was the first band to headline a new outdoor concert venue in Clearwater, Florida, called The Sound at Coachman Park. I was fortunate enough to attend the show with my friend Ben Montgomery from the Records Revisited Podcast. Ben joins me for this show as we review the concert, which was his first time seeing C…

See our car ratings and reviews at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Maserati’s first entry into the vibrant luxury small SUV segment is the all-new 2023 Grecale, which is meant to compete with many desirable models including the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. The 2023 Maserati Grecale GT we bought for CR's auto test program promises hi…

See our car ratings and reviews at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Brake lights are a major safety feature on vehicles that provide a fair warning to drivers traveling behind them. On this bonus episode we discuss recent findings in Consumer Reports' tests that discover potential safety issues with brake lights on EVs from …

See our car ratings and reviews at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT The newly redesigned Chevrolet Trax is almost a foot larger than the outgoing model and offers a tempting low price tag. We purchased the 2024 Chevrolet Trax 1LT for our test program, and discuss if the small price will compel buyers to look past the dull dr…

Grammy Award-winning songwriter Jim Peterik (Ides of March, Pride of Lions, ex-Survivor) joins me for this episode and I crammed as many topics in as I could while still trying to do justice to his excellent new Pride of Lions album, Dream Higher. Jim was a fantastic interview and has collaborated with some of the biggest artists in rock history. H…

Ratings and test results on every car CR purchases and tests: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT The 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 SUV is the EV complement to the GLE, competing with the Tesla Model X, BMW iX, and Cadillac Lyriq, and the SUV version of the EQE sedan also in Consumer Reports's test program. We discuss how this model, bu…