the idea of the video game "boss" starts in the early 1980's, as programmers needed some way to refer to the more powerful and dangerous enemies who sent their minions out as fodder ahead of them.

soon after, as video game software grew more capacious, these enemies were often given individualized theme music; defeating a boss became a momentous event, often a keystone moment in the player character's progress, and a source of narrative and in-game rewards.

nowadays, boss battles are frequently downright operatic, serving firstly as an opportunity for game developers to evoke awe in the player, and eventually as the ultimate test of the player's skill.

on this labor day, we scorn those bosses who would treat anyone as expendable; we stand resolute in our efforts to oust them; and we call upon some absolutely badass tunes to carry us through whatever fights lie ahead. the players, united, will never be defeated!

once again, we celebrate the passing of another radio season via the sounding of the horns. in this fourth quasi-annual installment of the it is what it is horn show, we're going to get our four basic horn food groups: world tour, restful, pump-up, and meme-y. here's to the versatility of the mighty horn, and to wprb, now and forevermore.

a playlist video game mothers, and about riding in the car while your mom plays her music, because what is motherhood if not showing someone how to go on a journey.

a playlist video game mothers, and about riding in the car while your mom plays her music, because what is motherhood if not showing someone how to go on a journey.

birthdays can be complicated; we're meant to be celebrating in the present, part of some joyous moment, enfolded by those dear and strange to us. but we're also invited to look back, to take stock of mistakes and pains and transformations past; to reckon with what and how we've become; to accept whatever monsters inhabited us while we were doing it.

on this, the day of my birth, we have a playlist that does some amount of that stuff, at least for a little while.

because at the end, it's time to pick up all those scraps old and new, and move forward, hopefully with our dear/strange ones in tow. there'll be work ahead for us all to tackle together, no doubt.

birthdays can be complicated; we're meant to be celebrating in the present, part of some joyous moment, enfolded by those dear and strange to us. but we're also invited to look back, to take stock of mistakes and pains and transformations past; to reckon with what and how we've become; to accept whatever monsters inhabited us while we were doing it.

on this, the day of my birth, we have a playlist that does some amount of that stuff, at least for a little while.

because at the end, it's time to pick up all those scraps old and new, and move forward, hopefully with our dear/strange ones in tow. there'll be work ahead for us all to tackle together, no doubt.

we're here today, above all, to honor Glen Hansard, whose busker-to-movie star story obscures a career of surpassing passion, beauty, and fellowship. he was a neverending source of abundance in his performance, and more importantly in his care for others, and as a musical community we'll be poorer without him.

before that main event, though, we'll spend an hour on the journey of death more generally -- musing, as this show does, with a combination of video game and other music. that long lonely walk home is waiting for all of us, and all we can control is how we approach it.

we're here today, above all, to honor Glen Hansard, whose busker-to-movie star story obscures a career of surpassing passion, beauty, and fellowship. he was a neverending source of abundance in his performance, and more importantly in his care for others, and as a musical community we'll be poorer without him.

before that main event, though, we'll spend an hour on the journey of death more generally -- musing, as this show does, with a combination of video game and other music. that long lonely walk home is waiting for all of us, and all we can control is how we approach it.

subbing for dj neo!

ok, so i'm studying radio, and every time someone brings up the verve's "bittersweet symphony," our current dj will look either extremely excited or pained and go "listen... bittersweet symphony is neither bangin' nor cringe nor something in between. it eludes all attempts to categorize it. we do not know what it is. some covers are immortal. some produce night-saving catharsis. some are so closely related to bubblegum music that listening to them may cause an allergic reaction against your own ears. I cannot teach you about the bittersweet symphony."

returning to an old last-minute show-planning tradition by playing a bunch of covers and reworks of b.s., interspersed with various bitter and sweet symphonies drawn from the world of video game music. maybe tonight is the night we'll figure out if b.s. is a good song or not, but i wouldn't hold your breath.

the good people here at it is what it is are surrounded by cat people, and we have to admit it's wearing us down. today's show is inspired by near ones and dear ones, as well as the cats they adore.

after all, cats have a lot going for them! there's something irrepressible, even heroic, in the way they're the main characters of their own story. they're cute and weird in an alchemical, mutually reinforcing sort of way, with that tiny bit of predatory darkness for seasoning. and, when the light hits them just right, they know a peace and love deeper than just about anything. so, as we enter Leo season, maybe it's time to get in touch with our feline side. meow!

the good people here at it is what it is are surrounded by cat people, and we have to admit it's wearing us down. today's show is inspired by near ones and dear ones, as well as the cats they adore.

after all, cats have a lot going for them! there's something irrepressible, even heroic, in the way they're the main characters of their own story. they're cute and weird in an alchemical, mutually reinforcing sort of way, with that tiny bit of predatory darkness for seasoning. and, when the light hits them just right, they know a peace and love deeper than just about anything. so, as we enter Leo season, maybe it's time to get in touch with our feline side. meow!

sometimes, like ken, our job is just beach.

all we have to do today is splash around, take in the boardwalk; maybe if we're having a lovely enough time, we'll find a bonfire and see where the evening and the ocean take us.

sometimes, like ken, our job is just beach.

all we have to do today is splash around, take in the boardwalk; maybe if we're having a lovely enough time, we'll find a bonfire and see where the evening and the ocean take us.

Celebrating the Summer Games Done Quick videogame speedrunning marathon by playing tracks from as many of the games being run in the first half of the week as possible. It will be on all week! Check out gamesdonequick.com and please consider donating through them to Doctors Without Borders!

Celebrating the Summer Games Done Quick videogame speedrunning marathon by playing tracks from as many of the games being run in the first half of the week as possible. It will be on all week! Check out gamesdonequick.com and please consider donating through them to Doctors Without Borders!

inspired by the one and only lizbot, with whom i am show-swapping this week, i am honored to present to you this sonic marriage of person and machine, classical and electronic, computation and soul. let's allow those two strands to get even more braided than they usually do, and see what we can fashion with the results.

Celebrating the Summer Games Done Quick videogame speedrunning marathon by playing tracks from as many of the games being run in the first half of the week as possible. It will be on all week! Check out gamesdonequick.com and please consider donating through them to Doctors Without Borders!

better late than never to an observation of the pride season, and as this june comes to a close it's time to rest; to reflect and remember fondly; and to build capacity and solidarity for whatever heat may be coming in the weeks and months to come. we're here; we're dear; get enthused to it.

better late than never to an observation of the pride season, and as this june comes to a close it's time to rest; to reflect and remember fondly; and to build capacity and solidarity for whatever heat may be coming in the weeks and months to come. we're here; we're dear; get enthused to it.

one of my first playlists ever for prb was about stars; it was about a certain kind of inspired resolute loneliness.

since then, for these three years or so, i've wondered what else is out there for us. this is an attempt to answer that question.

i think we've probably found more motion, more togetherness, and more warmth, but let's check in on that together.