‘Malachai (Shadow Weaver, Part 2)’ Transmogrifies Like Wily Protoplasm Between Listenings
On1993’s Malachai (Shadow Weaver, Part 2) shows the Legendary Pink Dots at their ‘minimalist-maximalist’ best, wriggling away under the microscope.
Category: Reviews
Reviews of albums, movies, books &c.
The New Documentary ‘Bathtubs Over Broadway’ Looks at the Secret World of the Industrial Musical
OnThe new film ‘Bathtubs Over Broadway,’ starring ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ writer Steve Young, takes us into the secret world of the Industrial Musical.
‘Hit Rendition,’ the Newest Petridisch LP, Is a Bifurcated Dreamscape
OnOut today, Hit Rendition, the new album from Petridisch, is split into two halves, one more electronic, and one guitar-based — and all great.
Not Just a Classic Issue, MAD #115 (December 1967) Predicted the Future
OnHome to one of the iconic TV parodies, ‘Star Blecch,’ December 1967’s MAD #115 also features a couple examples of surprising prognostication.
‘Mothermania’ Was the First of Many Official Zappa-Directed Compilations, and a Well-Chosen Mix
OnThough at this point, Zappa had released five albums, the first official compilation, Mothermania, only features a selection from the first three.
‘Cruising With Ruben & the Jets’ Is Zappa’s Reverently Satirical Take on the 1950s
OnWhat better way to follow up your avant garde musique concrete classical LP? Why with ‘Cruising With Ruben & the Jets,’ a doo-wop record, of course!
‘Shop: A Pop Opera’ Is Tops, Full of Bops, and You Should Watch Chop-Chop
OnThis last week, Adult Swim posted Jack Stauber’s Shop: A Pop Opera, a collection of short songs about groceries in a weirdly Sparksian vein.
‘Catwalk’ Is a Light, Breezy Trip to Canada’s Best Cat Shows
OnRecently, Netflix got ‘Catwalk: Takes From the Cat Show Circuit,’ and it’s a lovely little film about adorable cats showing off their stuff.
MAD #346 Has Its Claws Out For Pat Buchanan, Newt Gingrich and a Pre-Coming Out Ellen DeGeneres
OnIn MAD #346 from June 1996, the lead parody is a spoof of ‘Ellen’ BEFORE Ellen DeGeneres came out, along with a look at ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus.’
Frank Zappa’s ‘Lumpy Gravy’ Was the Composer’s First (Official) Foray Into ‘Serious Music’
OnLumpy Gravy, Zappa’s third or fourth album, depending on how you count, was originally for Capitol’s classical music label, but it’s still definitely Zappa.