Frank Zappa and the Mothers’ ‘Absolutely Free’ Finds a Way Around the Sophomore Slump
OnWe’ve all heard of the sophomore slump where a band’s second album isn’t nearly as good as their first — but Zappa avoided it with ‘Absolutely Free’.
The New Self-Titled Album by Nicky Flowers Is a Synthwave Joy
OnNicky Flowers, ex-Cassette Fighter, is releasing their self-titled album this December, and if you’re a fan of synthpop, you’ll love it.
‘Save the Green Planet!’ Is One of the Few Perfect Movies
OnA review of the excellent Korean film Save The Green Planet!, which spans just about every genre you can think of — and nails all of them.
The True Story of the VID (a/k/a ВND and ВИD) Logo, the Creepiest Closing Logo Ever
OnIf you’ve seen any “scary closing logo” compilations, you’ve probably seen the VID logo — or perhaps you know it as the BND or ВИD logo — here’s what’s up.
The Zappa Project Begins With the Mothers of Invention’s Debut Album, ‘Freak Out!’
OnWe’re starting a new project — the Zappa Project, where we go through every official album by Frank Zappa in order, starting, of course, with ‘Freak Out!’
Fred Rogers, Hayao Miyazaki and the Concept of Everybody Media
OnAn essay about making “Everybody Media” instead of explicitly “Children’s Media,” and how it can be the most rewarding method of making things.
A Proposed Variation on ‘The Dating Game,’ Based on ‘The Prisoner’s Dilemma’
OnThe Prisoner’s Dilemma re-imagined as a Dating Game type TV Show, bringing game theory to a quasi-romantic television program
Quadrospazzed on a Life Glug: The Work of Chris Morris
OnAn essay about Chris Morris and the Paedogeddon epsiode of Brass Eye, and why his work, though dark, is surprisingly humane.
The 180 Gs Bring Their Innovative A Capella Style to a Classic Cardiacs Album
OnIt’s taken ages, but the second 180 Gs album is finaly out; ‘Singin’ to God’ is their take on Cardiacs’ double-album ‘Sing to God.”
With a Little Help From Superduperman, Mad #4 Was the Fledgling Comic’s Breakout Issue
OnThough the first three issues were setting the stage, it was Mad #4 that was the first big hit, thanks to the first direct comic parody, ‘Superduperman.’