Released in 1967 on Verve Records, just one year after ‘Freak Out’, the Mothers’ feral, audaciously progressive debut, ‘Absolutely Free’ expanded impressively on their already extraordinary multi-genre output. Incorporating the very best of blues and R&B; alongside intricate orchestration, its improvisations and explosive post-modern cut ‘n’ paste techniques piloted a whole new genre of rock which was fiercely intelligent and simultaneously humorous. As Zappa demonstrated throughout his inexhaustible career, he had an unprecedented touch in appropriating and subjugating musical forms. Like a mischievous magpie he mashed up garage rock with cheesy radio jingles, experimental jazz, doo-wop and dissonant symphonic forms ...

PropertyOfZack had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Lyman, the founder of Warped Tour, a few weeks ago for a great interview. Kevin and I discussed the excitement of this year’s lineup, the festival returning to its “roots,” the camaraderie between the bands on the tour, the details behind their new TV show, and so much more. Check it all out and enjoy! Warped Tour kicks off in about a month and a half now. The kickoff party has been done and ticket sales are live. How are you feeling about this year’s festival as the date creeps ...

Chances are if you visited Google today you spent a better part of that search time exploring the playable Google Doodle – a tribute to Dr. Robert Moog’s birthday – who invented the groundbreaking synthesizer in the mid 1960′s and was utilized by luminary musicians such as The Beatles, The Doors, Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk and [...] Read more at Hypebeast.com

To celebrate the release of Hot Water Music's stunning new album "Exister", Alter The Press couldn't be more pleased to present this exclusive track by track guide written by David Liebe Hart (most notably known from Adult Swim's Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!). Disclaimer: I do music with a punk rock band, so I decided to review another punk rock album. Sometimes its good to get a flavoring for something. This band is called Hot Water Music. It’s a hip name. It means they’re either in hot water because their notes are played ...

Recently I sat down and revisited a Curtis Hanson film that I love, but often gets overlooked, 8 Mile . Two things struck me about the film on this particular viewing, the first was how far Michael Shannon and Anthony Mackie have come since their roles in this film. Both actors, who were still relatively unknown at this point, have gone on to be prominently featured in indie films like Take Shelter and The Hurt Locker as well as mainstream films. The second thing that crossed my mind is the lack of films about hip hop. Despite the fact that 8 ...

Wave goodbye to any productivity today as Google are celebrating what would have been the 78th birthday of synthesiser pioneer Robert Moog . The musical Google Doodle returns today in the form of a synthesiser. Used by bands such as the Beatles and The Doors the Moog Synthesiser revolutionised music, making the synthesiser smaller and easier to use. Google's virtual version also comes with a 4 track recorder so you can layer and even share your sounds if you’re a Google+ user. Born in New York in 1934, Moog studied at the Bronx High School of Science before receiving ...

San Francisco producer Kastle (aka Barrett Richards and formerly B.Rich) has just come off touring with 12th Planet and has also been busy setting up his new label, Symbols Recordings. Barrett is cutting the red tape and opening the doors of Symbols with a release of his own titled, Stay Forever. The leading track after which [...]

By Michel Dussack It’s a testament to Jack White’s popularity that when I arrived at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom 40 minutes before the doors were scheduled to open, the line of people waiting to get inside went up 52nd street, wrapped around the corner, and then proceeded to wrap around another corner onto 53rd street. By the time the doors opened (3o minutes before the time printed on the tickets) the line was several hundred strong, all of whom …

The Cult revisit their primal selves. In their commercial heyday The Cult were that improbable band that bridged the gap between The Cure and Guns N’ Roses (who eventually nicked their drummer), floating in a psychedelic suspension spiritually derived from The Doors (who Cult singer Ian Astbury eventually fronted…sort of) and otherwise inhabited by only occasional others like Jane’s Addiction. When Metallica hired Bob Rock to produce The Black Album, it was allegedly to chase the tones and polish he achieved with The Cult on Sonic Temple. The lazy man’s storyline on Choice of Weapon is Rock ...

Lower Dens - Nootropics Record Label - Ribbon Music Release Date - May 1st, 2012 Some years ago, when Silver Jews frontman Dave Berman called Radiohead " gray ," it's hard to think that he didn't have another band and another album in mind.   Nootropics , the second release from Jana Hunter fronted Lower Dens, slow-churns its way through your speakers like a psychedelic sci-fi iceberg.  It is, unabashedly, gray. The title originates from smart drugs (natural or otherwise) which improve brain function.  While this album doesn't appear (from quite a few listens) to be the indie equivalent of Baby Mozart, what makes ...

Last week saw Kim Churchill’s national tour roll into Western Australia, with a selection of dates, including Saturday night’s show at Fremantle’s Norfolk Basement. The venue’s intimate nature providing perhaps the perfect setting to see the evenings two acts at work. Sometimes keeping things simple is the right way to go. Sometimes you just need to strip everything back to basics, and that’s certainly what the opening act Microwave Jenny did. With just a guitar and vocals, the Sydney duo took no time at all in grabbing the audiences’ attention. Moments into the first song ...

Otherwise get right to the point on True Love Never Dies. The Las Vegas quintet's debut album for Century Media Records is an elegantly architected collection of unforgettable hard rock. Blowing the doors open with "Die For You", the group weaves together a punchy stomp with masterful melodies.

That Morrison guy was onto something. Dangerous Minds : The Doors perform “Crawling King Snake” in the Elektra Records studios during the 1970 L.A Woman sessions. Morrison would be dead less than a year after this film was shot. This footage was produced by ABC Australia for TV program “Getting To Know.” Read and comment. From thedailyswarm.com.

All this time I thought it was Deep Purple. Anyway, Tim Burgess talks about a “missing chapter” from his autobiography, Telling Stories , and the Wu-Tang influence. The Quietus : When I started writing Telling Stories I wanted to take the chance to let everyone know where I came from musically, from the first songs I ever listened to and the beginnings of my record collection. Certain albums and bands have had a profound and obvious affect on what I’ve done as a musician – before I was in a band, Sandinista! by The Clash let me know the possibilities of what ...

After the first spin I wasn't sure what to make of this recording. But like most creative things in life, art creatures born worthy of any one's time must be spent with eyes wide shut. In other words. Free your mind and your ears will follow. Set the controls for that dark place in the back of the mind. No rules. Just authentic original music that seems to be a natural extension of something real. Monsters, demons, angels and lovers. Like I said. I can't quite put my finger on it. This recording is creatively faultless. It ...