82 candles… And which tune of yours would be appropriate today?  The Grand Wazoo turned 50, so maybe "Eat That Question" works.    Happy Birthday, Frank. The absurdity continues, but at least there's music.  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapered

80 candles… (just set the cake on fire at this point). Oh, Frank, if you could only see us now. I can't imagine how our current age of absurdity could be distilled and articulated: as an expletive-riddled satire, or as depressing instrumental requiem? Either way, we could certainly use your wisdom. Happy Birthday, Frank. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

78 candles...  I really needed to hear this one today, so I'm grateful that it exists. If you haven't listened to Frank Zappa 's The Grand Wazoo , I strongly recommend that that be changed as quickly as possible. It's a big band effort and I don't think it gets anywhere near the coverage, credit, or acknowledgement that it deserves. Happy Birthday, Frank.  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

77 candles... As the occasion demands, there will be nothing but Frank Zappa piping through every speaker today.  200 Motels was an interesting pick for a morning listen.   Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

"I have four children, and I want them to grow up in a country that has a working First Amendment. " Happy Birthday, Frank . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Today's the day, people.  Head on out.  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

July 4th.  If your ears aren't still ringing after lighting up all of your noisemakers in tribute to our independence, enjoy some of my "America" selections. Brian Eno/David Byrne : "America Is Waiting" Yes : "America ( Simon & Garfunkel cover)"   Primus : "American Life"   The Mothers of Invention : "America Drinks and Goes Home"   Black Flag : "American Waste"   R.E.M. : "Little America"   MC5 : "The American Ruse"   Bad Religion : "American Dream"   David Bowie : "I'm Afraid of Americans" Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

"This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. In some socially retarded areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Amendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums. We feel that this is un-Constitutional and un-American.   As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant), Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrown the ordinary. The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND THE POINTED STICK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, its fires wait for the...

Frank Zappa would be 75 years old today.  My stereo will be set to "Frank" all day.  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

We lost a giant today: jazz musician George Duke passed away at the age of 67.  For me, George Duke is a name I immediately associate with many of my favorite albums by Frank Zappa , The Grand Wazoo (1972), Apostrophe (') (1974) and Roxy & Elsewhere (1974) in particular, though his list as collaborator, leader and co-performer is extensive to say the least.  Duke worked with Cannonball Adderley , Stanley Clarke , Miles Davis , Billy Cobham , John McLaughlin and Jean-Luc Ponty (also Zappa alum) to name a few.  Duke had recently released what is now his final album, DreamWeaver , which was written in tribute to his late wife, Corine .  A creative spirit is silenced and music suffers without him.   R.I.P., George Duke. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

This year's Baby Snakes :   Bad News From Houston is the work of Deerhoof 's John Dietrich and Thollem McDonas of Tsigoti .  Their strange, seemingly structureless ode to human disconnection in the digital age brought to mind the overwhelming visual and atonal relationship between Frank Zappa 's free form sound experiments and the clay-mation work of Bruce Bickford explored in Zappa's Baby Snakes film. Bad News from Houston cover art by Tuia Cherici The duo's new album, In the Valley of the Cloud Builder , is out on Post-Consumer Records . Info comes courtesy of Kinsman and Meng PR. John Dieterich (Deerhoof) and Thollem McDonas (Tsigoti) have created an album of complete immediacy, wherein every sound is presented with such vividness and detail that each minute sound event becomes foregrounded. When an acoustic guitar is played, you don’t just hear the strings, you hear the wood, too. When the strings of the piano explode, you are inside the soun...

Since the apocalypse decided not arrive today, the 21st of December remains dedicated to the remembrance of Frank Zappa .  72 years the man would've been had prostate cancer not taken him.  72 may also have been the number of albums he'd have produced between 1993 and now. Anyway, here's to you, Frank.  Thank you, as always, for the music. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The 21st, as always, is dedicated to Frank Zappa .  Crank up the volume, all ye loyalists of Frank.  Crank up the volume.  The man would've been 71 years old today. Photo by Jerry Schatzberg, New York City, 1967 Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

A cold Saturday and some free time prompted a 45 minute ride over to West Chester's Chester County Book & Music Company so I could spend a few gift certificates and lighten the back burner.  Most of my purchases were stragglers from 2010, a few things I've always meant to acquire and acquisitions based on some reconsideration. Chester County Book & Music Company , West Chester, PA: Menomena Double Seven Inch Barsuk Released: 7.27.10 I thought this was interesting find: Two edited singles from Menomena 's 2010 release, Mines , along with two unreleased tracks.  I haven't had the chance to give either single a spin just yet, though. Dinosaur Jr. You're Living All Over Me Merge Records Reissued: 3.22.05 Maybe I've become the 90s version of baby boomer arrogance and self-indulgent nostalgia, two things I've tried mightily to avoid.  All I know is I really wasn't ever a fan of Dinosaur Jr.   Ever.  It was never an outright hatred, mi...

Yesterday, the legendary Don Van Vliet , (better known as Captain Beefheart ), succumbed to multiple sclerosis .  He was 69 years old. When I was in high school, maybe a sophomore, I was first exposed to the craziness of Captain Beefheart through the purchase of Bongo Fury , a collaborative (mostly) live album accredited to both he and Frank Zappa . The first song on the album "Debra Kadabra" began with a few whistling guitar notes and then kicked into gear, Beefheart quickly growling a few lines of the song: "Debra Kadabraaaaaaaaaah! Say she's a witch! Shit ass Charlotte! Ain't that a bitch!?!" Around this point in time, Zappa's music was somewhat of an obsession for me.  I'd go to our high school's library, scouring the catalog for magazine articles or album reviews, finding photographs of live performances or just fascinating quotes.  "Beefheart" was a name that would just pop up in my research, a presence relevant i...

Henry Rollins’ 12.4 broadcast of Harmony In My Head coincidentally fell on the 17th anniversary of Frank Zappa’s passing.  Paying tribute, Rollins dedicated more than an hour and a half to Zappa and closed out his show with some songs by St. Vitus.  Their drummer, Armando Acosta, passed away on Thanksgiving.  Overall, not the most upbeat reasoning behind the set lists, but it’s a worthwhile two hours. Listen here , or download here . Henry’s broadcast notes are below. 12-04-10 Fanatics! I am back from Africa. I got off the plane a few hours ago. The first flight from Entebbe, Uganda to Dubai, UAE, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was about five hours and the one from Dubai to LA was fifteen and change. I have been here at the office, trying to stay awake so I could finish our show for tonight. Thanks to Thom Storr at Rykodisc for supplying some much needed ingredients. If you notice, Fanatics, tonight is a bit of a concept show. It’s all Zappa, all night. We take thi...

John Lennon & Yoko Ono Some Time In New York City Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 6.2.72 Reissued: 10.4.10 John Lennon Mind Games Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 11.16.73 Reissued: 10.4.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Your family has a candle glowing in your honor. Happy 69th. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Igor's Egg Project/Object Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA In my head, there’ve been Zappa borne riffs and words cycling throughout the last couple days in a convoluted gathering that occasionally reveals a discernible song part or two. It’s been chaos basically: the type of loud, obnoxious cerebral turmoil that leaves one staring at a 2 o’clock ceiling, waiting for silence or calm to envelope the commotion. In an effort to quiet the mess, I actually whipped out my copy of Joe’s Garage , just to play some of what I’d heard Saturday night and put the internal noise jam to rest. It kind of worked. But, now that I’m writing this, the music has returned and remains disorganized. Project/Object , a collective of Zappa alumni, played to a sold-out crowd at the Sellersville Theater this past Saturday. Of the originals, Project Object features guitarist/singer Ike Willis , percussionist Ed Mann and original Mother Of Invention , 77 year-old keyboardist Don Preston . Project/Ob...

68 years old today. Hope you're celebrating where ever you are. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead