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The Dust Blows Forward: 'Trout Mask Replica' at 50

In 1969, the deeply strange musician known as Captain Beefheart released an album that is still ahead of its time a half-century later. PopMatters spoke with musicians and writers about this landmark work of art and why it continues to fascinate.

Music

Nona Hendryx and Gary Lucas: The World of Captain Beefheart

A wonderful new tribute to the music of Captain Beefheart tackles both the "weird" stuff and the surprisingly accessible stuff with equal ease.

Music

The Best Album Re-Issues of 2014

The music world saw reissues from all over the genre map, spanning classic rock titans to electronic music legends.

Music

Counterbalance: Captain Beefheart's 'Safe As Milk'

The 498th most acclaimed album of all time was born in the desert, came on up from New Orleans. Captain Beefheart's startling 1967 debut album is this week's Counterbalance.

Music

'Frank Zappa and the And' Takes Us Deep Into Zappa's Universe

Zappa himself might have appreciated this work, which doesn’t attempt the usual tricks of trying to create or dispel a myth but instead focuses on the character of its subject, the richness of his work, and the beauty of his mind.

Books

1967 and the Prog-Rock Progenitors

If 1967 characterizes a high point where rock music could be appraised as Art, it also initiated an explicit realignment of what was henceforth possible.

Music

The Tubes: Young and Rich/Now

It's hard to tell where the chops end and the jokes begin on these comedy-rock reissues.

Music

Counterbalance No. 54: Captain Beefheart’s 'Trout Mask Replica'

Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica is like a squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag—it’s fast and bulbous and bound to end badly. Eric Klinger and Jason Mendelsohn try to clean up the ensuing mess in this week's Counterbalance.

Music

Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

The debut album from these indie rockers generates a sense of forgettable déjå vu.

Music

The Year in Music: December 2010

Continuing our look at the year’s most notable events in the world of music, here’s what happened in December 2010.

Music

Captain Beefheart: Astralwerks Reissues

These final two records in Beefheart's amazing recording career find an artist at his peak;

Music

Pop Ten

The 25 Best Classic Progressive Rock Albums

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 1: 100 - 81

Jackie Chan's 10 Best Films

The 70 Best Albums of 2019

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 5: 20 - 1

The 20 Best Metal Albums of 2019

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '90s - Part 1 (100 - 81)

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 2: 80 - 61

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 3: 60 - 41

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 4: 40 - 21

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Mixed Media

Collapse Expand Mixed Media

PM Picks

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The Dust Blows Forward: 'Trout Mask Replica' at 50

In 1969, the deeply strange musician known as Captain Beefheart released an album that is still ahead of its time a half-century later. PopMatters spoke with musicians and writers about this landmark work of art and why it continues to fascinate.

Nona Hendryx and Gary Lucas: The World of Captain Beefheart

A wonderful new tribute to the music of Captain Beefheart tackles both the "weird" stuff and the surprisingly accessible stuff with equal ease.

The Best Album Re-Issues of 2014

The music world saw reissues from all over the genre map, spanning classic rock titans to electronic music legends.

Counterbalance: Captain Beefheart's 'Safe As Milk'

The 498th most acclaimed album of all time was born in the desert, came on up from New Orleans. Captain Beefheart's startling 1967 debut album is this week's Counterbalance.

'Frank Zappa and the And' Takes Us Deep Into Zappa's Universe

Zappa himself might have appreciated this work, which doesn’t attempt the usual tricks of trying to create or dispel a myth but instead focuses on the character of its subject, the richness of his work, and the beauty of his mind.

1967 and the Prog-Rock Progenitors

If 1967 characterizes a high point where rock music could be appraised as Art, it also initiated an explicit realignment of what was henceforth possible.

The Tubes: Young and Rich/Now

It's hard to tell where the chops end and the jokes begin on these comedy-rock reissues.

Counterbalance No. 54: Captain Beefheart’s 'Trout Mask Replica'

Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica is like a squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag—it’s fast and bulbous and bound to end badly. Eric Klinger and Jason Mendelsohn try to clean up the ensuing mess in this week's Counterbalance.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

The debut album from these indie rockers generates a sense of forgettable déjå vu.

The Year in Music: December 2010

Continuing our look at the year’s most notable events in the world of music, here’s what happened in December 2010.

Al Lover's Remixes Captain Beefheart on 'Safe as Milk Replica'

O Captain! My Captain!: The Unique Magic of Captain Beefheart

If Captain Beefheart should be worshipped for anything it’s that he never once pandered for the sake of critical or commercial expediency.

Fast 'n' Bulbous: Waxed Oop

Beefheart without Beefheart? Yes, with excellent results.

Guilty pleasures: Helen Reddy vs. Capt. Beefheart

Captain Beefheart: Astralwerks Reissues

These final two records in Beefheart's amazing recording career find an artist at his peak;

Honey Magpie Value the Art of Taking One's Time in "Undecided" (premiere)

Folk-pop's the Sweeplings Find Solid Ground "In Between" Connected Projects (premiere + interview)

Rose Cousins' "The Return (Love Comes Back)" Is a Gentle Reminder of Human Spirit (premiere)

Texas Psych-Rockers, the Cuckoos Release Debut LP (album stream)

Imaginary People Mourn the Death of a "Hometown" (premiere)

Lisa Heller Goes on a Journey to Find Herself in "Figure It Out" (premiere)

Star Parks Go for the Immediate with "Something More" (premiere)

Electro's Sotomayor Merge House and Merengue on "Menéate pa' mí" (premiere)

Gab De La Vega Turns and Faces the Familiar, Strange on "YYZ" (premiere)