LATEST ADDITIONS

One Size Fits All is arguably the peak of Frank Zappa’s acclaimed mid-1970s incarnation of The Mothers of Invention, an assemblage that helped him deliver two smash-hit albums, September 1973’s Over-Nite Sensation and March 1974’s Apostrophe (’). Read Mark Smotroff’s review of both the 180g 1LP and 2LP color-variant special editions of June 1975’s One Size Fits All that have been released in celebration of the 50th anniversary of an album universally revered as one of the maestro’s rock masterworks to see if they pass the “Sofa” playback test, if you will. . .

Monarch Distribution Systems have recently added a couple of well-respected brands to their roster: Garrard turntables and Loricraft record-cleaning machines (RCMs). At face value, this move makes good sense, seeing how both of these UK-based companies are owned by the same parent company, SME — for which Monarch already serves as distributor. Based on a recent, AP-exclusive conversation with Monarch founder and CEO Rich Maez, there’s even more to the story. Read Julie Mullins’ interview with Maez to get the full Monarch-Garrard-Loricraft scoop. . .

Two albums recently reissued as part of Rhino’s esteemed High Fidelity Series could not be further apart stylistically, sonically, and emotionally — but in some ways, these two releases are inevitably connected in time and space. In this special Short Cuts combo review, Mark Smotroff explores the value of picking up the Hi Fi Series versions of these platinum-selling hits from Fleetwood Mac and Sex Pistols, and draws some interesting parallels in the process. . .

All the gifts of life are held within these vinyl walls. For the more progressive-leaning listening cognoscenti out there, that altered reference is pure IYKYK — but it’s also a good way to announce that a cool Vancouver-bred band by the name of Syrinx have just dropped their sophomore LP that’s quite adroitly named Time Out of Place via Ocula Records on September 9, 2025. . .