Professional Moldy Fig/Curmudgeon
I have always considered Zappa one of, if not the, most interesting people in music after the Beatles.
No matter what you can say about him - "predictable" is not one of them.
"They say I'm old fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast."
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
I have to agree with you on that.
I've listened to Freak Out, We're Only In It For the Money, Live at the Fillmore 1971 (one of the Flo and Eddie albums), Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe, and Joe's Garage. All of those albums are incredibly diverse and yet quintessential Zappa.
Though I have to say, Freak Out is kinda overrated.
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ADRIC YOU STARTED A THREAD ON A GOD.
Yeah, if you haven't noticed, I tend to talk about Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention quite often. Can you blame me though? When you have albums like Hot Rats, We're Only In It For the Money, One Size Fits All, Roxy & Elsewhere, Sheik Yerbouti, Just Another Band from LA, and Lumpy Gravy, you're gonna get some love. Who else could mix jazz fusion, prog rock, hilarious political and cultural commentary, and musique concrete in such a clever and out-there kind of way?
I can't think of someone with more musical ability. Except when Zappa's with Captain Beefheart. Then he's utterly unstoppable.
edited 9th Jun '16 4:02:51 PM by golgothasArisen
"If you spend all your heart / On something that has died / You are not alive and that can't be a life"
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(eyes OP suspiciously, then sits down)
So, Zappa. What more can be said?
Personally, I don't consider myself a very big fan of Zappa's. Sure, I acknowledge his influence on music and how skillful he and his backing band was, but I never really got into enough of his work to consider myself a fan. That being said, there are quite a few of his songs I do like. Apostrophe
, The Yellow Snow Suite, Willie the Pimp, and Punky's Whips come to mind immediately.
Also a blog I like did a page on him. So that's a neat touch.
Professional Moldy Fig/Curmudgeon
I'm going to say one of my favorite Zappa albums is Sheik Yerbouti:
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
I need to listen to that album.
I have to say that I'm more partial to his more commercial stuff from 1973 or so, but I liked parts of Joe's Garage. Watermelon in Easter Hay is beautiful.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
People are super divided on Joe's Garage. Is it too long? Are the guitar solos living up to his usual standards? Are the lyrics too bawdy? I myself feel that, while it isn't close to his best composition-wise, it has some great moments, such as "Watermelon in Easter Hay" as you said. Also, I really think he overdid it with the Central Scrutinizer monologues.
"If you spend all your heart / On something that has died / You are not alive and that can't be a life"
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
I think he overdid the guitar parts, to be honest. With less music as it goes on, things start becoming really dull by the end.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
World's Toughest Milkman
I saw him live a few times. Including his famous tour with Captain Beefheart that resulted in the Bongo Fury album. That was a stunning show!
Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.
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As it happens, the college I'm attending has a course on the music of Zappa. Proof.
I'm surprised nobody started a thread about Frank Zappa before. I've been on a kick of listening to a lot of Zappa's various albums, and I have to say, the guy is a damn good guitarist with some damn good bands, but I'm kinda divided on some of his 60's stuff.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?