Reviews (page 6 of 14)
It was ok. Liked some of the songs.
As irreverent as it is creative - which I understand is a fair summation for Zappa’s entire musical career. To this albums credit, it’s much better than many pop-leaning psych rock albums of its time. This at least has some original ideas, even if it sorta beats them to the ground at points. Some guitar solos too long, some musical tangents go nowhere, but the opener and “Little Umbrellas” were a great listen - the latter felt very appropriate for Halloween listening. 3/5 why not
I've learned that jazz and I don't typically get along. So, when this music generator suggested "Hot Rats" by Frank Zappa, I was a bit wary. Zappa's catalogue is famously diverse and can be intimidating. My experience with his work is limited to "Sheik Yerbouti", which is very good, and "Joe's Garage", which I find excellent. So, what about "Hot Rats"? I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it. The musicianship is great, the lead guitar is wonderful, and the tunes are melodic, well-paced and don't out stay their welcome. "Willie the Pimp" and "Son of Mr. Green Genes" were the two tracks that really struck me. It wouldn't be an everyday listen for me but I could pull this album out, once in a while, and really enjoy it. Four stars. Side one 1 "Peaches en Regalia" (4/5) 2 "Willie the Pimp" (5/5) 3 "Son of Mr. Green Genes" (5/5) Side two 4 "Little Umbrellas" (4/5) 5 "The Gumbo Variations" (4/5) 6 "It Must Be a Camel" (4/5) Total - 26 Average - 4.33 108/1001
It's rock, and it's jazz. I think I would give this 3.5 stars based on taste, but bump it up to 4 stars for technical skill
I liked the Jazz influences in this album, very weird, very fun
A proper cinematic jazzy frantic adventure down the fretboard. From Rock and roll origins to the dusky back rooms of a late night bar. Tunes feel like you can melt into them a bit. Couple of things that would be cool to sample.
"I know smart people who like Zappa. People who read books and shit." - Tommy Cordery. Not the voice I expected. If I had a moustache, I would want his. Makes me want to close my eyes and play the air guitar. Son of Mr Green Genes - the piano runs are big ASMR brain ticklers. This sounds like: I used to not like anchovies but now I'm dipping my fingers into them.
Medium
Peaches en Regalla is amazing. I’ll be honest though my favorite version is phish with the giant country horns. Oh ha, very good album mostly instrumentals all very interesting. None of what I expected from Zappa.
43 minutes is a long time to listen to a bunch guys masturbate. I got through the whole thing, but I found no joy.
pizza salamino piccante
I finally get why people like Frank Zappa, this album really rocks, absolutely awesome
I normally don't like instrumental albums but this is so sexy 8.5/10
Is it weird or is it genius? Neither it’s Frank Zappa
I never really got on the Mothers of Invention/Frank Zappa train. It’s fine, this record, although I think there’s too many long passages of soloing
hot rats like they’re dressed up and looking good or hot rats like they’re getting cooked
Frank, he a zappa me! Italian me be like
cool fun melodic never stale always awesome dont let the aesthetic fool ya Fav song: Son of Mr Green Genes
ovo je izvrsno jebote
It felt cool listening to this but I did find it dragged on a bit
funky... but dull
1969 was early for this kind of psych rock. I didn’t realize the kinds of synth sounds they were already making by this point. Amazing record
Wow, a lot of instrumental. Found it a little boring and monotonous.
Very good
Is it Jazz? Is it rock? What is going on. It seems to be both.
very discordant, I am sure musically interesting but not pleasant
he went jazz mode
ahead of its time for sure
Very mid 4/10 Willie the Pimp
Pretty good album with some funky jazzy themes. Hated the kazoo thing but loved the second song. Upon second listen 7.8/10 = 3.4/5
A very intriguing listen. Zappa delivers a quirky yet engaging. His aggressive style, utilizing the vast array of instruments and the conflict amongst them to find harmony from chaos. Reminds me a lot of Sebastian from La La Land and how he praises the strong competition between the instruments as adding onto the experience. It's like watching a sports game within an album. Overall I'm feeling a strong 7 to a light 8.
M-4/10 S-6/10
# Album Name: Hot Rats # Artist: Frank Zappa # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Honestly, not for me. Guitar work is good. The rest is boring. # Top Tunes: No idea # Would I listen to it again? No
Jammy
Uh not my favorite, but not bad. It was cool how it started with an instrumental track, but once it got to the singing in the 2nd song.... ehhhhh what was that tone of voiceeee. AND WHY 9 MINUTES :O
This just merged into one constant guitar solo for me. Nothing I’d listen to again.
I've never listened to Zappa because I never really knew where to start. There's so much to pick from. There's a lot to like about this album....I don't mind extended jams and I don't mind instrumentals. But I just want to hear him play guitar, the bass and drums and not the other sounds and shit he's experimenting with here...like, the back half of Gumbo Variations is great. The part with the saxophone? Terrible. Willie The Pimp is a great track, but I'm not sure if I'd return to this album or not...and if I have to wonder that, the answer is that I probably wouldn't and the last track dropped it from a 3 to a 2 for me. Too bad because there are some really good moments on here.
Love Zappa, plus this being mostly instrumental means the chances of hitting a lyric that didn't age well is much lower.
Standouts Peaches En Regalia The Gumbo Variations
Frank Zappa was always an artist I had a vague knowledge about, but if you were to ask me who he was the best I could muster up would be “He said Mercedes-Benz weird once”. So this was going to be a time. That being said, this is a fun record! A very long record, but a fun one nonetheless. I actually found myself laughing aloud at “Peaches en Regalia”—something about it just made me smile. “Willie the Pimp” was interesting, but not for over nine straight minutes. “Son of Mr Green Genes” however, is exciting and upbeat, with enough changes to the music that kept it fresh and entertaining as the minutes passed by. …Halfway through this album I remembered that Frank is indirectly responsible for “Smoke on the Water”. Thankfully he didn’t die in that fire.
See, now this is alternative 60s rock that's actually fun and interesting. This album is definitely a work unto itself and should be listened to as such, which limits how often I'd listen to it. Nonetheless, still a good time!
Lets get weird
Fedt album - masser af god musik, blev forelsket i willie the pimp… Det her er vejen ind til Frank Zappa
Absolutely phenomenal, composition playing, the worlds. Zappa’s use of timbre and texture is really striking on this one.
My goodness this guy was a musician. He's a hell of a guitarist. The album is groovy and multilayered. Utterly Brilliant!
Don't hate it, but don't particularly like it either. Progressive rock & jazz have never really been my thing. Best Track: Willie The Pimp
Hot Rats is often praised as one of Zappa’s most accessible records, and it does show off his skill as both a guitarist and a bandleader. The jazz-rock fusion is tight, with long instrumental sections that give plenty of room for solos and improvisation. “Peaches en Regalia” is the clear standout, a short, playful burst of melody that feels instantly memorable. The rest of the album leans heavily on extended jams, with “Willie the Pimp” bringing Captain Beefheart into the mix and tracks like “The Gumbo Variations” stretching out for what feels like forever. The musicianship is impressive, but the sheer length of the jams can be draining if you are not already invested in Zappa’s style. There are moments of brilliance scattered throughout, but also plenty of stretches that feel more like self-indulgence than inspired creativity. Hot Rats has some great highlights and an important place in Zappa’s catalog, but as a whole it can feel uneven, more interesting as an experiment than as a consistently enjoyable album.
Jazzy
Hot
unreal. somehow not bored even with no words
Zappa is another of my (many) blind spots. The songs are pretty good, I see the vision. It gets really noodly and indulgent but not in an off-putting way. I like the jazz influences. The guitars sound great. Oh, there aren't any vocals. Thankfully short tracklist which should be mandatory if you have any songs over the 8 minute mark - which make up half this album.
Fun, crazy album. Loved the music. A couple songs went on a little long, but overall a great album. 4/5
Very fun instrumental tracks with good variety in play, solid experience but this album isn’t a milestone for me
Funky Zappa improv goodness.
Not what I expected it to be. Pretty enjoyable, not something that I would always put on but if I am dying for jazz this is fun. Peaches En Regalia and Willie the Pimp were solid, The Gumbo Variations had a bit too much squeaky sax for me. There is a lot of squeaky sax. Bass is SOLID on all the songs to be honest so unfortunately I couldn't rank a song based on the bass alone. Noticing a trend with albums loving to have songs that are 10+ minutes long. Whatever floats your boat I guess. Nothing on here that made me go omg this is a show stopper. Overall a 7.42/10
Nee, niet mijn muziek. Wel toffe gitaar rifjes maar verder weinig ritme en uberhaupt zang. Vooral een onsamenhangen geheel van instrumenten
Damn, what a trip this record is. No [or at least, barely any] vocals necessary. Never a stranger to producing some of the most bizarre music ever produced, 'Hot Rats' is a relatively tame affair as far as Frank Zappa is concerned, though a 'tame' Frank Zappa is akin to Evel Knievel with training wheels on. Gone is the hilarity and sheer ridiculousness of The Mothers of Invention, and in its place is an inspired six-track set of mostly instrumental music that, while still experimental and bizarre in places, is far more subtle and focused than anything Zappa had produced previously. This album is pure cinema, right from the one-two punch of 'Peaches en Regalia' and 'Willie the Pimp' to open the record to the free-form jazz of 'The Gumbo Variations'. Even though there's barely any vocals present [Don Van Vilet AKA Captain Beefheart gets a few throwaway lines on 'Willie the Pimp'], there's something oddly intriguing about 'Hot Rats' that it's hard not to be entertained. Zappa's guitar playing on this record is outstanding. His guitar takes on a multitude of different voices, from groove laden ['Willie the Pimp'] to bombastic ['Son of Mr. Green Genes']. Then you have full-blown mystical jazz ['Little Umbrellas'] and horns as demented as a screaming cat ['The Gumbo Variations'] and it all contributes to an unusual yet satisfying blend of jazz and rock. While not immediately accessible, Zappa's influence on popular music is endless, and 'Hot Rats' is arguably Zappa at his most focused and straight-forward, and the first record where he truly let his guitar do the talking! 4/5
I can see why this one is a landmark — the opener “Peaches en Regalia” is tight, inventive, and joyful, and the whole record shows Zappa’s adventurous spirit. That said, the extended jams start to feel a bit much for me, and the busier bass parts gave me flashbacks to playing with bass players who never quite left enough space. I liked it overall — somewhere in the 3.5/5 range — but for ranking purposes I’ll call it a 3. I wouldn’t go out of my way to spin it again, but I also wouldn’t change the station if it came on.
Zappa's always been a very niche musical choice. He was very talented. but just a weirdo.
Amazing compositions with huge depth, without being so far-out to alienate folks.
Never knew Zappa did instrumental jazz fusion. 4 stars for a taking the chance and putting out a decent album.
Maybe the first time I’ve properly understood psychedelic rock as being music to take drugs to, and not music about taking drugs
Partial credit for the creative arrangements…extra credit for Sugarcane Harris
Cool and rich!
I went through quite a short, but very intense Zappa phase, when I was around 17 to 19. I saw a Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention tribute act at the Platform in Morecombe (this is what passed for a big gig there) and they were crazily good. So this was a nice thing to come back to and hear again. Musically, it's very all over the place, but mostly in a very good way. Great fun, if a little silly.
Really enjoy this one. The frenetic sounding jams are what I love! 5 stars
Not my thing
Peaches En Regalia gets better and better with age. I am a Zappa fan, but can see how its too much for some.
I’ve known about this album forever, glad I was “made” to listen to it!
Tough, man, tough
Horrible, mid mid mid
Not that good
So I confess that I had never listened to a full Zappa album before. I knew a half dozen of his bigger songs and had an idea of his persona and larger than life impact on fringe pop culture. After listening to Hot Rats I realize how mislead I was on who this slightly insane individual really was. I loved this album. It fuses together hard rock, jazz, psychedelia, orchestra music with just a touch of satire. I think the playing on this was absolutely top notch and the pure vision of what this album was supposed to be was pretty artistically advanced. I did some reading on Zappa afterward and realize what I knew, or thought I knew, was just scratching the surface. I will definitely go back and listen to Hot Rats again soon.
Damn, this is a great album! Zappa is such a unique and weird guitar player and a phenomenal composer! Also Captain Beefheart is a perfect addition to this album. I ended up listening to this a few times today and then branched out and gave Safe as Milk a spin for good measure!
A good mix between hella experimental stuff and solid music production.
Honestly, not a terrible jazz fusion album. So much better than his The Mothers Of Invention stuff.
Good, not really big into jazz but very well produced
Zappa’s best in my opinion - love it. Willie the pimp is an absolute tour de force. So glad this came up yesterday!
Was looking forward to a Zappa record, but I was a bit disappointed. 'Willie The Pimp' had my interest piqued as it actually had a really cool riff at the start, and Zappa singing silly lines. Overall the record had an interesting corny sound with flutes and some oriental instruments, but it was just way too much improvisation and noodling for my taste. An album almost entirely consiting of guitar solos? Come on. Weak 3.
As only knowing "Bobby Brown" by Frank Zappa I wasn't sure what to expect, but it sure wasn't this. This was some weird jazz-type elements with Arabic-sounding tunes here and there. It just wasn't for me but it wasn't necessarily bad. I just still don't get Zappa. Strong 2.
At last... Not just something I like, but my all time favourite and most played album. I have this on multiple formats and various mixes. Amazing jazz fusion, which as an 18 year old, opened up my music listening world to alternatives to the mainstream. I still adore this album, and play it regularly, 38 years after first hearing it. Heard before ✅️ countless times Listened this time ❌️ no need Revisit ✅️ again and again Faultless ★★★★★ (10/10)
The original LP mix is far superior to the CD release. I'm not sure if they ever released the original mix digitally, but find it if you can.
It was strange listening to ‘Peaches en regalia’ without Elis James or John Robins welcoming me to their radio 5 show or post great reset podcast. I enjoyed the next few tracks or at least that's what i though until i looked down at my phone to discover i was still only on track 2. The Jazz approach to rock left me a bit confused in that i didn’t hate it in the same way as the captain beefheart album i was forced to listen to but dont think i could say i actually liked this.
I fully expected to hate this, based on what I already knew about Frank Zappa - and that’s before you consider him being the producer of THAT Captain Beefheart album. However, against my better judgement, I quite enjoyed it. Some tracks, particularly at the end, went on too long and the whole thing was largely bonkers… but I liked it.
6 songs, 43 minutes? I can't lie, that's not a good sign in my book. And then 5 out of 6 being instrumentals was another nail in the coffin. And finally, the one song with vocals being sung by Captain Beefheart? It's like a recipe for disaster (or a 1 star rating at least) in my head. However... I actually quite enjoyed this. Zappa I knew by name but would have struggled to name any of his songs, and therefore simultaneously had no idea what he'd sound like but also never would have expected it to sound like this. It's very funky. It's getting an automatic 1 star deduction for including a nearly 13 minute track where it sounded like someone was trying to murder a saxophone though. 3/5
Não faz meu estilo
Actual first time for me to listen to any Zappa on purpose. All these years I never listened to him, thinking that I wouldn't like any of his music. But it seems I've been missing out.
4.5 great album one of frank zappas better early stuff willie the pimp
Bit of a mess, not for me noise
hot take - great album. the first few songs make you feel like you're going to places
One of the most educated personalities in music. Big cult folliwing, and lots of publicity for his daughter Farwell Zappa. Very talented writer if music, and still fun to listen to now. Most people probably not agree
Zappa is hard because his music was so complex and varied. Every now and then though he nails experimentation and complexity with genuinely immersive music. Excellent album. Fave Tune: The Gumbo Variations
#105 / 1001. Starts up with jazz, then goes to some Zappaesque craziness, then the rest sounds like an jam session where the players play out of sheet notes. Didn't really move me too much.
Przyjemny, ale chyba nie mój vibe, znowu nie ogarnęłam kiedy się zapętlił
Ah Zappa - I do love it but it's not for everyone.
Enjoying. Lots of wig outs.
Instrumental mainly not my vibe 1/5
This is the first time I’ve actually enjoyed Frank Zappa. I’ve tried many times, but couldn’t get into it and thought I was missing something. It’s some kind of jazz/rock that just works. If the horns didn’t sound as much like the horn section on a synthesizer, it would’ve been much better, but then I don’t know if that was the sound he was going for or a limitation of the technology of the time. Regardless, I’m glad I finally appreciate something he’s done.
6.5/10 Highlights: Peaches En Regalia
Enjoyable listen.
Awesome. Did not expect a non lyrical album from Zappa
Funky, I like it. good music to read to for me
A great place to start with Zappa. Here he curbs his more juvenile tendancies (well, mostly) and gives us a jazzy, proggy, rock amalgamation. Best Tracks: Peaches En Regalia; Willie The Pimp; The Gumbo Variations .
YeH. I mean, yeah, but ok.
Peu ou pas de paroles, quelques mélodies sympa
Found this very hard to listen to. Hate music that is built around solos. Just play a song, dammit
Музыка: 7/10 Разнообразие: 7/10 Тематика и вайб: 8/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 7/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 7/10 Итог: 7.2
OK tier en fond sonore
love this album
Didn't enjoy this at all tbh
I think I need to be on drugs for this
One of the best jazz fusion albums I've ever heard. This might not be my go to genre but it still is a killer album. 8/10
Favorite songs: Willie the Pimp, Son of Mr. Green Genes Least favorite songs: The Gumbo Variations 3/5
Muy bueno, jazz? rock? progresivo?, bueno un poco de todo y más.
I mean it’s not bad, but there were a lot of parts that felt… weird and unthoughtful. Doesn’t make the album as a whole bad, I quite liked it, but these moments knock it down to 3 stars
The guitar work on this album is infinitely groovy and fun, while also sounding completely unique. Tickles my ADHD brain in all the right ways. My only complaint is that some of the songs drag on a bit.
Radek is a hot rat!!! Creepy album cover… lots of monkey sounds, jazzy piano and trumpets maybe. The gumbo variations sounds like they just tried to make as much noise as possible. I had this thought before I knew the title of the track. This would not do well when overstimulated. Almost triggering. When will the noise stop?
Silly, funky, and consistently engaging. I wanna be there.
I respect Frank Zappa & there are probably other songs I would like other than Valley Girl. This album was not it.
Great record. I haven't liked a single Frank Zappa record up to this point, but this one was amazing. Favourite Track(s): Willie The Pimp, The Gumbo Variations, Least Favourite Track(s): Little Umbrellas
Proto stoner rock, pretty good.
Very fun album, will need to revisit it
- kurzes Album - kaum Text - eigentlich voll die coole Musik aus den 70ern, gibt mir irgendwie Mandys (Burgerrestaurant) Vibes - Jazz inspiriert? - Fav: Littlr Umbrellas? - Least: The Gumbo Variations (und dann noch 9min…)
Wild stuff, can hear the influence on Trey for sure.
YMMV. Some songs run too long and there is a general “jam band vibe”. I found this album really captivating, some new riff, scale or time signature/arrangement change always felt right around the corner. Ear candy.
Extended guitar solos might be my least favorite thing.
I was hoping for something interesting. This is useless and repetitive. Sometimes this album sounds like a middle school orchestra playing tv show themes. Sometimes it comes across as a soulless humorless parody of funk music. Thanks for wasting my time, Frank. After this I re-listened to a previous assignment ('Freak Out!' from 1966) and I definitely like it more.
Listened through once, thought it was fine. Switched over to Freak Out (the other Zappa I've gotten so far), then back to this - and on the second listen it went down a lot smoother. It felt like something I could sink into. The solos go on a bit too long, I think, but the variety of instruments makes up for it. Honestly, though, listening to this made me go back and bump my rating for Freak Out from a 4 to a 5. That shit... that is the shit I do like. Wish this had more of the weird lyrics and confrontational arrangements tbh! Felt tame in comparison.
Mostly instrumental jazzy-rock. Great sounds. Songs 2&3 in particular
Loved it. Will definately add to collection. Willie the Pimp. Best track
"What instruments would you like, Frank?" "Yes." Frenetic and surprising. Not super my thing but respect the weirdness of it. A couple of ridiculous guitar solos in there to get the head banging. Never really listened to Frank Zappa before but this has piqued my interest in his other stuff.
With how Frank Zappa looks and being weary of older music after being bored so much my bob Dylan, I wasn’t particularly excited about this… but I was very wrong. This absolutely rocks. Lively, surprising and chaotic, but also just completely pleasant start to finish
è tipo il caparezza americano
i expected a bit more vocals
Not for me!
Started off very strong with the psychedelic beats and beautiful solos. Progression of the music is also fantastic. But in the second song when he begins to sing really ruined the rest for me. Overall instrumentation is the best part. Not typically my style of music but didnt mind it nonetheless.
Not bad at all. Just some groovy tunes. Fourty-five minutes of em at that. Big thumbs up from me.
It's Zappa. Not his best, but still really good.
Mainly instrumental tracks. Some of them seemed interesting enough. Blend of rock, jazz and classical Sounds quite dated However as Igor Stravinsky said "a lot of musical pieces end long before they finish. Although I am not sure he was referring specifically to Frank Zappa
I thought it was a fun listen although it wasn’t really up my alley. It’s got spunk
Pretty intense cross between psychedelic rock/jazz. No doubt crazy musical talent and free-thinking, but not something I could listen to for a long time.
Crazy trippy jazzy fun
Too long and indulgent. Had to skip through a lot.
77/100 pretty good, all songs have been saved to my jazz playlist, better than back at the chicken shack placement: 5th out of 7 albums / 5/7
Didn’t listen!
Not too much elevator noise, can be followed and is really pleasant
It was a groovy album that I enjoyed from start to finish. The guitar work is always fantastic when its a Zappa.
First track is great but then I heard Willie the Pump and at the start it is interesting but as it goes it becomes a little too long for my taste and I didn't like guitar solo they're just not my type. And following with Son Of Mr. Green Genes I understood what type of the album it is. Sadly it is a boring type of album where guy plays a lot of boring guitar solos. I liked short tracks they're good jazzy and captivating but long 8 to 12 minutes tracks are so long if they were shorter I think it would've worked much much better than what I hear. I like long tracks overall but Zappa sadly wasn't the type I like. Favorite tracks: Peaches en Regalia Little Umbrellas It Must Be A Camel I also liked the beginning of The Gumbo Variations before guitar solo. Overall I think it is 2,5 maybe 3/5
experimental/free form - not really my style
Somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me. Good and kinda jammy, but not memorable.
I like Zappa's unhinged stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised by this instrumental work.
What was this guys smoking?? Jazz fusion/jam band stuff isn’t for me but I really liked a lot of this. Will probably not listen again, expect maybe that first track, but I enjoyed my time.
Rats off to you Zappa in the crappa PaZappa the Rappa
Great fusion! Ignore my review three albums ago. Jazz and the violin - especially electric - work well together here. Additional note: I just looked at the credits and Jean-Luc Ponty plays on this album. (I mentioned before that I don’t like jazz with violins, unless it's Jean-Luc Ponty.) When I wrote the above paragraph, I had no idea that Ponty played on this album! Liked Songs Added: Willie The Pimp Gumbo Variations
adorei a guitarra. fez me pesquisar um pouco sobre ele. e ganhei um novo artista
Nice instrumentals for reading. Did not really like the song with singing.
Not my style. Some songs weren't so bad but some I really disliked.
Kind of an interesting mix of rock, pop, and electronic? Good?
Another one of those albums where I'd love to have more than five steps for comparibility. But it's more four than three stars.
This was absolute trash
10/08/2025 As synonymous as he is, nothing stood out for me here.
Still haven't full dove into Zappa but this is nothing If not interesting and full of ideas I can get behind and other sounds I'm not feeling, if I come back to it I might change my mind but for now, it's fine
Great. Pretty front loaded though
I wasn’t expecting to like it but I got my groove on 🕺🏻
Still holds up.
Ahh, Mr. Zappa. I really wanted to like this Hot Rats album, but it sounded like a lot of noise tonight. I can hear how it is musically complex. I appreciate it, but today I don’t luv it.
I like this more than the rest of the Zappa I've heard on the list. He's an artist I can't really get. The playing is without a doubt skillful and it's creative and interesting, but it has something else going on I struggle to click with. Not a bad album at all but it doesn't do for me what I'm sure it does for some.
The instrumentation is really good. Any moment with vocals took me out of it. Son of Mr. Green Genes was the high point for me. After that my interest slowed. I still don't know why I've heard the name Frank Zappa so much through the years.
An extra star for the Beefheart feature.
For my 18th birthday, my dad bought me "Fight With Tools" by The Flobots(which is one of the greatest albums of all time by the way), and this album. This album blew me away then, and it's blowing me away(again). Frank Zappa had no genre; he was Zappa. Period. It's zany. It's fun. It's mainly instrumental this time around. You're better off not reading this review, and just listening to it without having any expectations. Favorite Track: "Willie The Pimp".
Background music
When I heard the album was called hot wraps I was expecting some 1970s Charli XCX dad rock singing what was provided was completely different. The album itself is pretty much completely instrumental except one song called Willie the pimp and I think the collective music feels like your listen to a movie / play
Sexy guitar what can I say
Lovely guitar, not much else
You can see they know music because the cultural influences are clear!! You'd have to be blind not to hear them!
Funky jazzy freak out a bit too much horn on spots and a little too free form to make it a 5/5
If you’re out of your mind on any number of substances, I bet this is great. I’m not, and it wasn’t.
Total vibe. Varied and creative, Zappa is a magician when it comes to getting the max out of an instrument and making it serve the broader, insane vision he has for a track. Like five separate times I got lost in a sax solo or a drum beat or violin and ended up feeling like it's as good as those instruments ever sounded. I struggle to connect overly with Jazz, and that's still an issue here - like, what is any of this supposed to mean? - but it doesn't hurt my enjoyment of this one too much.
I can mostly get on board with this. It treads a thin line between being a cacophonous racket and a stunning display of Zappa’s virtuoso as a guitarist. l vibed - and I also *really* unvibed. I’ll meet you somewhere in the middle with a high two Zap. ⭐️⭐️
how tf people listen to this shit
Composed beautifully but not my thing 6/10
Hmm ikke helt for mig
This guy is truly pushing the boundary of music. I struggle to even put a genre label on this. It’s so cool and so innovative and like nothing I’ve ever heard before. I don’t need to hear a ton more albums like this, but I need to hear this album many, many times.
Some pretty great noodling here, but I would have liked some more vocals
-Not at all what I expected -Fantastic guitar work -I appreciate the minimal vocals, it really lets you focus om the solos -Lots of ofher very funky sounds I enjoy
I have always been turned off by the eccentricity of Frank Zappa and this does nothing to change that opinion.
exciting and dynamic yet never frantic. great jazz rock.
Lots of different sounds but none that I wanted to listen to.
Know of the name, but never listened. I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Rock/jazz/psych rock, what a groove.
A pretty good album, I liked Son Of Mr Green Genes the most.
Banging!!!!
Great!
I enjoyed this album and thought it was pretty fun and interesting. It was mostly jazzy compositions and very little vocals, but that didn't take away from the listening experience for me. It did lose me at times, though it kept bringing me back by doing something that caught my attention again. I thought it was pretty good. Not sure I'd call it great, but definitely a pleasant listen. Overall: 3.4/5
How do you even cathegorize this music... it's whatever he felt like playing.
38/1001 Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ Well this was a bit of a revelation! This is such a fun record! Jazz, groove, wig out session album. Only one of the six songs has vocals (provided by Captain Beefheart) and enjoyed pretty much all of it.
Amazing. One of the best jazz albums.
2-3 interesting but now exactly my vibe
Phot
This sucks. I hate frank zappa.
This was a great listen, Frank Zappa pretty cool
Something listenable for once!
The fact this isnt even his peak says alot, because this is as perfect as jazz-rock ever got
Y'know, so far the Frank Zappa albums on this list haven't exactly been a big hit with my group--and I gotta admit, that bums me out a little. I'm a big fan of his; I love albums like SHEIK YERBOUTI, YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS and ZAPPA IN NEW YORK. Even if a few of his lyrics and general opinions have aged pretty poorly, I still hafta marvel at his musicianship and how tightly he ran his bands. Seriously, go listen to any of the numerous Zappa live albums that've been released; you'll be amazed. But then, even as much as it disappoints me that my group hasn't been too warm on Zappa, I gotta admit, I can't act too surprised. After all, none of his work from the 70's is on this list, or even anything he did in the 80's (as much as other fans would tell you it's not as good). No, all of the Zappa material on this list from the **60's**... And take it from my: I would **not** recommend a lot of this stuff to a beginner. Of the 62 albums Zappa released in his lifetime, I often find myself coming back to his 60's albums the least, and for what some might view as a shallow reason: they're often his least accessible. FREAK OUT! and WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY are by-far some of Zappa's most experimental records, and therefore the hardest to get into for modern ears. Y'know, this "commercial pop" for "NORMIES, MAN"; this is freak out music for all the freaks and weirdos down in Sun Valley. It's the kind of thing you can imagine Big Important Rock Journalists eating up just because it tries so hard to be unappealing to the ear of the average Joe. Though, of course that's not the only reason my group's had issues with Zappa. The other thing is the **lyrics**: the two albums, particularly WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY, have a lot to say about culture at the exact moment in time they were released, and, well... It's often not great stuff? I remember one fellow group member comparing the satire on these albums to the kind of stuff you'd find on SOUTH PARK--namely, a very cynical, "everything sucks," "douche vs turd" kind of look at the world. It's an attitude that I can understand, but in politics these days especially, I just can't abide by it. (Not to go on a tangent, but anyone who didn't vote Democrat because "Oh, they would've been just as bad"... let's just say I'm not happy with you, to put it in short.) In any case, it's not a fun thing to listen to, especially and particularly not over this kind of "LOOKIT HOW WEIRD AND FREAKY MY MUSIC IS" experimental shit. Now, I still found ways to rate these albums positively. Hell, I was the only person in my group, I'm sure, who gave WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY a 5--pessimistic "everything sucks" lyrics aside, I still really like it musically, and its broad concept of parodying SGT. PEPPER'S. I promise you, I did not give them good reviews just because I'm a Zappa fan. Or not entirely, anyway. But, yeah, believe me, I get the problems my group has had with him. I mean, hell, I'm not 100% on the guy either: he dedicated the last page of THE REAL FRANK ZAPPA BOOK to underplaying AIDs and saying that it was just the government distracting people from "real issues." If he didn't die in the 90's, he sure would have before 2020, and believe me, either way, I do **not** wanna find out if he would've been an anti-masker or not... But anyway, here we come to the final Frank Zappa album on this list. It's the last album he released in the 60's, and it's his last chance to make a good impression on my fellow group mates. So... Do I think it stands a chance of winning them over? Oh, yeah, definitely. For sure. As far back as their reviews of FREAK OUT!, I knew, if nothing else, they'd like this one at least. 'Coz y'remember how I said I wouldn't recommend a lot of Zappa's 60's stuff to beginners? Well, basically, this is one of the ones I would. This is Zappa's second solo album (technically his first, since he only composed and conducted LUMPY GRAVY) and his first dive into one the many facets of the Zappaverse: jazz fusion. It's for sure his greatest, too. That's not to put down his later stab at things (WAKA/JAWAKA and THE GRAND WAZOO), but let's be 100: he never did it better than he did here. Being jazz, there's naturally a lot to look very closely at if you're the kind who likes to do that sort of thing. There's the composed-through tracks, where you can listen in amazement at how tightly-composed they are. Seriously, they're like a damn Swiss Watch, the way they're composed. On top of that, all of the piano, organ, flute, clarinet and saxes were played by one guy, Ian Underwood. That's just incredible, isn't it? Not to mention the drums from John Guerin, Paul Humphrey and Ron Sellico. Then you have the looser tracks, where you can admire the improvisations Zappa does on guitar, and all the intricacies therein. Like, seriously, the man didn't put out, like, CDs worth of nothing but guitar solos for nothing; the man can damn **play**. Let's not also forget the guys who play violin: Don "Sugarcane" Harris on the looser tracks, and Jean-Luc Ponty on "It Must Be A Camel". I especially wanna point to Sugar for just how hard he goes on "The Gumbo Variations", but Jean-Luc Ponty is no slouch either. Really, they're both great. But let's be real: most people aren't gonna listen that deeply. And, hey, fair if they don't, 'coz there's a lot to enjoy just scratching the surface. I mean, have you **heard** "Peaches En Regalia"? That's a top three Zappa instrumental right there, with great melodies and a neat "octave bass" trick and everything. "Willie The Pimp" might go on too long for some people, but I think it fuckin' jams--big shout-out to Captain Beefheart's cameo as the only vocals on the album! "Son Of Mr. Green Genes" is a great, extended take on a song from UNCLE MEAT, highlighting its own neat-o melody; "Little Umbrellas" is a smooth little track to sip a cocktail to; "The Gumbo Variations" blasts full-force with its own solos... And I might not have anything particular to say about "It Must Be A Camel", but I hear the chord changes are pretty phenomenal! And if you're gonna listen to this thing, do yourself a favor and do it for headphones; I don't use "Peaches En Regalia" to test new pairs for nothing. If there's anything I feel like HOT RATS might mean to my group mates, it's that there's much more to Zappa than those first two albums have shown off. Behind all the cynical-ass lyrics and wacky-for-the-sake-of-it "freak out" experimentation, he's one hell of a composer. The man didn't get the London Symphony Orchestra to play his shit for nothing (and if you ask him, it almost was thanks to the recording process, but that's another story). I mean, some of it can be very different--just look at his later Synclavier work--but you can't deny, when he wants to make something good, he can make something **good**. Seriously, go listen to "Strictly Genteel" from ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES if you don't believe me. Or, heck, just listen to this album. Either way's a good time. Zappa was a weird guy, musically speaking (he never did drugs, y'know). He never aimed to make anything commercially viable: his only audience, as he put it, was himself. And even as a fan, lemme tell you, that can be **incredibly** apparent sometimes. I mean, did anyone really **want** THING-FISH but him? But most of the time... I'm just glad he thought to put his music out there for others to hear and judge for themselves. Whether you liked his stuff or not, hey, it made an otherwise normal musical landscape just that little bit weirder... And I don't think I can fault him for that. And at this point, all I can say is: "the modern day composer never dies," "music is the best," and, please, participate in democracy and register to vote. (This has been Official Review #567.)
Even if it's mostly instrumentals, this is still classic Zappa. Solid 5 Stars.
Yeah, I’m at a 10. That was 45 minutes of near-perfect instrumental energy. When you are fully in sync with a band, and truly feeling music as it enters your ears, you’ve hit upon the deepest type of connection you can make with the art form. Every time that happens for me, I know an album is an instant classic to my ears, and there’s no exception here. The only thing I can’t believe is that this is from Frank Zappa, of all people. Color me deeply surprised; I would’ve never expected it to be Frank Zappa that ended up making such an eclectic jazz fusion album. I’ve admired the guy’s musicianship for sure; neither “We’re Only In It For The Money” nor “Freak Out!” were bad at a technical level. Even the worst rating I gave him was a 3, and it’s only because the former felt like an album I couldn’t really put a number to. To pull out THIS though? For 1969, this feels far, far ahead of schedule, in a way that I can’t really describe, but I can only vaguely guess at. I wish I could write more, but much like “Hot Buttered Soul”, the music can say far more than I could. If you hit that point of being in sync, you’ll know exactly why. If it doesn’t click by the absolutely electric *violin* solo during “The Gumbo Variations”, then it never will, & it probably was never going to. If it doesn’t, then you probably won’t enjoy this like I did. For my tastes, though? Easy 10.
Absolutely love Zappa!
193/1089 - Weird Jazz Rock. Very fun listen.
Sounds a bit...random?
I'm not ready for an album with weird sounds and noises.
9.3
Fresh and original melodies for this prog jazz rock pop fusion instrumental work. I can hear where Steve Vai got his inspiration largely from by listening to any Zappa. Wide variety of instruments. More rock than anything else.
While "Hot Rats" undeniably showcases Frank Zappa's masterful and intricate arrangements, particularly in the instrumental jazz fusion explorations, I unfortunately felt emotionally disconnected from the overall listening experience. The extended track, "Variations of Gumbo," while ambitious in its length, unfortunately veered into territory that reminded me of 1970s porn. Although I am open to revisiting it in the future to see if my perception changes, right now I'm just exhausted!
I liked this album. Very eclectic, noisy and somewhat discordant. Was surprised by the horns and lengthy instrumental jams. I can tell that Phish listened to Zappa. Overall enjoyable.
This is possibly the best album of Zappa's career. And maybe I should say: I'm a big Zappa fan. This absolutely a must hear. It's one of the first and one of the best jazz fusion albums ever. And what a pity it is, that Zappa never really returned to this style. Yes, obviously jazzrock was an important part of his style, certainly in the George Duke/Ruth Underwood time of his career, but this is hardcore jazz fusion and his only album as such. Ian Underwood is incredible here. But Zappa himself even more so. I think this was the first time in his career that he really showed himself as one of the best and highly original guitar players ever. Later on he would issue three-disc-sets with only guitar solos, but here his guitar work is an integral - and important - part of the music. The long solo in Willie the Pimp and even more so on 'Son of Mr. Green Genes' are fantastic. Very renewing in tone as well. But there might be an even better performance on this album: Don' Sugarcane' Harris' electric violin solo on 'The gumbo variation' is beyond unforgettable. Fantastic album.
Apparemment, c'est censé être la rencontre du jazz et du rock psychédélique. Le problème, c'est que c'est surtout du jazz avec des touches de rock, plutôt que l'inverse.
Oh, I LIKED this. First time listening to Zappa and it was a fantastic surprise. Jazzy and psychedelic music that never ever got boring. And I was delighted to discover that Belgian art rockers dEUS used the bass line from Zappa's Little Umbrellas on their debut album. I love when I can trace references and influences like that. This one is going into the Repeat Listen pile.
I would say I enjoyed this one, opening on the instrumental “Peaches En Regalia” which is an enjoyable opener and moving straight into the mostly but not completely instrumental “Willie The Pimp” which I enjoyed thoroughly, it was my favorite track on the record and that extended solo is just perfection. I also liked the instrumentation and solos on “Son Of Mr. Green Genes” however by this point I was feeling like it may have been going on a little long as this and the previous track were both 9 minutes. “Little Umbrellas” was a pleasant change of pace at only 3 minutes. But the next track was the worst for me and the longest running at 13 minutes and was called “The Gumbo Variations” I thought it felt like more of the same but longer. However I loved “It Must Be A Camel” ending it off. This was good but not quite great.
starting to really dislike this list
Very funky, this album will get ya bopping, very good background music. Basically just a medley of every instrument soloing for 6 songs, banger. However, not something I would come back to listen to specifically, but instead put on to chill out.
really nice grooves i thought i would like this more but maybe im not gonna force myself to rate it higher
Not for me. Would not buy.
Sounds like the beginning of psychedelia. Pretty good listen. Probably better with an edible
Didn't really like the vocals in the second song Did not like the 12 minute song Liked Peaches en Regalia Very groovy vibes, lots of tangy guitar
Easy 5 out of 5. Strong start with Peaches en Regalia and it doesn't let up until the very end.
Seminal Jazz fusion.
Not what I expected from Zappa. Much more instrumental.
Pretty much just 40 minutes of Zappa going crazy on the guitar and it slaps
Jamz
Hmmm, kind of liked it.
I should have liked this more I think?
Enjoyed this a lot, very jazzy, also a surprisingly good running album
Perezon
"Tryna buy some pussy with a third party check." Kind of sums up the entire album, I like to imagine that this was someone's uncle and this went HARD for the late 60's to early 70's pipeline. But that check has bounced and some bits are just funny.
Absolute banger
Anyway, Hot Rats is pretty good for a Frank Zappa album. Frank not providing any vocals automatically bumps it a star or two. "Peaches en Regalia" and "Willie the Pimp" are the standouts for me, with Captain Beefheart swooping in to save the day on the latter. 3.5 stars.
3.5
This, *Apostrophe (')*, and *Over-Night Sensation* have historically been the only Frank Zappa studio albums I've really enjoyed thoroughly. All at solid 4½ star ratings. This one is probably my favorite and I think it is probably because it is mostly instrumental. His lyrics get really silly. I appreciate them but I'm at a slight arm's length at them, but I don't think that they're bad at all. In fact there are songs on both *Apostrophe (')*and *Overnight Sensation* that I can see where *Weird Al* gets his influence. But still it's lo e reading a comic book for insight. I do need to get this on LP because it is honestly just a great jam all the way through. Whether it is bizarro psychedelic to its Jazz/Rock fueled moments, I find myself eating this up.(9.55) ★★★★½
The most I have ever enjoyed Zappa, but he has a limit. 3.5 stars
Hot Rats is pretty good for a Frank Zappa album. Frank not providing any vocals automatically bumps it a star or two. "Peaches en Regalia" and "Willie the Pimp" are the standouts for me, with Captain Beefheart swooping in to save the day on the latter. 3.5 stars.
3.5
Hot stuff. Zappa has done several dozen brilliant albums but this one is particularly top drawer. It rocks. It stomps. It jazzes. It goes bluesy goosey. It proms harder than the proms in its own freaky way. A forward thinking wide-scoped fusion masterpiece with genius monster musicianship throughout. 5 rats out of 5.
Mostly instrumental.
Groovy. First time with Zappa, and I loved this.
Zappa, man! I feel like I’m not the target demographic for this tbh
Wild, but that last track totally lost me.
It’s unlikely I’ll ever have the energy to listen to t something this fast paced, but if I ever do, this will be where I go.
The first song started and I figured this album was going to be a hot mess. But then it got better for a few of songs until that horrible screechy sax started. So my initial instinct was correct, this is a hot mess.
Ich hatte keine Ahnung was mich erwartet. Hat mich dann sehr überrascht etwas ähnliches wie Jazzrock zu hören. Es hat mich jedenfalls an Brand X, J-L Ponty, Mahavishnu Orchestra erinnert. Spannend.
Complex and hard to access but also listenable. Great guitar tones. Out there instruments. Willie The Pimp is silly. The musicianship is top notch but I don't know who this is for other than music students.
Well its interesting, I'll give it that. Would not listen, once is more than enough, but not an awful listen either.
Why didn’t someone tell me I love Frank Zappa? Fantastic album start to finish. All the stars.
Love it
Not bad, but not my personal liking.
Albums like this is why I started this project. I knew virtually nothing about Frank Zappa beyond my father’s opinion growing up that he was a no good, drug-addled, unproductive, rabble-rousing troublemaker hippie. Consequently, I knew even less about his music and had no idea what to expect this morning. What a delightful surprise. The arrangements don’t appear terribly technical, skilled, or complex playing but the free flowing, jam-session vibe really works for me. Willie the Pimp is a real banger. In fact the first 3 songs are really good. The last 3 not as much - I like the funk of Gumbo but the horn becomes too much. On first listen I decided ‘it’s probably a 3 but I’ll give it a 4 to ensure I come back later.’ On second listen I concluded solid 4, no doubt. Thanks dad. 4/5
At times, 5 stars. Others, 1. I don’t know where to rate this.
This is the worst blues album I have ever heard.
Wouw.. more weird than actually good
Very haphazard and long form songs. Sound very of the time but not my style
First time ever listening to Zappa by choice. Mainly bc I never wanted to be one of those Zappa guys who swears by everything he does and can't go two minutes without mentioning his name. On one hand, Peaches En Regalia is one of the greatest pieces of music I have ever heard and I loved every second of it. On the other, I was 6 minutes into Gumbo Variations before I started to enjoy it and then it just kept fucking going. So idk, its massively excessive and wanky, but somewhat captivating and well put together? I don't know if I can give it a 4 as an album but there is a lot here I like. Will probably find my way back to it at some point in the near future.
Needless fiddly wankery. Peaches en Regalia (6/10) Willie the Pimp (6/10) Son of Mr. Green Genes (5/10) Little Umbrellas (5/10) The Gumbo Variations (3/10) It Must be a Camel (3/10) 4.7/10
Jazzy, Jammy, Instrumental, Flowing, congruent. Don’t know where one song ends and another begins.
Monotonic
Frank Zappa as a public figure was interesting. This album, not so much.
Ett par höjdpunkter och allmänt en härlig vibe. Weird men välgjort!
Det här var inte så spännade
Bra för instrumentellt
I didn't mind this album too much, but I know it won't stick with me. I'm not he biggest fan of instrumentals, which this album *almost* entirely is, but I see the appeal. The best song was the opener, so it was a downhill ride for me. I asked Beau if he's ever listening to Zappa, and his response was, "I don't mind him. Kinda weird though." Which got me excited for something interesting and this doesn't deliver. Favorite song: Peaches En Regalia
Surprisingly I enjoyed this.
I love Zappa - this is not his best album (that would be apostrophe, one size fits all or over-nite sensation for me) but still has to be five stars. I can see why this is on the list with peaches on it but would have liked to have seen some more albums on the list.
Peaches En Regalia 4 Willie the Pimp 4.4 Son of Mr. Green Genes 4.3 Little Umbrellas 4 The Gumbo Variations 4 It Must Be a Camel 4 Score: 4.116666667
Instrumental jazz with weird lipstick.
This was a really fun record. Glad I listened. Grooved all the way through my commute.
This ain't music.
Meh
Great playing. Some jams get boring after a while.
Really enjoyed listening to this album for the first time.
I didn't really enjoy this. the first few songs were nice and polished, but at some point it stops being music and starts being noise. it wasn't bad but I wouldn't seek it out
Yeah good, Willie the pimp stand out. Had heard the odd Zappa song here and there but nice to get into an album. Definitely would recommend
Ну че ебать Фрэнк Заппа он зе морнинг из deep purple круто ниче не сказать
This is a half decent album. There are a lot of long instrumental pieces which were not bad, but carried out too long for sure for some of them. On the other hand there are some instrumental pieces that were epic! ("Peaches En Regalia") It has also popped in my heat whenever there was singing that it is so Beetlejuice core.
Not my pale of bobbing apples. Gave it a go but failed to capture me.
Not my jug of juice.
Nein von mir
This album made me feel physically ill. The guy can clearly play instruments well but why is he using is talents for evil?
Not for me.
I probably like this more than most people. Pretty groovy and weird. Made me wanna burn one which is funny considering how zappa felt about drug use. Got a little long by the end
Enjoyable through and through. Though I can't remember a lot about it hours after listening to it, when I did have it on, I was always hearing something grand. A well-blended mix of jazz and psychedelic composition. (8/10, 5/5 on this scale)
I liked this more than I liked The Mothers Of Invention albums we've had. I don't think I'd listen again but there were songs on it that I enjoyed. It was experimental without being as weird as the Mothers songs. I thought a lot of the songs went on too long though. Some of them I enjoyed at the start but I had either gotten bored by the end or it had moved to a place I didn't like as much. Fav song: Peaches En Regalia Least fav: It Must Be A Camel
Feels like something someone looking like frank Zappa would make. Sounded like someone who thinks they’re in flow state composing in a tv show but then it cuts to reality and they’re doing shit. I like Willie the pimp though Specific rating - 1.9 Fav song - willie the pimp Least fav - it must be a camel
Without giving it much thought I would’ve landed on a 3. But i just found myself grooving and I know Tim would give it a 5, so I’ll go with 4.
I may not listen to much jazz, but this was an experience, and I dug it. My Dad fucking loved Zappa, so extra points for him. It was groovin, it was jazzin, it was rock n roll. I can picture my Dad with his eyes closed, smile on his face, arms out, moving to this. What a time. Hell yeah.
I'm halfway through this and inst-rating 5 stars. I've heard Peaches before and really loving this so far.
My son called this album a "fever dream." He's not far off. This is a wild album. 5 stars.
Jam seshhhhhh
One time some people said to me that this music sucks, so I lined them all up & clonked their heads together like coconuts
Reminds me how much blues influenced rock.
Better than I expected. Still pretty kooky though :)
Pretty cool but not sure I'd listen again
♫ Listening to "The Gumbo Variations" by Frank Zappa (Hot Rats, 1969) ♫
banggggerr