Reviews (page 8 of 14)
I was going to skip this one, Zappa being not my cup of tea. But I'm glad I listened. More fusion jazz, less middle school humor.
Like Todd Rundgren, Frank Zappa was a master of so many other things it is easy to forget just how good a guitar player he was. Of course he would later release Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar but Hot Rats, a largely instrumental album, set the bar. Peaches En Regalia is the gem but the rest of the tracks display Zappa’s, and the band’s, prowess in both composed and improvised jam settings. Willie the Pimp, the non-instrumental, has Captain Beefheart howling’ the blues as an added bonus.
3.5 -- did enjoy
3 stars
I don’t listen to enough predominantly instrumental music to feel like I can give a worthwhile opinion on this. It was good and I’d listen again.
This certainly is an album that doesn’t get boring. Even the long ass instrumentals stayed interesting to listen to. But interesting is as far as I’ll go. There were some parts that just didn’t click with me and a lot was too chaotic, and I don’t think I’ll relisten to this again (I won’t put this on for fun, at least). However, this sounds way ahead of its time. So props to that I guess. 3/5
inevitably, the Zappa Album For People Who Don't Like Zappa is a tiny bit less enthralling to me as someone who tho far from being an expert has heard his discog up and down and has a lot of reluctant but deep attachment to his art. i didnt realize till this listen how like...Normal the melody palate on here is? obviously u get a few weird spicy parts but on the whole if ur comfortable with Rock Music this shouldnt be a hard listen, even if u dont have much experience with jazz! the improvised parts are not as overtly fusiony as the likes of waka jawaka or the grand wazoo, and the composed parts are not as modern classical-y as many of his other excursions. the "disappointment" of this record is that zappa's artistic personality at least to me feels a lil muted on here, ultimately. but that is ofc also the appeal...and besides which, the personality it does display is the personality of Hot Rats!!!!!!!!!!! very few albums in history have ever had more color, combining garishness and lushness into a low-key psychedelic palate that has all the expansive freedom without any of the hazy vagueness. its rly just incredibly lucid and disciplined the whole way thru, but if was anyone other than frank zappa there would be no possible way to perceive it as (relatively) uptight. honestly this has never been one of my personal top favorites of his records, but its one of those albums i cant ever imagine not sounding good, its just full of what Music Is For. and for ppl who's affection doesn't extend beyond this record, id recommend the more modern classical-style Burnt Weeny Sandwich...different appeal than hot rats, but still lacks zappa's reactionary/juvenile aspects, illustrates his non-rock composition tastes in more adventurous ways, and tho the tracklist is not wall-to-wall individual bangers like hot rats its more about the overall sequence and symmetry, seemingly throwaway pieces coming together into a greater whole that builds and releases tension beautifully :)
So very Jazzy. The opening track is incredibly smooth, but leads in to a Captain Beefheart appearance. Things get wilder from there.
Good, easy listening.
Was nervous after having The Mothers of Invention, but this was a pleasant listen. Some good moments.
Technically, very good. Just not for me. I liked Peaches en Regalia but the rest of the album did nothing for me. Might be one i revisit to give another shot.
5/10…jazz-instrumental-rock-fusion
Basically a long jam session, but a cool one... Bass and Drums are really fun to listen to...
Lots going on but not going anywhere.
Wacky album this guy was on some kind of drugs to get these songs out lol
Thought I hated Zappa. I probably do, for the most part. Although now I'm not so sure, because very unexpectedly I really liked this! Groovy, partly experimental jazz-rock. These rats are rad!
1.5
Peaches En Regalia - great name, and love the funky start, leading into a cute riff, a TV game show (or 90s Sonic game) sounding jingle, then back to funk. SO good. Willie The Pimp - hate the singing but love the guitar. Son Of Mr. Green Genes - not for me. Little Umbrellas - nor this. The Gumbo Variations - nor this. It gets particularly nightmarishly dial-up tone sounding towards the end. It Must Be A Camel - man, I hate this too. And after such a promising start to the album!
Probably works if you are stoned. I got bored.
Gnarly riffs after gnarly riffs…not for everyone…but absolutely for me!
Radical
Methodical with some nice sounds. Basically no vocals. I liked this but didn't love it. On the 3 side of a 3.5.
This album is like a musical blitzkrieg. Pretty fucking sick. It has moments of musical genius (Peaches in Regalia and Son of Mr. GG) and also has some completely deranged chaos. Haven’t read other reviews so this may have been said, but if you were to make Rock Jazz I think this is what you’d make? Sounds very pretentious but this album is incredibly rich. Constant weird and interesting turns. I’ve listened to peaches en regalia and son of mr gg many times but it must be a camel was my favorite new discovery. I heard son of Mr. Green Genes described as regal by a friend and I think that’s a perfect description. Also just the right amount of Cpt Beefheart. I hope we get Trout Mask Replica (for the discourse) I’m on a business trip and this album reminded me that life is and can be strange and interesting (unlike meetings in NJ OR
I'm grateful to have gotten this album, as Zappa has always been a pretty big gap in my musical knowledge. And I can tell there is a lot of interesting stuff going on musically here - the rock and jazz elements combine with an anarchic energy to make something that still feels fresh all these years later. That said, I don't think I have a refined enough ear or understanding of theory to really feel moved or hooked by much of this. More than anything, it probably comes down to huge sections of each song having a meandering and improvisational feel (as a lot of jazz does by design), and that's just not my taste. I can recognize the innovation and originality going on, but it just doesn't do a ton for me personally.
Ive been anticipating some Zappa since the beginning of this! Although this albums requires some attention & a few spins to digest, I think its incredibly worthwhile -- "A movie for your ears" was how Zappa put it and I agree. Im starting to like every song pretty much equally, but if I had to pick a standout it would be The Gumbo Variations. That song grooves so hard Just a reflection on the period that this was in -- this came out in 1969. Initially, that was truly mind blowing to me. Eventually, I started to see this as a part of jazz fusion which was still in its enfancy. Then after more thought, it started to make sense. Bitches Brew had already dropped and weather report wasn't too far after Hot Rats. Im kind of left sitting here wondering why Zappa wasn't more in my ears previously versus the others /shrug
I wish I was cool enough to say this is a record I've listened to a lot already. Like a lot of music I discovered in middle school and high school - I found Zappa through Phish - specifically their Peaches cover (same goes for "Roses are Free" - sorry Ween boys). At the time, I loved that combination of long guitar-driven compositions and improv over jazz changes. Back then, I listened to alot of Zappa's greatest hits, but never beyond that. Looks like that album is called "Strictly Commercial", but the only song from Hot Rats is Peaches, so this was pretty much all new to me this time through. This whole album is weird and incredible, front to back. It's hard to pick a subset of songs that stands out, but that sax solo that builds into the violin solo in Gumbo is excellent. So many "hell yeah" moments on one album. Still love Peaches as a composition, and Green Genes is a nice revisit of that approach, before the album seems to head in a slightly different direction in the second half - feels a little more heavily jazz influenced than the more prog rock front half. Wish it was a Friday album - definitely need some more relistens on this one. Was just listening to Little Feat's live album "Waiting For Columbus" this weekend, and had no idea that band was started by two dudes from the Mothers of Invention. George Lowell "claimed to have played uncredited guitar on Hot Rats." Me too George, me too.
Not really a Zappa fan, although I've enjoyed pretty much everything I've heard from him before, and when I saw this this morning, was kinda not looking forward to it because just wasn't in the mood for weird progressive, bluesy, jazz rock type stuff. Not that it's appears on much aside from like the first track, but he has a knack for taking really cliche, overused sounds that come off as super dated and making them sound extremely fresh and interesting. But its undeniable that this thing is amazing. Definitely gets a bump up for being almost entirely instrumental, although I don't really dislike Zappa's singing, just that sometimes I am not in the mood for it.
my style
..
- ganz cooles Instrumental Album, habe mich zwischendurch ein wenig wie in einem 70s Film gefühlt - stellenweise war es mir aber auch ein wenig zu zäh
Son of Mr. Green Genes was going to be my favorite song, but then it just kept going, and going, and going, and going. If the song ended in the first 3.5ish minutes, I would have really liked it. And that's kind of how I feel about this whole album. It has some really good ideas but exhausts them without elaborating in new or interesting ways. The longer this album goes on the more I don't like it. It started at a solid, this is fine, and I can see why it's highly regarded, and now I need the album to be over. Favorite Song(s): none
Frank Zappa’s work is generally brilliant, but listening to the pure musicality of this mostly instrumental record is especially wonderful. Not that I don’t also love the Captain Beefheart track!
Weird as fuck. Every song is more than 8 minutes. What is wrong with him? He's dead. Thank god. Just kidding! I love Frank Zappa. Cool last name. Did you know they named a bacteria after him? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propionibacterium_acnes_type_zappae Anyways, this was nice and kind of jazzy. But I liked it better than the other jazz album you assholes made me listen to. I especially liked the first track, which was more short and sweet and had an interesting oriental edge. Hot Rats is good, but I would not listen to it much again. I like Don't Eat The Yellow Snow. Long Live Frank Zappa.
7/10. Probably one of them I needed to give a second listen to but didn't. First largely instrumental of the challenge and I definitely thought some of the stuff he did with the guitar was super cool and interesting but at other points he lost me or it felt quite generic, especially for an instrumental. Overall a cool, complete experience that keeps you on your toes.
4.5
This is cool and it makes me feel cool when I listen to it.
Oh they're GROOVIN on this one. My first full-length Zappa listening experience.. what a wild ride. As a drummer myself, the drumming on this thing is exceptional - incredibly musically interesting, strikes a nice balance of jamming and explorational while not feeling too 'jam band-y'. Not that I hate jam bands per se, but there is a sound/style they're typically associated with that I would have been disappointed to see on this album.
Just not for me. Sounded like hot garbage. 2/5
One of those albums where I can't really put what I like about it into words. I used to think it was prog rock, but I never really got past Willie The Pimp when I tried listening when I was younger. It's far jazzier than I remember and I expected vocals for more than just a few minutes I always thought the vocals on the sleazy Willie The Pimp were bizarre, of course it turns it to be my pal Beefheart (unrelated, but he should've sounded like this on Trout Mask Replica, it would be more bearable). Son of Mr Green Genes has a weirdly whimsical kind of sound. I also like Zappa's solo on that one a lot The Gumbo Variations went on so long that I kind of stopped paying attention, and it went immediately out the other ear, but that's probably a me problem Highlights: Peaches En Regalia, Son of Mr Green Genes
thanks 4 the turret
Absolute genius. Wild
Fantastic
Unexpected but cool? Don’t know if I’d go back to it
Never really got into Zappa. Liked the first 4 songs.
Fuck. Yes. Instrumental jazz-rock perfection. Bold dynamics coupled with supreme musicianship. This gets the head bobbing and the brain cooking with its complex layering. The guitar serves to compliment and not to muddy the music, a delicate balance that is executed expertly. Wonderful!
Writing this the day after listening to it, I really don't remember much of anything about it. Like I remember it being alright but nothing stood out.
It's interesting to come to this album with Frank Zappa's reputation so well established. The album art aligns with his reputation, which some of the music here wasn't quite so aggressive. I tended to enjoy the shorter tracks, which is a tic of mine, and whenever the music is more straightforward I'm more on board. Better than I was expecting, but still not my favorite. 2.5 stars is what I'd give it if I could.
Frank Frank Frank Frank Frank. Frank at his best. Unique and slightly jazzy
Widdly
Zappa is bad, ay. Confused by the worldly love he gets. Zappa is the epitomy of throw loads of shit and some will stick.
Jazzed up by the zapppa
Zappa!!
bão demais
tem sax = boa música. jazz fusion de ótima qualidade hein. altos solos de altos instrumento, pau quebrando demais.
I thought I would hate this because of my own preconceptions about who Frank Zappa is. My preconceptions were inaccurate, but I still didn't like it.
A movie for your ears indeed
Haven't heard this before and it was a good surprise of a record. Great songs throughout and incredible musicianship.
Given the focus of my reviews so far this week, the generator is really putting the rat among the pidgeons. Frank Zappa isn't a normie, but neither is he a freak. He makes that very clear on Freak Out. What is he then? A cynic. A sneerer. A sniggerer. He has something of '65 Dylan about him: his fuel is disdain; we'll never understand things the way he does. Maybe there's nothing to understand. He's smart. He's funny. And we'll just have to put up with it. This takes something of a backseat on the largely instrumental Hot Rats. There's not so much puerile humour, not so much satire, but the source of Zappa's whiffy unpleasantness is still there. While Dylan could and would simply toss off an idea, Zappa has to orchestrate everything down to the most minute detail. The only thing he is expressing here is his own need for control and it sounds like it - the big drumroll that opens the record feels like it was whiplashed into LinnDrum sterility. There is no let up on Peaches En Regalia, bars and bars of densely organised music, and nowhere for the humanity to come through. Even harsh taskmasters like James Brown and Duke Ellington expected real people to dance to what their well-honed machines were playing. It isn't all jazz without freedom, but it takes the appearance of Captain Beefheart to make this genuine fun. The violins too sound like they have a bit of life to them. Still Zappa's guitar is all mastery and no parity. What room is there for a listener to make anything of all this music? Frank Zappa doesn't care. He wants you to submit, he doesn't want you to enjoy. 2.5 For all the supposed freakiness and eccentricity of Zappa - and to be fair plenty of Zappa is eccentric - Hot Rats strikes me as mostly rather square music. In Peaches en Regalia and Son of Mr Green Genes in particular there seems to be more disregard than is usual in Jazz or Blues Rock for concealing the edges of a phrase of 4 or 8 (or 2!) bars. You are presented with one chunk. Then there’s another chunk. This process is perhaps a bit stupid but I think it was also intended to be a bit entertaining because of the silliness and colour of some of the combinations of instruments and it is, sporadically. This doesn’t, however, create so much the ‘movie for your ears’ that Zappa proposed as put me in mind of the finale of the BBC’s ‘The Generation Game’ in which a member of the winning family sits in front of a conveyor belt and watches different exciting prizes go past. The contestant then gets 45 seconds to name as many of the prizes as they can remember and they take home all they can name. If you listen to Hot Rats enough times you will win all its prizes. As it is with the half dozen times I’ve heard Hot Rats - I always find myself struggling a bit and falling back on ‘Cuddly Toy! Cuddly Toy!’ the prize no one really wants but which everyone knows was there. This is Zappa’s guitar solos. They are just wallpaper. He is a very good musician and he knows his scales and his tricks and he is fast but he has nothing to say as a guitar player. Why is there so much of it? It is the weakest section of Gumbo Variations by far. Most of Willie the Pimp is a waste of time. 2/5
01) Peaches en Regalia - 7,0 02) Willie the Pimp - 7,0 03) Son of Mr. Green Genes - 6,5 04) Little Umbrellas - 7,0 05) The Gumbo Variations - 5,5 06) It Must Be a Camel - 5,5 TOTAL: 6,42 (64/100) Current ranking: 342/463
This is actually the first album I've ever listened to by the legendary Frank Zappa and I suspect that it was the wrong place to start. I've been familiar with him for years from his reputation, a handful of songs, and his work with Captain Beefheart. But I've never listened to a full album from Zappa or the Mothers of Invention. As I understand it, this was Zappa's attempt to move away from the experimental rock of the Mothers and produce a more free form jazz record. Again, it's weird place to start, why do anything in a conventional way when it comes to someone so well known for being the opposite? "Hot Rats" is full of experimental and sometimes jarring or abrasive jam sessions that could turn off even the most hardcore jam band fans. But for thoe of us who love the weird and wonderful, it's quite a trip. It's not the kind of album where you might pick a favorite song. The whole experience should wash over you when you just need a frantic break from normality. I look forward to hearing the Mothers of Invention soon in this generator.
Terrible album, lacks musicality
Awesome, fun and funky and weird
What has that freak done to his strings? Also would rate this as 3,5 stars, but sadly that's not possible
You love one Zappa album and hate the next.
As with most things, this benefits when Don Van Vliet is present and suffers when he’s absent.
This is a fun little jam. Feel like I'm in a 70s or early 80s movie.
zappa never fails to entertain me, love his weird little antics.
I've heard a few Zappa albums previously, but this one caught me off guard, as most of the tracks are instrumentals. Frank Zappa is known for his satire and strange concepts, but without Zappa's weird vocal presence, this is so different. Long guitar solos and a jazz fusion-influenced, psych-rock sound that is upbeat and interesting. Zappa is such an underrated guitar player, he shreds like I've never heard him before, but the lengthy solos do get a bit much after a while. Even so, this is a Frank Zappa album I can actually listen to start to finish without thinking about turning it off.
pretty good, got redundant
Not my Jam but very talented
Hopefully the next one is better
Boring. Two stars.
Masterful musicians and I know it was important for the fusion of rock, jazz, blues, etc. But it's a lot of just jamming. I don't want to ever listen to it again.
HOT MEAT HOT RATS HOT ZITZ HOT WRISTS HOT RITZ HOT ROOTS HOT SOOTS When Ian comes in with the sax in “Peaches” I get EMOTIONAL
The whole album is an amazing jam sesh, Mr. Green Genes is a masterpiece. Gumbo variations makes me happy. WTF is It must be a camel...
Great psychedelic feeling instrumental rock album. Excellent album to work to.
Zappa not for me
Pretty cool, nice sax parts, little boring at times.
Really cool engaging listen, fun and inventive jazz fusion that definitely serves as the blueprint for successive projects of the same tone. By no means an easy listen really I wouldn't think unless you're a Zappa fan, but if you can get into the space to want to listen to stuff like this then this should be on your radar. Very cool soloing Frank :)
This was a really satisfying listen. So much of the iconic wackiness you'd expect from Frank Zappa, but also surprisingly accessible and direct. No b.s.ing, no wasted time. Just 43 mins of kickass groovy instrumental rock, with some stellar performances from all the musicians on the album. Probably the most accessible inclusions of wind instruments and violin I've ever heard as well
My spouse's absolute loathing for one of The Mother's of Invention albums on here had me prepared to loathe this, but, it wasn't bad. Probably because it was primarily instrumental. There are moments of obnoxiousness, which I think is basically Zappa's intentional default state. And really, there's no excuse for working with Captain Beefheart, but I agree his appearance here is probably his best aural effort on record. It'd probably still be better without him. I think that whole song is a bit sus, tbh.
Interesting. No, better than that. Pretty fricken good. Like a soundtrack to a seventies movie, with cops and pimps, big cars and fast women. Zappa gets a four!
Very much enjoyed this! Sometimes instrumental albums are underrated and this was just funky in lots of good ways!
Yeah that was fun.
My only preconceived notion about Frank Zappa was he was a weird guy from the 60s so I had no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this album. Pretty much rocks front to back, band is super tight, and production is top notch. I often get bored when there’s no lyrics but but the music is more than interesting enough to keep my attention. I’m always hesitant to overrate an album after 1 listen so I’ll stick with a 3 but it might be a 4
3.5 Musicianship is on another level and very interesting. Maybe too interesting to be on a regular rotation for me.
this is just not it for me
This one was interesting, I think I liked it. Really like the instrumental mix and unique rhythm sounds. One I would like to listen to again though. And some of the line longer songs seem to stretch on with too little variation. Anyways, would listen to again.
Pas pire foreal!
I don't known if it's the fact that this is a solo album for Zappa, or that he just found a different, more listenable sound at some point, but this is so much better than The Mothers of Invention album I had before. For one, it's coherent. For another, it has some great jamming, which I'll never turn down. I do kinda wish some of the tracks were shorter, but I can't really complain. Zappa's a weird dude, and I didn't particularly love "Willie the Pimp." I got the impression that he was doing a black voice, and any song about pimps or whatever just is a little off-putting. Bummer, because it has some of the best solos of the whole album. Overall, it was fine. Didn't blow me away, and honestly lost my attention at time. Three stars. Also why the hell is it called "Hot Rats"? What a gross name. Standout Tracks: The Gumbo Variations
Great one
I love Frank Zappa regardless but I have never listened to this album and I'm not the biggest fan of prog but this is special, so fun to listen to.
I’ve tried time and time again to get into Zappa. As a massive music junky, I feel like a failure for not resonating with Zappa in his prime. Again, it’s that brain-jazz barrier that refuses to meet within my noggin. I can totally see the appeal. Objectively, it’s no doubt that this is some great stuff, but subjectively, my brain is eagerly awaiting to move on. I think eventually Zappa will wiggle his way to my frontal cortex and everything will click, but I’m not there yet. I will say though, it’s crazy this came out in 1969. 3.6/5
This exercise is challenging assumptions I've had about myself for a very long time... I thought I enjoyed all types of music... I guess I was wrong... Or maybe I just really hate meandering instrumentals, jazz, blues, bluesy jazz, jazz-infused blues, folk anything, and *gulp* rumba - which, based on the first 60 albums reviewed, makes up about a fifth of this list. Hopefully, this has been just an unfortunate randomization of the algorithm and not a foreboding of what the next 3.6 years will be like.
Is this what good jazz is? It’s better than the rest of the jazz albums popping up these past couple weeks. It still tests my patience. It got old real quick. I’m going to be generous here because I found the first song rather favorable.
Man, I don't get it. Less obnoxious than the worst music I’ve heard from frank zappa, but still just really gross and unpleasant at best and boring at worst. I just don’t think he’s very funny?
Spectacular! I have a new appreciation for Zappa as a musician and composer.
This is a beautiful, essential instrumental record. It’s Zappa at his most musical, a jazz-rock masterpiece with crazy good arrangements and some of the best playing of his career. The sound of this album is insane for its time: super clear, layered, and way ahead of most rock records back then. The opener “Peaches en Regalia” is one of his most iconic moments ever, bright, melodic, full of life and it pulls you right into the world of the album. From there, the whole record becomes this mix of jazz brain and rock attitude: long solos, tight grooves, weird details everywhere, and yet it always feels controlled and purposeful. The only track with vocals, “Willie the Pimp,” still feels like part of the same world, just louder, dirtier, and built around that rough Captain Beefheart vocal while Zappa goes wild on guitar. The rest of the album keeps building that mood, and the closer “It Must Be a Camel” feels like the perfect ending, dreamy, strange, almost like you’re waking up from the trip. It’s one of the best-sounding albums of its era, packed with creative ideas, sharp playing, and solos that never feel boring. A true classic.
Felt a bit like a carnival. Inventive. But feels like straightforward 70’s rock as well.
Clown music made by an absolute clown. It was too easy to be 'freaky' in the 60's, no wonder boomers are scared of everything now. White guys who think going 'doot doot doot' over a splashy drum part is jazz love this. Peaches en pretense legitimately made me say 'fuck off' out loud twice. Anyone who describes an album as 'a movie for your ears' would be utterly and rightly ridiculed these days. Man would have to be in the top 5 of people I'd least like to have at a dinner party. As is frequently the case with reviewers, looks like again only Christgau got it right.
Zappa had had a falling out of sorts with his band, and he wanted a new direction for his solo work. Jazz fusion was an interesting choice as any, and it ended up working out well for him. However, this is still an atypical album for him, because he mostly plays it 'normal'. Normal for Zappa is, of course, still pretty out there. Long guitar solos, weird song structures, use of unexpected instrumentation... he even had to make his own 16-track recording desk. But aside from some vocals from Captain Beefheart on Willie The Pimp, it's lacking both the satirical lyrics and the music concrète elements that Zappa is known for. The songs are also too darn long. Tangent: Beefheart is both in character and strangely subdued. I know that sounds impossible, but it's true. Favourite Song: Peaches en Regalia Least Favourite: The Gumbo Variations Strong Bad Demerit Count: 0 (No, Beefheart's weird noises don't count)
Not an album to listen to while sick with flu.
I didn't think I would like this album given my last few Zappa experiences, but this was pretty enjoyable.
Some pretty decent jams, probably more enjoyable live versus on a studio recording
Jan 29, 2025 (listened part in an airport waiting area, part while taking off) HL: “Peaches En Regalia”, “Son of Mr. Green Genes”, “The Gumbo Variations”, “It Must Be a Camel” From the 1st 5 seconds of Hot Rats I was once again reminded to expect the unexpected from Zappa Some of the songs (looking at you, “Gumbo” and “Willie”) were a bit testing, but the lengthy solos were in retrospect pretty awesome Was bracing myself for harsh noise à la the Mothers’ other two albums on this list, but it never came
Hmmmm. Not really my thing. It’s OK in small doses, but as an album there’s just too much of it. One listen was enough.
Feels both very funky, jazzy, and avant garde... there were moments in songs that I really enjoyed (parts of Peaches en Regalia beginning & motif, Willie the Pimp riff & guitar solo towards the end, Little Umbrellas) and there were other parts that I really didn't enjoy (most of the chaos in Gumbo Variations) listening to. Not knowing the history of this album, I could see how this album influences other artists and music. It does feel very defining.
2.5 - would’ve been closer to 4 stars but I really didn’t like the second song
Like the instrumental songs well enough, but eh
Bit Jazzy
Soundtrack songs
Interesting music.
I haven't listened to this album forever--I used to like Zappa and the Mothers a lot when I was teenager. This albums starts off as a psychelic trip with Peaches Regalia--I always found it astounding that Zappa didn't do drugs based on their sound. Like many Zappa albums, this is often instrumental, like a rock orchestra. I'm not sure if it's the best place to start on Zappa--he has dozens of albums. But it's certainly one of the better ones from what I remember. I didn't like it as much as a teenager--I preferred Joe's Garage back then. But it's great to relisten to this as an adult--I think my appreciation has grown for the sounds.
C:7.5 Thin mix leaves me longing for more depth and bassiness and richness. Really successful at creating climactic moments in music. That keeps it from being one of those albums that sounds more fun to make than listen to. There's a sense of adventure and anticipation throughout the album that keeps it exciting. nice use of electronics and weird lil sounds particularly in Son of Mr. Green Genes
This one is Zappa but instrumental (with the exception of the beginning of "Willie The Pimp", where some dude named Captain Beefheart sings for a bit). This is his first solo album, and it's very different than Freak Out! This is basically a jazz album, though definitely a bit more on the jazz rock side. It's like if Steely Dan were way less smooth and more experimental. I'm always bad at rating this type of thing. I'll take everyone's word that it was revolutionary (they did seem to get this very big sound from only a few musicians, which is impressive), but to me it was just good. Enjoyable, that's all. Favorite song: Peaches En Regalia Other: Willie The Pimp, The Gumbo Variations 1/24/25
Every song is a gem. Incredible playing
That was fun! I love HOT RATS 4/5
I really liked the first few songs, but the longer jam songs started giving me anxiety lol.
Don't care for it
From what I knew of Frank Zappa I expected this to be a difficult listen. I was surprised with how much I really enjoyed it! Creative and solid energy all throughout.
Zappa has soooo many albums but this is the one to own. This is Zappa coming into his own
Groovy, mostly instrumental, easy listening. After some searching, some highlights were his work ethic (60 albums in 30 years), guitar skills (said by Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to be the best guitarist ever), and this genre being prog rock featuring unique composition and drum chops. Honestly, just sounds like musicians having fun and going off so I fw it.
Either a 2 or a 3. The music is good, I just really prefer songs with lyrics. I also prefer shorter songs. 12 minutes really is too long for one song.
Listening to this made me very sad in a way music has not in a very long time. A uniquely joyless experience.
My feelings about my father are complicated. It's hard for me to look past his immense failures as a father. There are so many memories though of the times that he clued me in to who he was as a person. Really early on, before my friends started playing Amish Paradise, I remember my dad having Weird-Al In 3-D on cassette. I don't remember him ever playing it but I remember inheriting it after. I also remembered that he used to joke that he wanted to name me Dweezil or something like it because of Frank Zappa. I've always kept Zappa at a distance because of my father. It was a step too far into his realm. When I listened to this, I went into the basement and smoked half a joint and tried to build a coat rack out of spare lumber and screws only to give up after 15 minutes because it was too hard to do without a bench vice. In that moment, I had a perfect transcendental experience. I saw the beauty in the futility of our lives. I saw the depths of Zappa beyond the wonton crassness. I saw the depths of my father beyond all the pain he caused me into the pain that was caused to him. I saw who I was as a person and came to terms with it. (Also, it just fucking whipped. I'm going to go listen to it again.)
I will say that there are definitely some fun little guitar jams on this album, but I need a little more than that, especially for the length of the songs. Only having one track with vocals, singing about a pimp, and drowning out a funky lead guitar riff? Come on, man. If jazz psychedelia is your thing, then go for it, but this is not even close to an album that I would intentionally put on for anything other than background noise.
I haven’t spent a deep amount of time with Zappa and have had it on the list for a while. And this album…look it’s jazz funk fusion wankery but god is it done well. I think the thing that keeps me into all of this is how propulsive the tunes are. There’s a LOT going on, and that makes sense for Frank, but it’s always moving forward. It’s a continuous groove, which keeps you in the rollercoaster. The first side is probably my favorite, with “Peaches en Regalia” as a perfect table setter for Beefheart’s cameo on the riff-fest that is “Willie the Pimp”. But “Son of Mr. Green Genes” is my favorite of the whole album - it just has a gorgeous groove and counterpoint, with the chorus feeling like a psychedelic big band. The second half is a bit less cohesive, though “The Gumbo Variations” builds really well around the funky swampy vibe. For an artist whose output is both prodigious and intimidating, this is a heck of a great album to dive into. Not perfect by any means but this is one I’d return to if I needed to just vibe out. And it makes me want to explore more of Zappa and the Mothers.
the big frank! probably his least obnoxious album? even the other mostly instrumental ones have some hokey bullshit, this one sticks to the jazz-rock outside of a Beefheart verse. seeing dweezil zappa live was one of the more formative experiences i've had as far as getting into more experimental music & i got VERY into zappa stuff for a while after that. this album has always stood out to me as the most """"sophisticated"""" he ever got while still infusing his sense of comedy into the composition (like the never-ending ending of Gumbo Variations or the stupid blues mellotron thingy on Green Genes). there's glimpses of jams like this on some of his other records but nothing quite matches the spontaneous cohesion of the band on this 5 stars for the multiple violin solos & Beefheart screaming one of my alltime favorite openings to an album too update: listened to this 4 times over the weekend and fully cemented my rating; Willie the Pimp has one of my favorite gtr solos period & Peaches has that legit emotional range brother. also did you know that's not Zappa on the cover
It's like they took all the unused notes from the rest of 1969s albums and put them in this. Honestly, if you're out there jamming with your friends and having a blast, awesome. But we don't need to hear you all jerking off together.
Freaky!
My dad had this on vinyl and the image stayed with me. I always assumed it was just mad, but it turned out to be some quite nice instrumental jazz.
I was not expecting an almost instrumental chaotic jazz album, but it was still pretty good. I think I'm going to need to give this one another listen to full appreciate it. Mid 4.
Neat
Before he really went into the weird-sphere, Zappa and company really nailed this (mostly) instrumental tour de force. Jazzy, sprawling, jammy, and clever, a good Zappa to showcase his genius in a more digestible way, including guests Lowell George and Capt. Beefheart himself
It might not deserve a 5 but I've had to listen to 2 albums by The Fall in the last 3 days so this sounds like a flawless album.
Zappa's second solo album is one of his best ones in his catalogue. The musicianship is so great on it - it's jazz fusion at its best, a big jam, accessible enough to enjoy it, detailed and layered, jolly in some ways and also unsettling in others. It would make a great movie soundtrack too. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Jams
1/2
Me encantó los toques de jazz, a pesar de nos er muy fan de los álbumes instrumentales, este me gustó mucho
I think there is a point at which you are trying too hard. And this album is three avant-garde saxophone solos over that threshold.
Finally some Zappa!! 5
Jazz meets rock'n'roll. Mostly an instrumental piece of work that synthesises jazz with rock sounds. Piano, guitar riffs, saxophones etc. Interesting sound. Not sure I would listen to it again but I appreciate the originality of the sound and the experimentation that Zappa boldly pursued.
willie the pimp!
I normally like a nice rock album but this was not it for me. I’m usually more of a lyrics than sound person so listening to a 13 minute song with almost no lyrics at all is just not it for me. I did enjoy the sound of the album but when the songs are that long it gets old fast and starts to give the same feeling of listening to an electronic album.
there's an article that the Hard Times did where they made up a story about Ten and how it was recorded, making outlandish claims and just sort of taking details from hit movies because the actual recording of Ten is so unremarkable and bog standard that actually telling people about it would put them to sleep. basically, Pearl Jam started after the death of Andrew Wood broke up Mother Love Bone. Eddie Vedder got his hands on a copy of the instrumental demo that Stone Gosser and Jeff Ament recorded, wrote some lyrics for the record after going surfing on the idyllic San Diego coast, and went to go to Seattle to start a band. They then recorded the album and released it. that's it. ideally, a wholly fictional biopic about the recording of Hot Rats would go like this: Frank Zappa, exhausted by the high vocal strain and experimental material of Uncle Meat decided to strip back his recording process. However, recording was fraught with issues, as several members of the band disagreed with Zappa on his much tamer and less humorous tendencies, with particular contention on the lack of his iconic vocals on any part of the song. as a result, only two of the Mothers of Invention are on the record, necessitating its billing as a solo album. a revolving door of studio musicians butted heads with Zappa and his perfectionist attitudes, with Captain Beefheart and Zappa coming to blows several times. eventually, the album was released, with months upon months of hard work creating a modern classic. it proves that true art comes from strife and passion, both working against each other and intertwining. how it was actually recorded: Frank Zappa wrote a bunch of songs, wanted to release them solo after the first incarnation of the Mothers of Invention broke up, and brought in a bunch of studio musicians to help, and when he was done recording after a month in the studio, he released the album. that's it. all the songs on the record are good and even people who aren't charmed by Zappa's obnoxious lure think it's great. can you imagine that? going into a studio, thinking "i'm gonna make my best album ever with zero hitches or interesting facts or sordid tales behind it, then release it"? nothing happened, it all worked out, and everyone loves it. honestly, i kind of hate him for it. i feel like i just watched the meanest girl at school push a kid in a wheelchair out of the path of a runaway bus. you always assume theyre capable of it, but also it just feels like an event God made manifest to piss you off in particular. fuck you Frank, fuck you and your really good album.
Simply one of the best "Fusion" records of all time. Nothing for the genre focused, but an expression of freedom from convention. If they'd just reconsidered the bass drum sound on Peaches...
3.5*
I enjoyed this more than I expected. Never been a huge fan of Zappa but this was quite good
Banger!
Fumadón saxofónico
Mira, usualmente FZ no es de mi gusto, pero este disco y todas sus incursiones en el jazz me van de maravilla.
Fantastic instrumentals, especially Zappa's guitar work. 3.5/5
Good guitar
exceptional zappa
music that is great for restaurants
Mingus-esque songwriting and arranging with Duane Allman-esque jam band sensibilities. It's like mixing plaid with stripes; it takes a genius to pull it off. Zappa is certainly a genius. But I love plaid and dislike stripes. One either enjoys listening to jam bands or one doesn't. If, like me, you don't, then regardless of how great you think his mind-blowing heads and arrangements are, the 80-85% percent of this album occupied by self-indulgent soloing is just taxing.
la prima canzone sembra l’intro di un gioco sulla wii o nintendo, e non è per niente male! musicalmente prima canzona super approvata, strana ma bella. Anche la seconda molto bella! Non mi è piaciuta molto “The Gumbo Variations”. Nella sua interezza un album che apprezzo molto, certe canzoni più di altre, è un bell’album strumentale, ne avevo anche bisogno per studiare! Sono felice che recentemente mi propongono album mega diversi dal mio genere ideale e mi piacciono tutti!
Interesting, seems to be incredible in a genre I don't understand enough of
I didn’t get any Zappa as a kid because it wasn’t on the radio. I had to hear it as an adult when I could afford the albums. Too bad I missed a lot. This was great to hear again.
One of Zappa's greatest albums.
Artiste connu de nom, mais jamais écouté. Bonne surprise, 5 morceaux sur 6 sont instrumentaux, avec des bonnes parties d'improvisation réussies. Je m'attendais à un disque plus barré, on m'avais vanté FZ comme un compositeur de musique très expérimentale. Là on un album plutôt typé jazz/rock de bonne facture. Par contre je trouve que le son a assez mal vieilli, je ne suis pas sûr d'intégrer cet album à ma collection. En tous cas il me donne envie de découvrir d'autres albums de cet artiste. =>3.5/5
My uncultured mind can't separate this from elevator music.
Oh, thank God, another Zappa album. Granted, this one has "Peaches En Regalia", a great composition that I really enjoy. The rest of the album takes that virtuosity and turns it into faux-Jazz wankery. As an alternative, I might suggest the album "Flex-Able", by Zappa alum Steve Vai. It's weird and has it's fair share of wankery, but at least it's not another Frank Zappa record. I'll throw "Hot Rats" and extra half-star because it spares us from Zappa's ridiculous lyrics and singing.
I really liked some of this. Not enough to rate it higher than a 3. Parts are actually annoying, but the good parts make up for it.
9/10
Started off well but the 11 minute song was not fun. Went a little too hard on the instruments.
I dont know much ab frank Zappa but I feel like if theres ppl out there who make frank Zappa their entire personality, I kind get it.
4/10 - There was a lot of interesting stuff but not necessarily in a good way. It was a lot of Frank just messing around on the guitar. Some of it sounded like it could be in a video game especially the beginning of Son of Mr. Green Genes.
Responding to Iniyaa’s review on the last album, yea I read the reviews, and I also put off albums that are on this list. This was one of the albums I’d been putting off, since I’d heard a lot about frank zappa and never really had any idea who he was. After listening I think he deserves all the hype he gets from music snobs. This was good
For a lot of people I suspect Frank Zappa provokes a Love him! or Can’t stand him! reaction. I’m neither. Call me Mister Middle. I’m pleased to say I loved the album! https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-hot-rats-by-frank-zappa?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Jazzy and funky instrumentals, but did not like the lyrics in the song that had it. Felt more like background music.
So unexpected. So bizarre. On first listen, I was waiting for vocals for too long and just really thrown by the whole experience, so I needed another listen to form an actual opinion. And it's really great. It's a hard listen if you don't know what you're in for, but if you accept it as more of a score than a soundtrack, you can really enjoy this.
Much better than the other Zappa album. This was a fun take on jazz
This shit is wild
The only Zappa i knew was some questionable satirical Blues rock. So this was awesome and very unexpected
I've always liked this album but I've never counted it among my favorite Zappa albums. I think now I have to. It's really great and I'm glad I had a chance to give it a close listen. I sometimes love orchestral meandering groove Zappa even more than pointed poppy satirist Zappa. Today is one of those times.
Not as weird as I expected which was a pleasant surprise. Definitely interesting and enjoyable but for me it's a little difficult to get really invested in the album when there's no lyrics because the songs all tend to merge.
Polarising album for me, really liked some songs (Willie the pimp) but disliked others (gumbo variations)
Great thinking music
not quite a 5 but we love frank zappa in this household
You know those scenes in the 70s and 80s Disney movies like Robinhood where they are just running around or fighting a slapstick type battle ... This is probably the band that was playing the back ground music. Lucky for them, I love Disney's Robinhood.
1969 was such a good year for music. I don’t know why I haven’t listened to Zappa much, I thought he was more influential than good to listen to. First two songs especially were seriously fun. Definitely room for more Zappa in my life 4.5/5
Loved this, felt like I was in a 70s movie. Jazz/blues element kept it really interesting- would go back
Agree with others who have said this feels like a score to a movie that doesn’t exist. Did like large swaths of this. But the few times someone started singing I was aggressively turned off. 3/5
Good guitar in this. But other than that 😬
Best fusion album that has hit my ears since Bitches Brew. A wonderful combo of the worlds and a great introduction into the wacky world of Frank Zappa.
It's very fun. Solid listen Will I listen to again: 100%
Just a massive Jam session
Enjoy the ‘satirical meets impressive musical proficiency’ that’s included in nearly every Zappa project.
Shits groovy as
This is #day131 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how about "a movie for your ears"? Honestly, this is my first time listening to Zappa, and if it weren't for this challenge, I probably wouldn't have. But I don't mind that I did, because now I know more. This album is a virtuosic, funky fusion, very much of the '60s and the hippie era. And I'm definitely into that. Plus, the album cover is just awesome. I'm giving it a strong 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day132.
Whilst jazz fusion does make me break out in a rash, this was miles better than the other Frank Zappa stuff I've heard.
Certainly an interesting listen; didn't hate it, but can't see myself going back to it any time soon.
Good, but not as great as they'd become.
I would describe it as Jazz rock. More enjoyable than Jazz, but after a while still a bit much
Zappa can make some music, but this isn't my thing.
Me and my mates used to listen to Zappa a lot as teenagers thinking he was just like us. Imagine our disappointment when we discovered he was an anti-drug teatotaller! Oh well his music is pretty amazing as is its scope. Great guitarist too.
It's cool for what it is, but I don't find it too exciting or emotionally gripping so it doesn't quite become memorable for me
normal beats
Solid instrumentation and just crazy enough lyrics
I was prepared for Mother of Invention level of wierdness but it was just a generally well put together effort.
This has a real meandering, jam band feel to it which normally puts me off. But there was something about this energy that hooked me. I liked it way more than I though I would. Gumbo Variation drags on a bit longer than needed perhaps, but overall just a great time.
Top, top album.
Oh! Frank Zappa! Now there's a recording artist one is *supposed* to really like but I've always struggled with his work. This album is in my collection, but I cannot remember the last time I played it. Time to break it out for a play...I think I originally bought this because Captain Beefheart does vocal on Willie the Pimp, which is my favourite track here. The rest of the album's tracks are instrumental, and with strong jazz-rock leanings I'm ambivalent about them.
Pure unadulterated bliss, 5 stars every day
Good in a weird way
Mostly instrumental only. Tough on the ears; not an album you need to hear twice; great musicianship, but rock jazz fusion is not easy to enjoy.
5.5/10. The second track is pretty good but too avant garde for my tastes. Kind of sounds like background music but the guitar is very well done throughout
Pure genius. Completely unapologetic Zappa fan here. This album kicks so much fucking ass. Some of the downright nastiest most disgusting playing ever comitted to tape is here. I wouldn't be surprised if all 6 of these songs were recorded in 6 different studios, due to the previous studio abruptly burning down after the song finished. The perfect album to either get lost in and let fade into the background, or to meticulously pick apart the many instruments playing I was high as fuck for this album (and still am) and I gotta say, that was a fantastic experience
It's ok. The songs are really long and I have to be in the right mood for this kind of music.
Really enjoyed it!
This is just a party in an album, and like all parties they die eventually. That happened for me when they brought the horn out in The Gumbo Variations.
One of my favourite albums. It was my first introduction to Zappa, and I think it is for a lot of people. It is almost entirely instrumental, but also tuneful, jazzy and pleasant to listen to. If you only ever listen to one Zappa album, this is it.
5 stars without a doubt!
Steaming Rodents
I don't usually listen to this genre, but I liked it
This indeed felt like a movie
experimental, but not annoyingly. quite early for something like this, it doesnt really sound like anything else at this time. Not too many downsides, the long song drags on quite a bit. Favorite song: last one Overall around 7/10
Sounds like a guitarist who won't shut up while we all wait to start rehersal
Idk one of those technically good but not for me ones 2/5
I've always avoided Zappa, as his stuff was always just a bit too weird and experimental for my tastes. But this album was great. Really enjoyed most of it, especially Willie the Pimp. I swear I've heard that sampled somewhere....
I'm not going to question Frank Zappa's talent, because I believe he is very talented. With that said, let me be brutally honest here: "Hot Rats" is a mess and doesn't represent even 1% of Zappa as an artist. It was 6 unpleasant tracks to listen to, I almost thought I wouldn't finish it. I don't intend to listen to it again, whether by my own will or someone's recommendation. I don't think Frank Zappa is a bad artist, he's just maybe not the kind of artist I want to listen to at the moment.
Cool album. I don't think I'll want to hear it often, but when presented with it, I enjoy it.
Awesome
Hoeveel ik Frank Zappa als artiest en alles waar hij voor staat in dat wereldje, zijn muzikale traject valt altijd net een beetje buiten mijn preferenties. Zijn anti-jazz is uniek, komisch, prikkelend en zeer kundig, maar het is ook erg uitdagend. Het vraagt wel erg veel van iemand die allergisch is voor 5 minuten aan ''doelloos'' gerammel. Maar dat neemt niet weg dat hij op dit album wel een beetje breekt met die trend, en zowaar langere prog-jazz/rock op de mat legt die wel aanspreekt. 'Willie The Pimp' is gewoon een banger, en Captain Beefheart's featuring is echt precies wat de track nodig had. En 'The Gumbo Variations' grooved behoorlijk. Maar over de gehele lengte is het gewoon niet écht mijn dingetje, al doet het een goede poging me over te halen. 6,5/10 Highlights: Willie The Pimp The Gumbo Variations
Dit is zo onwijs muzikaal. Het is rock 'n roll infused met jazz. Het is experimenteel maar ik vind het geen moment vervelend om naar te luisteren. Tuurlijk is het geen smooth-jazz maar ik vind het juist tof dat je de zoektocht van Zappa hoort naar de lijntjes. Soms is het daarbinnen, dan weer net daarbuiten. Ook al is het niet een album wat je iedere dag wel een keer wilt opzetten, de muzikaliteit spat hier vanaf en dat vind ik heerlijk tussen al dat hardrock-geweld waar ik me -eigen schuld- nog doorheen moet ploeteren. 6,5/10 Highlights Willie the Pimp The Gumbo Variations
Classic Zappa
Great music for in the background, but didn't really strike me and keep my attention
Intermittently interesting hippie noodling.
Nice! Will play it again.
9/10. Fantastic and consistently fantastic all the way through. Actually gets better throughout I’d say.
Liked it a lot! Refreshing and nice with jazz.
A new favorite
most of this is bluesier than i like, and i worry i'll never learn what makes a jazz record objectively good vs. not good, but "peaches en regalia" is quite lovely
Did not expect a mostly instrumental album. Not soothing enough for thinking/working music. But it’s ok.
3.5 After the laborious, 2.5 hour, drums and bass exercise of yesterday, I just wanted something palatable and easy. Then I got Frank Zappa. My heart dropped. I don’t like Zappa. But I fought on anyways, bc that’s the project! Turns out - this is actually pretty good! It’s just jazz Zappa, not troll Zappa. Is this what they call “acid jazz?” I liked it! There’s a couple moments where he gets silly and annoying but for the most part this is straight forward instrumentals that I honestly quite enjoyed!!!
I feel like I've gone into a jazz bar on acid
not my fav Zappa album but it’s actually quite lovely.
Ah, the genius that is Frank Zappa. My dad was a huge fan, but I'd never heard this album until now. Favourite tracks: Peaches En Regalia, Willie The Pimp, Little Umbrellas.
PEACHES EN REGALIA IS A FIVE STAR TUNE
most sane Frank Zappa album
What a relief! Was dismayed to see Frank show up after suffering through a Mothers of Invention album last week. This album is a pleasant, mainly instrumental, bit of jazzy psychedelic rock music. Turns out not having Frank’s vocals was an essential improvement. Impressive guitar work here.
Good, solid rock
That's not my taste in music. But ok. Psychedelic.
Tering, wat een gitaar
Interesting listen from 1969
🎶Jazz Fart, Jazz Fart Everybody’s listening to the Jazz Fart🎶
It's fine to listen to. Jazzy
Really incredible technical album. Can't say I loved it?
Expansive, out there and pretty engaging. The extensive soloing is the strength; even the limited vocals are borderline too much. This can be read as indulgent but one finds it mostly interesting. Weird and a touch ironic that this would be his commercial height. Good to know this one, which bears further listening.
Didn't hate it half as much as I expected. No desire to listen again but enjoyable as a one-off
The sound of a funky soul at peace
feeeling the fun
headache
Again, because I'm in a good mood today.
I love instrumental Zappa
I mean, fine for what it is -- essentially a jam album. It's just not MY jam.
I fell asleep.
Sounded like chaotic jazz.
It feels so forced to sound that goofy it is unbearable. A lot of technique, not that much reason.
very instrumental...
This was fine, but not sure why this was on this list.
I love Zappa here will always be a moment or two that will put me off a little on most of his albums, but not this one. Everything just feels right on Hot Rats.
Love me some peaches!
Hot Rats is a game changer in the music industry for its innovation, but also in my life, because it made me fall in love the creative world of Frank Zappa. I remember listening to Peaches En Regalia for the first time and being completely blown away by how original and unique it was. A top tier album to me.
frank zappa with a featuring from captain “my voice is gruff” beefheart? count me in. the horn is jazzy, the riffs are fresh. its a well composed instrumental album. frank zappa 4ever.
Frank Zappa is Drank Zappa
I'm not even sure what this was, but I liked it.
I really liked it. It was very diverse and very unique and i like dthe fusion of Rocky elements and jazz
I love going back to this album. It starts with a bang and doesn't let down. Hearing Captain Beefheart on "Willie the Pimp" got me to thinking "Bongo Fury," so that album got a listening, too. Amazing.
Rock jazz done the way only Zappa could do it. You'll love it or hate it, and I do rather love it.
Hver þarf syngjandi Frank Zappa þegar maður hefur svona skemmtilegan instrúmental Frank Zappa. Fjarki í hús.
Awful 60s psychodelic nonsense
Insanely listenable
Actually quite nice. I didn't love the vocals that were present, but the instrumentals are quite fun to listen to. I could see myself revisiting this one. 'Peaches En Regalia' was quite fun to listen to and wins my fave spot.
Certified hood classic
Jeg forventede noget sjovt. Men fik filmisk jazz. Willie the pimp er ret sej selvom den er 9 minutter lang. Det var nok noget i den retning jeg havde forventet hele albummet ville være. 🤷 Ikke albummets skyld, men det er svært at score højt når man skuffer. 🙃
Zappa er et af de ikoner jeg aldrig har fået lyttet til, og et af dem jeg har set frem til kom på listen. Men han er nok også et af dem jeg har frygtet mest, for hvor underlig og udfordrende er hans musik egentlig? På Hot Rats må svaret være: lidt. Det er jazzet, groovende og sjovt. Men det afstøder mig ikke. Særligt de to førsg numre er virkelig gode.
I’ve listened to Zappa before, but never anything like this. Love the psychedelic jazz! I get why Zappa’s music isn’t for everyone, but based on just raw talent alone he might have been GOAT-level.
Not really my thing. But for what it was it was brilliant.
I’ve never heard Frank Zappa before but I think if I had to guess I’d have expected it to be exactly this
This was not that great. Very 70s. Felt corny.
This is terrible.
I always enjoy Franks music.
There was some good stuff, it was just a bit lackluster
Enjoyable. First track is a standout
hot rats make me crazy
5.5/10
Frank Zappa is cutting edge for today's music. 6/5
File this under "Albums that are too much fun". The whole thing just shreds and kicks your ass. From the gorgeous opener, to Zappa making love to his guitar over Beefheart's growls, it's just so good. Iconic album cover too, what doesn't this album have?
no notes
Hot
1. The most energetic elevator music I have ever heard 2. Absolutely anxiety-inducing. Couldn't listen to all 9+ minutes 3. This sounds like music for a chase scene shoehorned into a 70s porn. Would have been fine listening to it for a minute until the next scene, not any longer 4. Too many musicians playing different songs at the same time. Not enjoyable 5. If yaks went to blues bars, this would be their favorite saxophone riff. I, as a not yak, am unfortunately not the target audience for this song 6. I like Scandinavian Jazz, French Cafe Jazz, Hard Bop, Cool Jazz, and Jazz Trio (guitar-led AND piano-led). I do not like Anxiety Jazz, which is a genre I hadn't heard until now. Hard pass on this album, and I fail to understand why it's on this list. Perhaps for inventing Anxiety Jazz..?
So Zappa is like the original jam band guy? But with trumpets? Dislike. And I was really bummed to see another entry featuring one of the only artists I've given one-star on this list (Captain Beefheart). Blech.
An unexpected classic!
valamiért mindig sokkal punkabbnak hittem Zappát mint amilyen ez volt, valszeg a feje tehet róla. :D szóval kicsit váratlanul ért, amit kaptam, de igen jó cucc ez, csodálatosan van megcsinálva zeneileg, és némelyik bass lineba szerelmes vagyok 😎
I really liked this, but it could either be annoying or really great - 3.5/5 Standout tracks: - Peaches in Regalia 5/5 I'm obsessed - The gumbo variations 2/5, the saxaphone in this was horrific
Trop cool l'album, que des solos et impros très intéressantes avec la magie et le génie de Zappa. wow
Very vivaby. Very jam band.
Zappa in general I am in to, but I don't know, for some reason I wasn't really feeling this particular flavor of jazz fusion this morning. In general though this is a great and important record. I'm in to it.