Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Alvin and the Chippunks
Some of it I liked but also lost patience at times.
Over the top, even for Zappa.
I oscillated on this one, but in the end, I just don't like Zappa very much. (Sorry Dad).
Zappa just seems like he's trying to be so counterculture and so opposite of anything mainstream that the average listener would have a hard time enjoying any of what they hear. This album is hard to listen to. 1 star for sticking to his gun throughout his career and another star for musicianship. Outside of that this is shit garbage.
Not for me
Loppu motivaatio kesken.
I like there other album idk its weird and provactive if i was a teenager in the late sixties i would love it, but im not so its gettin 2 stars
last night i was really high and the noise my friends made sounds exactly like the goblins voices in the middle of the last music The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny.
This is such a difficult one. Some gold in there, but buried in some unlistenable pap. I don't the time or patience for another listen.
It feels like a big joke. Maybe it is. Either way, I didn’t really connect with it.
After a few minutes I wanted to stamp on my speakers, it was fucking awful. Then, bizarrely, your mind sort of adjusts to it and it's not quite as awful. I can't say that it ever reached the heights of me enjoying it, but I made it all the way through which seemed unlikely.
Maybe one's just being a square but this sounds less profound or biting than indulgent and annoyingly preachy and self-satisfied with its own quippiness. They are trying too hard (taking themselves more seriously than the hippies they accuse of the same sin/crime). Comparing themselves to the Beatles (which is obvs what they are doing) is self-flattery of the rankest and least justifiable sort. And anyway mocking Sgt Peppers and Hey Joe is supposed to be blazingly original? One could see it being the most influential album of the week it came out, but can't even remotely credit editorial claim in book that this was one of the most influential albums of the second half of the 20th century. Perhaps it sought to call as much attention to itself as any other album ... And too bad FZ didn't let a few of the neat little melodies play out as pop songs, because after all he is a pop musician, not Howard Zinn or Ralph Nader or Lenny Bruce or ...
I love the concept of Zappa and what he stood for, but his music just doesn't gain the same purchase.
Bleh. Elska zappa en þetta fannst mér boring.
I think this was necessary for musical growth, experimentation and development. But that dint mean I gits to like it.
conceptually interesting but extremely strange. not suited for easy listening and not catchy. tough to listen to casually but at least weird enough to be notable
I didn't hate this album but I don't like it much either. I did chuckle at a few of the songs and their political barbs and mocking. The whispering part was okay once but just stop it after that. 2 stars only because I did laugh at the cultural satire. Otherwise, maybe not forgettable but definitely not one I'll be picking up again.
Too much stoned politics for me
What, in the blue blazes of fuck and all that is holy, is this?!? Madness. Not the band, the state of mind.
Best grappige stukjes, maar wel heel erg gefragmenteerd.
Didn’t get it. Too much
Silly to rate it like this because it clearly has ambitious, talent, and intelligence, but it felt like listening to a Monty Python/ Terry Gilliam skit for 40 minutes.
Too nerdy to be a parody. Too wacky to be a satire. To a casual listener, it offers nothing but a bunch of what sounds like poorly made aimless "experimental" tunes. I guess it's only a "must-listen" for its statement.
Kinda funny 2
Second Zappa offering in a row. Wanted to like it but it’s a bit of a hot mess. Has its good moments but not enough to put it in the good books I’m afraid.
This is the second Mothers of Invention album that I've reviewed. If this is anything like the first record, it's going to be super weird. Judging by the album art (which features Frank Zappa in a dress), I feel like I am right. There are a few call backs to their satirical Doo Wop musical stylings throughout the album. Also, portions of Concentration Moon sounds like it was sung by Petey the Sexual Harassment Panda from South Park.... So does Bow Tie Daddy. What's with the constant whispering throughout the whole record?? This whole record is a concept of sorts. It all runs together into one huge fucked up acid trip. When they decide to play music, it's actually good, such as in the song "Harry, You're a Beast". But half way through, they record someone snoring for 30 seconds, then play the rest of the song backwards. Clearly, as I said in my review of the first Mothers of Invention album I reviewed (Freak Out!), all of the drugs were consumed during the recording of this album. ALL OF THEM!!! Favourite songs: Let's Make The Water Turn Black, Absolutely Free, Lonely Little Girl Least favourite songs: Are You Hung Up?, Telephone Conversation, Hot Poop (fuck skits), Nasal Retentive Calliope Music, The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny (just noises and static). 2/5. I wasn't nearly high enough for that!!
Probably made more sense at the time
Can you say LSD?
Zappa is an amazing instrumentalist and composer. His guitar playing is awesome. I just can’t stand his songwriting. I get it’s supposed to be satirical but it just doesn’t hit to me. It either seems pretentious or juvenile. With this specific record, I get that they’re making fun of the hippie culture, but it really just comes off as “I don’t do drugs and that’s why I’m better than you”. The music itself is good though and I think it’s pretty ironic that they made some solid psych tracks.
As an album, I did not love this. Way too much randomness and "quirkiness" for this to beconsidered good for me. Sounds like a Ren Fair comedy sketch, which I also don't really care for. That being said, I actually liked Mom and Dad, and Absolutely Free, which saves it from 1 star.
This is so annoyingly incomprehensible. They got a little heart and that’s about all. The experimentation isn’t flushed out enough to give a unique and original sound while also being something people can enjoy listening to. It’s an entirely undigestible album. I usually enjoy Frank Zappa, and I understand he walks a fine line with his experimental stuff, but this is on the wrong side of that line. 2/5
A parody of 60s psychedelia and acid rock. I put this in the same class as comedy rock bands such as the Dead Milkmen, They Might be Giants, and Ween. They tend to be versatile parodying various styles of rock and pop of the era, topped with nonsense lyrics, usually with a somewhat forced and overemphasized vocal delivery. And in most cases, they tend to be hard to listen to. This one... isn't that bad to listen to with how short the tracks are. But with the technology at the time, it sounds dated, abrasive, and quite messy. I understand what they're trying to make fun of, but I find them to be only somewhat successful in delivering that message, even if that message takes the form on an assault on your ears. The value of this album is to see contemporary criticism of hippie culture and the silly subject matter of psychedelic music. And from that perspective, I think they could been smarter about how to parody the music. Instead of loudly forcing these effects and techniques on the audience, they could have slowed and toned things down, and mislead our expectations instead. This album is probably more important or interesting but less entertaining than Freak Out. Not a single song I would save, whereas Freak Out had several legitimately fun songs to listen to. Favorites: Who Needs the Peace Corps?, Absolutely Free
Better than Korn but not by much.
could i write poetry to this? n
Sorry Geof
this has got to be one of the weirdest albums. I’ve listened to. It wasn’t horrible in the sense that I thought it would be sure it was a lot of horrible noises but it could’ve been worse and I acknowledge that it was a joke however, I’m good with just once.
Similar feeling to my listening to Freak Out! just 2 weeks ago ... I like a lot of Zappa but later Zappa. This music is better than Freak Out! - but i'm not a fan of albums that base their entire existence on sarcasm. I'm sarcastic. I get it. But for me it doesn't carry a song, and definitely not an album. Plus this is a good way of making music sound dated. As it is the music has to drive the bus and even though it's getting there... it's not nearly enough to make this a favourite. Also... every song is like 2 minutes long. There's nothing to sink your teeth into. Of course this record is (in)famous for its mockery - that's the point - but it's not all that enjoyable outside of a novelty factor. Smart-ass album that is good for a few haha laughs but once again - give me jazz fusion Zappa. I hate giving bad ratings to Zappa but man it's also reminding me that when you release 700 albums, there's a good chance you've released a few hundred that aren't that good. He'll get there, but until then... 5/10 2 stars. p.s. Hot Poop.
I get it’s Zappa and it’s poking fun at the flower power 60s. I don’t mind a satire record, but at least make it listenable.
Found it pretty dang annoying to be honest. Too conceptual. Too much to say. Not enough just music. Sure there are some fun critiques and lots of musical talent, but like it’s not fun and doesn’t stand the test of time imo.
What’s the ugliest part of the album?
It's a great album. Kind of a psycho-punk-Beatles thing. Now I know who the great-grandfathers of Bloodhound gang were.
I listened to this album with headphones and now I have A HEADACHE!!!!!
Too weird
I preferred “Freak Out.”
Meandering weird elf music. No thanks.
Some Mothers I am ok with. Some I'm annoyed by. Most of this I was annoyed by.
I believe Zappa was known as an innovator - but nothing about this album interested me.
This is what the DARE program warned us of.
Not heard of this - late 60s rock. Sounds more modern than 1968. Not really my thing. 2/5.
Makes me wanna listen to sgt peppers :(
- irgendwie ganz witzig und erstaunlich kurzweilig - gleichzeitig auch nervig hier und da - bei einigen Referenzen zur Musik der 60er bzw. deren Parodie musste ich durchaus schmunzeln - die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass ich das Album nochmal höre ist eher gering Rating: 2,5/5
- Na Gott sei dank endlich wieder avantgarde - Der erste Teil des Album war durchaus erträglich, teilweise mit sehr coolen Parts - Mir kommt es von der Aufmachung und der Ausstrahlung der Platte auch so vor, als sei sie ihrer Zeit voraus gewesen. Die Snippets, die Leichtigkeit und das Arrangement sind alles total progressiv - Ab Mitte wirds teilweise sehr anstrengend bis unerträglich und die guten originellen Parts werden seltener - Zeugnis seiner Zeit und und Beweis für Frank Zappas weirdigkeit, kein absoluter Schrott. Hab aber auch keine Verbindung bekommen 2/5
Someone took too much acid and then decided to take more. Crazy songs, I can appreciate that it was probably unique for the time period. Would give it 2.5 stars only because it's a tough listen with all of the interludes.
This album did drugs and listened to me. WTF were some of these ramblings??? The lows were LOW and the highs were good. I think if they took out all of the junk, this would be a very solid 15 minute album.
This was a strange one. Was hoping to like it a lot more since I’ve really dug some of Zappa’s stuff we’ve listened to already. Definitely can appreciate the dogs at counterculture and hippies in humor even though it comes off as pretty pretentious. Would be willing to give this one another listen but first impression is meh.
Absolutely bonkers... I was expecting to hate this completely but it was amusing and has some moments between the madness. Still a 2* though haha
I am fully aware of the kind of album Frank Zappa and his band was capable of making. So as an introduction to the group, this isn’t the best way to make me want to listen to more of his music. This is a mix of psychedelic pop music, and experimental/satirical sound collages. It is supposed to be a concept album that parodies American hippie culture. And I was genuinely surprised at how heavy it leans into those sound collages. The amount of actual “music” here isn’t much. And the sound collages aren’t great. There is a lot of harsh cut-offs and scratches that kind of hurt my ears. I even thought maybe the 6 minute closing track, which is the longest by quite a bit, would be something really cool. But it was actually just 6 minutes of bits and boops. Random noises. The songs that are real music are okay. But not anything amazing. This tries to be a lot of different things at the same time, and it ends up just feeling like nothing. Rating: 3/10
Vraiment moyen. C'est quoi le but, faire un album comme sergeant pepper pour montrer que vous êtes capable aussi d'utiliser les sonorités ? J'adore frank zappa et sa musique, mais cet album est jute vraiment moyen. 2.25
Super odd album. Felt like I should’ve been on mushrooms to really understand it
Expectations were low for a Frank Zappa band’s album, but this wasn’t quite as bad as I thought it was going to be. That said, I thought it was going to be an easy 1 so the bar was pretty low and it’s still only a 2. I pretty immediately got what they were trying to do by satirizing The Beatles and psychedelic rock and hippie culture, but that does not mean it will make for a good album. It’s an interesting art piece worthy of a listen, but not something you’d want to play regularly I think. I can respect the parody, but it’s a tough pill to shallow satirizing the greatest band of all time.
This might have been funny at the time*, but it sure as hell isn't now. Although admittedly it captures an irritating and cringeworthy side of the hippie dream that is probably best forgotten now. *I doubt it was funny at the time.
Meow Wolf ambient music. Kind of crazy-making after a while.
Nå bs
I struggled
Even for Zappa this is a mess
I like Frank and in particular like his silliness but this one is just way too out of date for me to like today.
It was fun and creative but I didn't get much out of this, a lot of frank Zappa's other stuff is significantly better
I mean... Not boring I suppose, but not exactly good either. Feels like a pretty solid 2 to me. All over the place, can't really take it seriously even as satire. 🤷
Odd comedy concept album
Wacky whimsical, dated annoying.
Talentierte Musiker machen Quatschmusik
LOL WTF DID I LISTEN TO ??? It was interesting and i quite enjoyed the weird ideas ! I did skip a few songs that were just a bit too screechy and long. Otherwise, i had fun listening to this.
Probably not great
Strange
We're Only in It for the Money is the third album by American rock band the Mothers of Invention. It is an experimental psychedelic rock genre, satirical concept album with themes about hippies and both sides of US politics. Although releasing the album stirred controversy within the record label, it received critical acclaim on release. This album was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2005 for its cultural and historical influence. This was an interesting album to say the least. It was intended to be trippy, but I was shocked at how crazy the musical and vocal arrangements were. Almost indescribable, this album has to be listened to to be understood. Even then, it may need a few listens before every part of this album can sink in and have meaning. Frank Zappa and the rest of the band were geniuses that wanted to poke fun at politics and the music industry with this album.
Was surprised by this. I just assumed I'd be into it, but it was a bit of a chore. There's little bits of interesting things here, but I think it was too tied to the concept and there's too much fluff to make it a fun listen. 2/5
Ok
This was an acoustical LSD trip
At least they are honest in the album title...I don't know if they got the money, though. I didn't enjoy it, but they deserve some credit for the experimentalism. This stuff is not enjoyable, but they are typically responsible for all the excellent music created after them. It's necessary to have someone on it for the money (and craziness) to enable others to do it better for the art (also for the money).
I respect the Hell out of Frank Zappa and he's clearly talented, but he also gets too clever for his own good. Experimental is all well and good, but often I feel like I'm just being inundated with noise
Maybe one day I'll understand
Best Song: Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance. Even tough this one is also annoying, at least it's a catchy annoying. Worst Song: The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny. This is basically just noise. Overall: Mostly just annoying. Can't really impart much impact in 19 songs over 40 minutes. Each snippet just feels like frivolous hippy fart that didn't need to be put to tape.
This album tried to be satirical and avant-garde, and for me, it missed both. Sure, a couple of the lyrics were pithy, and there were some head-nodding melodies. But I think it became experimental for the sake of being experimental towards the end of the album.
ну мало что поняла. жанр пародии люблю более музыкальный)
I like Zappa's rock blues guitar playing and funky jazz, but this early pastiche or send up of doo-wap and psychedelic late 60s pop and rock is just silly and lacks artistry.
I don't know how "The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny" can be considered the only thing that goes too far on "We're Only In It For The Money." Sure, that's a fitting coda on a bizarre journey, but the whole album is an oddity. I can't imagine listening to it repeatedly. There are some very interesting ideas in the lyrics, no doubt, but having listened once I get the idea. It is said that "necessity is the mother of invention," but there's no necessity here. The Mothers Of Invention did it because they could, not because they should or because we needed it. Of course, there's no fault in that - art and ideas should be pursued because you can, for your own desires and purposes. I just don't feel the need to listen to it.
I appreciate the creativity, but it's exhausting to listen to. I'm glad I heard it, but it was the last time. Especially the "funny" voice FX are annoying. The humor is hit and miss, more miss than hit. It's very much about 60s themes, like hippie culture, and I guess you have to be in on it to appreciate it. Or maybe it was never funny. Favorite song: flower punk, which is obviously a parody of Hey Joe.
Pis il y en a qui disent que Sgt Pepper a mal vieilli! L’album au complet se moque de la culture hippie et d’évènements sociaux niche des années 60, pis la musique est juste straight up nul. J’espère qu’il y aura d’autre album de Zappa, il y en a des bien meilleur
I really wanted to love this. Needs psychoactive assistance.
Fine. Very quirky. I don’t know if I liked the music enough to listen afain
Meh way too experimental avant garde for my tastes. Very weird.
This is the bad side of psychedelic rock. The skits kinda stink of shit, like 'Hot Poop.' This album is for a very acquired taste. Not for me
i think i appreciate Frank Zappa, Legendary Weirdo and Anti-Censorship Crusader, more than I appreciate the music of Frank Zappa
Not really a fan of this one.
If you wanna spoof the Beatles I’m all for it, but you’ve got to have some actual music to back it up. About half of this album was sped up spoken word and it got tiresome.
This makes it very clear why Frank Zappa never had mainstream success. There is talent in there somewhere but it’s buried by too much nonsense.
This sucked. I get that it was supposed to be a parody of the hippies and music from this era but it was more like a bad sound collage. I also just didn’t think it was that funny.
I'm glad I got to listen to this, if only to confirm for the 100th time that I just don't like Frank Zappa. I know a lot of people think he's a genius but it's just not that good or interesting to me. Every once in a while Zappa does something I like, but those moments are few and far between. 2 stars.
interessante como sátira e tals, mas não muito agradável de curtir sem o contexto
StRaNgEr ThInGs
Fine. I liked that they worked in a dig at "corporate logos" into the lyrics of one song. And made fun of hippies and San Francisco way before that was cool. And yet... the music just doesn't do much for me. I can appreciate that we probably don't have some of the noisier, weirder bands I do like without these mothers, but it's rare for me to listen to something repeatedly just because I appreciate it.
So how much is too much? I had quite enjoyed the album Freak Out! as an exercise in satire and experimentation. This one maybe not so much. While this album had some great moments of spot-on satire, much of it reminded me of when I was 12 and used to make tape recordings with friends of noises and silliness that were hilarious to ourselves then, but definitely haven't stood the test of time. It was interesting as a historical document, but I don't think I'll ever want to listen to it again.
Usually open to whatever Zappa's thinking, but this one doesn't come together for me. Too sparse in the instrumentation to have any kind of throughline, and too spastic in the ideation to grab me with any kind of experimental hook.
Weird album, I didn’t enjoy the experimental tracks and off-beat singing. Zappa is not for me.
Cool that it's satire, kinda lame lyrics and singing though. And annoying music.
Didn’t do anything for me but gotta respect the originalities.
Really isn’t convincing me that I need to listen to more Zappa.
Lekfullt och knasigt, men har inte åldrats så väl
Ik snapte het niet helemaal. Het moet satire zijn, maar de referenties waren misschien buiten mijn kennis
I already know what this is all about, and it's just not my thing. Not a big fan of Zappa's sound. I've mentioned before, on the last MOI record that I was assigned not so long ago, that while I can appreciate his unique POV and bold willingness to experiment, I just don't like the way the music sounds. It's not my bag, baby. Simple as that.
I mean, do I really have to say why this is a classic?
Rock psicodélico. Demasiada psicodelia y ácido para mi gusto. Un 2.
Not a clue what that was about, but some bits were melodic
4/10. Hot Rats has given me the false impression that I might one day find something else that Frank Zappa had a hand in that I actually like. Plus, I think Sgt. Pepper's is overrated, so I was looking forward to hearing it mocked. As such, I am disappointed, as well as annoyed by this album, because it didn't do much for me than get on my nerves.
Wow this sounded awful. 3/10
Ehh I've liked some other Zappa stuff here but this wasn't for me.
2.5
craziest album cover ever. the sixties are not so different
I like the idea of Frank Zappa I just like his music that much.
Was onboard at the start then they just seem to be taking the piss. Seems more like a comedy album
Nope
I bet this was more enjoyable on acid in the 60s.
Weird - I kept waiting for it to take off but just kept staying wierd.
It was okay
Not an easy album to listen to, there were some tracks that were ok but I doubt I'll ever put this on again
I like the funny lyrics but the actual music is too chaotic and noisy.
Een combinatie van lollig en niet te doen.
im too dumb to understand this intellectual masterpiece so 2 stars
rock psicodelico dos 60s, muito experimental e alternativo
4/10
Interesting message at an interesting time in our history. Wouldn’t go back to listen
I know I'm in the minority of music fans that think Frank Zappa is overrated. Is there talent there? Absolutely. Is it interesting to listen to? I guess if you're in the mood. Will I ever be in that mood? Nope. Not a chance.
I honestly shouldn’t have expected anything different from a 1968 Frank Zappa led album with a cover parodying the Beatles. It was weird, satirical, bizzare, annoying, political, sporadically fun, and very of its time. Take your clothes off when you dance was probably my favorite followed by what’s the ugliest part of your body
Batshit crazy - quite fun, made no sense
Interestingly weird
The choice of opening unfortunately relegates this one to sound artifact (?) territory. No song even leaves you satisfied, which I suppose is the point; The opening minutes, however, are so senseless than the question on my mind is why this is an alleged LP. Certainly not the most interesting Zappa work I've heard, but I'm glad I listened and can see myself returning at least once. Impressive amount of dead space in under forty minutes, though.
silly
Fucking nuts, tho' to be fair, didn't expect anything else. Plenty of method in the nuttiness, but not very listenable to. It's a no from me.
09/23/2022 Was really disappointed with this one considering that I love Zappa and all the work I’ve heard from him thus far. Parts of this album reminded me The Who sell out, which came out a year earlier. The ugliest part of your body was my favorite song on this album. The others kinda all sounded the same.
Very trippy. Some music which felt kinda "math-rock"-ey (very tight coordination between vocals, instruments, and percussion), some spoken-word stuff, and some sections of random sounds effects (static, jangling strings, laughs)
Il rock psichedelico è divertente... per i primi dieci minuti di ascolto. Un intero album di suoni distorti e voci cantilenanti è, francamente, troppo per me. Mi dispiace perché è un album indubbiamente originale (infatti nasce dalla mente di Frank Zappa), ma ho fatto fatica ad arrivare in fondo.
This thing is silly dumb. The songs make some decent arguments and are quite funny, but as soon as you hear any bit of the music itself, all the quality goes away. It pretty much sounds like they’re intentionally making awful Beatles rip-off’s. 3/10
Beatles but on more drugs 2/10
Very experimental
2/13, 15%
I hated this on a cellular level.
1/1
Ugh. Utter bobbins
This album is straight garbage. It’s not good, it’s not influential, it’s just straight up bad.
I like Frank Zappa sometimes. This is not one of those times.
Miserable listening experience
I didn't do the whole thing, I can't imagine anything less enjoyable. I think I mentioned it before but Frank Zappa is the kind of dude who makes a fart joke then looks down on you for laughing at it because you don't truly understand the socioeconomic commentary that was the fart joke. He's the Neil DeGrasse Tyson of low humor joke songs.
TERRIVEL um dos piores álbuns desse desafio. ele tenta ser engraçaralho criticando todo mundo e só fica uma coisa cringe, pretensiosa e vazio. parabéns, uma grande merda.
I didn't even make it through this. Utter pish.
1/10
Not good
I don't think such a sarcastic piece of art is something that appeals to me. It's ironically shit on purpose but it's still shit.
Not for me 1 out of 5
Probably a really effective commentary or statement, but one of the worst albums I've ever listened to. I don't even really know how to explain it other than: it's bad and it's a mess Standouts Hot Poop 1/5
This was my first introduction to Frank Zappa. I’ve had a lot of friends over the years tell me how much I should listen to him. I’m glad I never listened to my friends before and I wish I could go back and not listen to this now. Worst thing is I took a break from music I actually liked to listen to it.
Yea I didn’t really feel like I was listening to music with this one, more random background noise and chatter
Well that was experimental First half sounded like the wiggles on acid, second half much better. I wasn’t a Zappa fan before and still don’t see the charm, probably more of its time. 1 star
Just because you did some acid doesn't mean you should write an album.
Not sure why but I felt a bit sick…psychedelic tripping
?!?!?!?
The vocals are just atrocious. I also get that this is supposed to be weird and it's proto-weird? I don't know, I feel like even weird needs to follow at least some conventions to make it good. Hence why I feel this is proto-weird. Anyway, I kinda hate it. It feels like making fun of hippies is punching down.
I don't know who it's for, edgelords? Making fun of hippies and the peace corps is lame, sorry Frank
This album children is why you shouldn't do drugs.
I bought cheap thrills by Zappa years ago and loved it. I thought that I would like everything else he did. I bought cheap thrills 2 and it was worse. I can only assume if I keep going through his albums by choosing one slightly worse than the previous each time I'll eventually reach whatever this is. Look, I love comedy music, I want more rebellion in music, but at some point it all stops really being music. This is just a collection of ideas. Lots of random voices that don't have a lot of merit in a the music world Perhaps this is an influential album because of what it showed people they could do? I've no idea. I find it pretty ironic that this is the album he made when supposedly parodying the Beatles most experiential album to date because he felt they were too commercial or something. Look, I wanted to, but I just don't get it and it wasn't fun to listen to.
We all agree this is trash, right?
Thank you
++: Are You Hung Up?, Bow Tie Daddy, What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?, Mother People +: Mom & Dad, Absolutely Free, Flower Punk, Hot Poop, Lonely Little Girl, What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body? (Reprise) +-: Who Needs the Peace Corps?, Concentration Moon, Harry, You're a Beast, Let's Make the Water Turn Black, Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance, The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny -: Nasal Retentive Calliope Music --: The Idiot Bastard Son 3,3/10
No nyt oli turhan hippimeininkiä.
richtig whack und random, irgendwie eine beatles parodie aber nur mit komischen geräuschen und nicht enjoyable AT ALL??
I'm just not cool enough for this...
For me, one of the hardest albums to listen to out of the approximately 800 I have had. I think the tracks that are just whispering were the worst, although quite a lot of it falls into my personal category of Not Music. As satire, it has not aged well at all, it's like picking up a 60-year old issue of Mad magazine, but far more grating and obnoxious.
Wtf was that. Burn it.
Terrible. Literally awful. I’m questioning the validity of this experiment.
1.5
Let's make fun of great music by making utter shite. 1/5
I only got a couple songs into this album. I did not like it at all.
Very not for me.
Top album my eye
You really told those hippies, Frank.
I only recently realized that I don't hate all Frank Zappa. This one however, I do.
I am aware of the existence of Frank Zappa. But in my mind he was always a novelty act doing joke songs like "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" and "Catholic Girls" in the 70s and "Valley Girl" (with his daughter Moon Unit) in the 80s. He was the kind of joke act you'd hear on Dr Demento radio show. So, seeing him pop up as having some supposedly great albums surprises me. But, I'm open to see what all the excitement is about. Thoughts after listening 3 times... Wow, 19 songs, I hope this isn't a double album. Looks like it's not - but it just has a bunch of really short tracks. Ok, I lied - I didn't listen to this 3 times like I usually do with the albums on this site. Once was enough and life is too short to waste time on this nonsense. If we're putting novelty albums on this list - I'd nominate nearly any Weird Al Yankovic album. I have not listened to any Weird Al albums in total but I would bet a billion dollars that any one of them would be more enjoyable than this - just based on the handful of his songs that I do know. At least his stuff is funny. I will add that I've seen clips of Frank Zappa on YouTube outsmarting Congress people and conservative pundits in the 70s and 80s (I think). He seems like a very intelligent and quick witted guy. I would rather watch those clips on repeat for a few hours than listen to this. I don't need to hear any of this again. Liked songs on Spotify: 0/19 Rating: 1/5 (should be zero)
Turbo ass
Emperor's new clothes
Feels like a compilation made up exclusively of bad filler tracks. Incredibly disappointing after getting Hot Rats yesterday and finding they can do something great when they want
Super low effort comedy music. Nobody should be compelled to subject themselves to this crap before they die. Life is too short for this.
Oh boy, ANOTHER crappy Zappa album?? I just can't ...
Almost 2 for the inspiration on the cover
Ah yes, a Sgt Pepper's parody. I guess this is a function of its time. Did not enjoy this at all, but maybe I just had to be there and it would have been edgy af. 1*
Love zappa. This be shit
Too experimental, and i dont like their voices
I hated this so much.
What in the actual hell is this?
Not Sargent Pepper
1/5
Pre Listen: I have a...complicated relationship, with Frank Zappa. He's like that one friend who has so much potential, and you really love hanging with him for like 30 minutes. Then suddenly he does something so despicably cringe, it makes that Pickle Rick kid look like a comedic genius. The album cover being a parody of Sgt. Peppers doesn't fill me with hope. The Beatles are one of my top bands. You come at the king, you better not miss. I had a music professor my freshman year of college who's favorite artist was Frank Zappa. I respected her a lot as a teacher, but I can't fathom why she likes Frank so much. Every new album I encounter from him, I try and put myself in her shoes. My expectations for this are the lowest to date, but I'm trying to put myself in that professor's headspace. Notable Tracks: Who Needs The Peace Corps? - Song raised my expectations for the album somewhat. Funny little critique of hippie culture. Doesn't sound horrible. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body - My favorite track on the album, it parodies the Beatles the best I think. The harmony they hit is so fucking spot on. The "All your children-" verses made me laugh pretty hard. **NOT** including the Reprise. Nasal Retentive Calliope Music | The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny - Tied for the worst tracks on the album by a fucking landslide, holy shit. This is exactly what I was talking about in my Pre Listen. If this is music, then dogshit is food. Post Listen: It's an early shitpost in audio form. If this album was supposed to be a statement of some sort, it's about as deep as a 9gag meme. The Zappa experience here is identical to every other encounter I've had with him. A lot of songs have really, *really* great instrumentation on occasion, only to be interrupted by the worst shit you've heard in your life. The lyrics are funny or briliantly satirical, only to be quite literally interrupted by burps and audio cuts. Zappa takes something nice, and ruins it before your very ears. He's like those Turkish ice-cream guys, but he never gives you the ice cream. Instead he flashes you and gets away with it. I told a friend I'd not give this album a 1/5 before I finished it, since he is a big Zappa fan. I can't do it. I just can't. I never want to hear any of this again, 1/5.
Yes Frank, the Beatles and hippies suck, but you are annoying and should shut up. 40 minutes that would’ve gone by easier staring at a wall clock. Now Tie Daddy was a favorite but it ended up being 30 seconds so that sucks. Thank God Absolutely Free was an actually great song or I would’ve had a meltdown. I’ve got four hours of driving to go. I did not need this today. Worse than Beyond Skin award 🏅 https://tenor.com/iirIUBJEdVI.gif
Oh god what even is this
Yikes. I really didn't like their last album. If anything this one is worse.
Lame satire and weak material, a deadly combination.
This Frank Zappa thinking he's extremely funny and smarter than everyone else.
Uncomfortable ASMR for an entire album. How did this ever sell?
I don't like Frank Zappa. And this is him at his worst. I tried to get through this, but two bad albums in a row was too much for today. I'm out.
This record is trash. I'm sure if I paid attention to the lyrics there's some pointed satirical humor of the time here, but it's not pleasant to listen to. Most of it is about as interesting as a children's song, and the last track is just 6 minutes of chaotoc noise FFS.
Was soll das
Nonsense. How did Zappa ever become popular? He's like Weird Al but way less musical.
I’m very much a Prog Rock lover and as such been recommended many times that I should listen to Frank Zappa. I have done, including this album. I can only conclude that my recommenders are either liars or delusional. I believe it is the latter and that they have been fooled into thinking Prog is just unconventional random noise rather than long melodic musical masterpieces. So having established it’s not Prog then what the hell is it? Search me. Maybe Frank found it somewhere hidden in that toilet basin he made famous. 1/5 31/5/26
Garbage album. It’s not even creative.
I have some friends who are really into Frank Zappa, but me not as much. Normally, I appreciate satire, as I am plenty disillusioned by the fallacies of society, but I guess I view music as separate from all of that. At the very least, his music ends up coming off as if it's making light of music itself. I listen to music so that I can hear good music, not so that I can listen to noise that is making fun of music and everything else
Jamais écouté avant. Une longue et pénible inside joke de 40 minutes... Si je peux comprendre, et même adhérer à l'envie de se moquer des excès et des dérives de la culture hippie, force est de constater que la blague, près de 60 ans plus tard, tombe carrément à plat. Reste une série de "morceaux" très courts, plus foutraques que réellement expérimentaux, parfois tout à fait aléatoires, et dont la parenté avec les artistes dont ils sont censés être un pastiche est parfaitement illisible. A pousser la caricature jusqu'au non-sens (finalement, la meilleure parodie de We're Only in It for The Money, c'esr sa pochette !), Zappa a juste oublié de faire un album écoutable... Top : Mom & Dad Flop : The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny
Annoying music
I like experimental music. I really like some of Zappa's music. This shit is just stupid. The humor is reflective of the worst of Zappa, the uninspired BS that turned me off to him for many years. I reserve 1* to unlistenable material, which is rare, but this helps me redefine the bar.
I don't get it.
We're Only in It for the Money by The Mothers of Invention is an album I really struggled with. At its best it can be amusing and satirical, but at its worst I found it genuinely quite boring. I approached it as a parody album because it feels impossible to take seriously, with a lot of the humour coming across as cynical, bitter and almost jealous of the very music and culture it is mocking. The vocals, sound effects and random noises throughout the album are intentionally strange, but for me they quickly became more irritating than interesting. There are moments where you can appreciate the creativity and experimentation, but overall it just felt messy and difficult to enjoy as an actual listening experience. The biggest positive is how short the abum is. Unfortunately, this is not an album I can see myself ever coming back to. Favourite tracks: Honestly, nothing really stood out for me Least favourite tracks: “Flower Punk” was particularly awful Album artwork: I actually prefer this cover to Sgt. Pepper — it’s a clever parody visually
Nope, not my cup of tea.
This is ass
Not enjoyable
Urgh, hippie nonsense. I know Frank Zappa has done some great things, but this isn't one of them. It's clearly a blueprint for others to follow, but does nothing for me.
Interesting but not for me.
Garbage
2.0 / 10
Not for me
Dogshit
Not my vibe
I love Frank Zappa and the Mothers, just not this era.
Title checks out. Utter by-the-numbers-60s-pyschedelic rubbish, clearly phoned in without due care, attention or regard for the paying public. I expected better of Zappa. I don't know why, he's massively overrated, but I did.
Diogenes of Sinope is often rejoiced in online communities for being the ancient greek madlad. Didn't give a shit (unless he wanted to throw them at his detractors) and was a founding father of the cynic philosophy. I wonder though, whether those near Diogenes really admired him or were sick of his shit. Because though his ideas are in concept great, being at risk of getting urinated on does not sound like he's a fun person to hang around with. All to say that I get the same feeling about this album. In concept, mocking the Beatles and satirizing the hippie subculture is great. But having to listen to it is something else. With satire, you're walking the fine line between being a chuckleworthy cynic or being an insufferable twat. I think the Mothers of Invention have pissed all over the line like Diogenes did in this blaring, noisy, and annoying album.
It's like listening to old memes without any context. Confusing and painfully unfunny.
What the hell am I listening to?! Couldn't make it through the whole...thing
Honestly … has anyone ever listened to this more than once?! Truly awful.
me dormí
I have no idea what this is. Some sort of hippie bullshit that may of sounded good on acid in the 60’s. It’s just a bunch of people making noise. It’s terrible.
Man they really stuck it to those try-hard musicians who actually put effort into their albums with this one
It would be really easy to dismiss this one as nothing more than stupid bullshit. So easy, in fact, that I think that’s exactly what I’ll do. 1/5
I did not like this and it felt like it was much longer than it was. I know Zappa is considered a legend but I don't think this is very good. I don't even understand what it is making fun of? Im confused at the point. This just felt like noise and was dumb. Liked Songs: "Concentration Moon" , "Mom & Dad" , "Absolutely Free" , "Lonely Little Girl"
I’m sure it’s meaningful in some avante garde way but man it’s unlistenable
não experimentalidade é diferente de bagunça, e crítica é diferente de fazer qualquer merda e falar que critica
Poor album musically more annoying and stale i would just listen to one of his older albums
What a waste of time
i gotta thank Frank Zappa, enduring this trash album made all the music I listened to after it sound so much better 2 / 10
Too mental
The songs are just weird, some of them I can't even consider "songs" really. Hard pass. Best song: Bow Tie Daddy
Oh man this is shit. You can hate on the populist approaches of society in a far less childish manner than this, surely? Nearly gave up on several occasions.
⅛★
Absolute garbage album. I'm not sure if it's meant to be satire but if it is I'm missing the point entirely. The production is horrible, the songwriting is downright bizarre, and whatever meaning the artists are trying to portray is not coming through at all. There are moments that are so baffling it feels like a random collection of weird noises and sound bites that don't relate to each other whatsoever. That's genuinely 39 minutes of my life I won't get back.
I'm not sure what I just listened to but my ears feel violated
People are insane for liking this album
Not my thing
3/10
I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would listen to this for pleasure. Psychedelia is fine but it has to also be musically enjoyable, and this just isn't. It's far too weird but without the redeeming features to make that weirdness cool. 'The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny' includes several minutes of just noise and both concludes and sums up the album as a whole
While I appreciate Frank Zappa for his social commentary and politics, I have never been a fan of his music. Valley Girl being the exception. Hard pass on this album.
We're Only In It For The Money, and you aren't getting any of mine for this crap. 0.00
dont piss me off....
I'm sure it was fun to be on drugs in the 60s - but listening at work in 2026, this was unpleasant.
I’m rating this so low. It sounds like they all took a bunch of acid in the recording studio and then took acid again when mixing the album. Horrible.
An album so bad it not only makes me hate this one, it makes me question other stuff I thought I liked by Zappa
Well this was a wild Tuesday morning commute. Absolutely bonkers, more so than any Zappa or Beefheart stuff. Frequently descends into sped up samples of random talking. May have been inspiration for the Chipmunks. Too surreal for me I’m afraid.
I tried but it's just too limp sounding. Production is dated and the humour misses for me. Inventive yes.
o típico álbum de artista edgy que se acha mais inteligente do que o resto...bleh e irritante. 0/5.
Det var lite småkul i ett par låtar, outhärdligt som album.
Boring and repetitive, couldn’t even finish it
Just a bunch of unfunny and unenjoyable songs. Absolute crap
This list is fucked. When it was laid down, maybe not. However, in 2026 Zappa is less than meaningless. Imagine being teen who likes Zappa now. I'm going to find the guy who gave this 5 stars and Highway 61 one. Jesus christ. Moustache.
Musical parody that doesn’t really have any humour. Not for me
Could never get into Frank Zappa
It's so insanely pretentious that I can't co-sign this at all. Like what the hell are these people's problem. "Everyone is dumb and fake except for me har har har". I'd normally give it a 2 because there are some musically interesting ideas here, but I had such a miserable time listening to it.
Je m’attendais à mieux quand j’ai vu frank zappa. J’ai fais le saut, par moment j’avais l’impression d’écouter un band de oompa loompa. 1 étoile parce que c’était agressant. Chansons « préférées »: mom and dad, absolutely free, lonely little girl
This reminds me of when my little niece plays with her little electric piano and karaoke machine. It sounds dissonant and offkey to me the whole time. Or like it should be the background music to some LSD fueled indi film from the 70s. Certainly a lot of LSD was involved in the production of this album.
The proto 100 gecs annoying music
What did hippies ever do to you?
Politcially charge satira album. Terrible listening experience.
5 minutes into the album I was ready give up, but the fourth song actually had some sounds that were at least listenable. If nothing else, at least I learned the word discorporate. While I like weird music I think this album was mostly not about music, but random sounds and lyrics. What the hell was the last song and was the intention of the first half of it to cause physical pain..?
One of the first true misses for me, really atonal, I know its experimental soundscape and Zappa, but its just not my vibe. Maybe if I had smoked a lot of 60s dirt weed and thought Marx was a cutting edge figure. The interruptions, the style, just not what I'm looking for in an album.
I have no idea what I was listening to or what I was supposed to get from that. I never understood an album less than this one. I have not listened to Frank Zappa before, and this was not the impression I was hoping for when delving into his collection. I'm sure his solo stuff is different (crosses finger)
Tom Green - The Album
Album name is a bit on the nose. It isn't even ironic. A dreadful mix of nonsense but I somehow managed the whole thing.
This is fucking stupid.
The first reaction I had to anything on this album was the uglies part of your body bit. An unexpected brutal roast. I get the importance of social commentary, especially through music, to US history and general progress, but this is pretty difficult to recognize as music. And the parts that are musically recognizable aren't really that good. I will give some commendation to some of the electronic experimentation "noise". Some of it is actually really good and sounds very close to what might be done on modern avant-guard rock. I would much rather have read an article detailing Frank Zappa's influence through this album than have had to listen to it. And I don't do much reading these days, especially non-fiction. Favorite Song(s): Absolutely Free
It certainly sounds like they’re only in it for the money but even then, if this wasn’t Frank Zappa there would be no money made from this album. It fucking sucks
Weird, spoken word, limited music
A painful, painful listen. I have tried many times to get into Zappa, but I guess I just don't have the advanced intelligence needed to to find this stuff palatable. Best left for all the Misunderstood Geniuses out there.
Holds the listener in contempt, Zappa is a tool.
This album made me look up the most popular drugs of the late 60s within 5 minutes of the album because WHAT are these people on???? (it was LSD which makes sense) I just cant imagine anybody enjoying this at all, including myself. MADE ME WANT TO TAKE MY SKIN OFF
no no no no no no no. This was just horrendous. Even if I was coked up to the eyeballs I don't think I would've liked this. 'Nasal retentive calliope music' just about finished me off and then for the rest of the album I felt like I was making my way through the circles of hell. Why am I alive
The first track echoed around my head phones and made me quite uncomfortable as I was listening, it felt like they were whispering to me. Not cool. The rest felt flat and the vocals were not very good. On a side note who makes a rock album and decides 'hot poop' would be a good track name?
2.0/10 This was horrible… who would want to listen to this??
no
Just because it’s a satirical joke album doesn’t mean the songs can’t be good.
Not too fond of humour in music, and not at all humour I don’t find funny. Good music should send shivers down your spine, and not because the sounds are so nasty.
I think it's your muuuum It's been a while since I've heard something this awful, absolute peak retardism in .mp3 form
Felt like I was listening to someone have a full on skitso meltdown
Skip track. More shit. Skip another. Worse. Skip,skip,skip. 10 minutes of my life I’ll not get back.
Distressing
I've never been a fan of Frank Zappa's Avant-Garde Experimental Acid Rock. This album is supposed to be satirical but I don't find it funny.
geen muziek voor mij