Reviews (page 8 of 8)
I honestly have no idea what the fuck to do with Zappa's work. There is a lens that you need to view his work through and boy I don't got it. This is satyrical, absurd, and a real chore to listen to.
Album blague. Haha. Critique des Beatles et des bricolages sonores chiants expérimentaux. Sauf que résultat l'album est rempli de bricolages sonores expérimentaux idiots qui dénoncent les bricolages sonores des autres. Haha. Résultat c'est répétitif et chiant, le côté subversif s'est perdu dans le temps aujourd'hui que les Beatles sont toujours aussi écoutés et que Franck Zappa est plutôt oublié. Quelques chansons qui copient la veine pop des Beatles sont ecoutables, mais toujours bien en dessous des originaux. Seules quelques paroles sauvent l'ensemble. A la limite "the ugliest part of your body". Donc un grand bof bof qui a du être drôle et polémique la semaine de sa sortie, mais difficilement supportable aujourd'hui.
Disco conceptual en su máxima expresión, grabado como un continuo sin diferenciación entre las canciones. Experimental y atrevido, pop psicodélico, donde la gracia está sobre todo en el discurso, que se pierde si no controlas el idioma.
3.75 I hope my girlfriend doesn't disown me for this but I kind of liked this album. It was meta, and provocative. They dissed themselves and everyone else around them. It's not the kind of thing I would listen to on a daily basis, but I think it's kind of a slice of time that was weird but interesting.
Expletives warning... "Hot Poop"? More like hot fucking garbage. Jesus fucking Christ whenever I see something Zappa related I swear a part of me dies and falls off. I have nothing positive to say about this shite. Total dogshit.
Very weird musical experience and lyrics
I mean, do I really have to say why this is a classic?
I have a feeling this record will be divisive, and all I can really say is, "Well, I like it." Nobody really does "freak out" like Zappa and co., where every song is about as tight as you can get it before bursting, while also seeming very free-wheeling and spur-of-the-moment. Favorite tracks: "Concentration Moon", "Flower Punk", "The Idiot Bastard Son", "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
Wow was this irritating.
This was fun, but the songs were too short and insubstantial
What... was this album?
Bizarre and unusual, parody this may be but talent abounds.
It's delightfully weird now, and I can't imagine how insane it sounded circa 1968. It parodies Sgt. Pepper, as if the album cover doesn't make that abundantly clear. There's a freshness to it that doesn't feel like some other albums that make attempts to be weird just for weird sake. It's an overall joy, and I may want to bump it up a star or two after repeat listens. But that's me, I'm all for albums that take me on a new journey.
Thus shit is weird in the best possible way
Rock psicodélico. Demasiada psicodelia y ácido para mi gusto. Un 2.
One of Zappa's best shticks
Sàtira i experiment. Els primers discos de Zappa rebosaven de tots dos conceptes i ho feien amb una inspiració reservada només pels genis. No tot el minutatge té la mateixa qualitat -cap al final de la segona part del disc la cosa afluixa bastant- però continua sent un dels exemples més representatius de la millor innovació artística dels '60
Not a clue what that was about, but some bits were melodic
Utter rubbish. If this was experimental, then I'm glad. So we can mark this down as a failure and move on.
A parody album shouldn’t be this good, Frank Zappa is a genius, anyone attempting a parody of Stg Pepper would need to be for it to work and this does. Not an accessible album but worth a few listens to get it. A few parts just a bit too odd for my taste to give this full marks.
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
Loved it! I enjoy good avant garde rock music and Frank Zappa is the best at it.
First, the label's inversion of the artwork was and always will be bullshit. This is not just the proper cover but the better cover. And a better indication of what you're about to get. Which is absolute madcap genius and blazing satire. This is my absolute favourite Zappa album, easy. Brilliant takedowns of hippies, right-wingers and the LAPD. There is a lot going on throughout and some of the transitions and oddities will likely drive many folks a bit bonkers, but I think it just makes the whole thing all the more brilliant.
This shit is tight.
Ehh I've liked some other Zappa stuff here but this wasn't for me.
Beautifully weird. Song titles great, as usual. Some interesting use of the stereo balance. Way ahead of the curve on the ASMR trend. Just too disjointed in places to be a 5 - i couldn't listen to it every day!
Harry, You're A Beast reminds me of the short film Possibly In Michigan. I think this album is the closest I'll get to understanding how it feels to be on whatever drugs they took while making it.
No
Yes boys and girls this album was done without the use of drugs Frank Zappa was an amazing musician and composer. This album should be listened to multiple times to get all the lyrical inside jokes and the complexity of the music To use a late 60’s phrase, this album was a mind blower
I don't know what else there is to say about Zappa...
Kind of funny
Really enjoyed this one. Having heard some of the best and worst of San Fran psychedelia over the course of doing this, it is refreshing to hear true weirdo music that wants to poke fun at the whole scene. Who Needs The Peace Corps, Let's Make the Water Turn Black and What's The Ugliest Part of Your Body are all highlights. The album is packed too - one of those great albums where nothing sticks around longer than absolutely necessary. Hot Rats did nothing for me, I enjoyed Freak Out, but this is a bone fide classic.
2.5
craziest album cover ever. the sixties are not so different
There are several things I think of as I get through my second listening of this album. Firstly, I've never been a fan of Frank Zappa. That hasn't changed here, and also doesn't help when it comes to unpacking this album as a whole. Secondly, the fact that it comes as a parody, utilises a parody of The Beatles album cover, and was recorded in 1968 leads me to believe that to truly appreciate its quirkiness, I need to be stoned or on LSD or both. Thirdly, I'm certain the lyrics are clever and cutting, but given it was recorded over 50 years ago leads me to believe it has... dated somewhat in that arena. In the long run, it is the first point that I think weighs so heavily on my own rating of this album. It's hard to get past an artist that you don't really have a connection with to try and get the most out of an album. "Absolutely Free" appears the closest to a song that I could accept. The rest is rather average in my opinion.
This is certainly a different side of Zappa to Hot Rats. For what essentially seems like one long piss-take it's impressively well-realised, musically, and meshes together nicely as one piece of work. It's also genuinely funny at times and generally entertaining, though I'm unlikely to return to it much - I suspect the jokes and random interludes would lose their lustre after repeated listens.
Surprised it’s pretty good, crazy though
Lekker blije '60s muziek. Beetje vreemd, maar ik kan er wel naar luisteren. Opvallend zijn de enorm korte nummers van nog geen 2 minuutjes. ***
Love what I've heard from Zappa (admittedly not enough). This album is wild and weird and eclectic but all across it you can hear the creativity and social commentary.
I can't say that I've ever really "gotten" Frank Zappa - I would never deny that he was influential and important, but I've never been able to connect with his music. Although it was an interesting listen, this album was no exception. Many of the lyrics were funny and insightful, particularly the song "Flower Punk." Listening with headphones is also highly recommened as the left and right channels are played with quite a bit, and the effect is very cool. Although this album wasn't really for me, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre and/or enjoys social satire. Standout Tracks: "Flower Punk," "Who Needs The Peace Corps?" "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
A little mainstream, straightforward and poppy for my tastes. Usually find Zappa impenetrable, then he does this, what an enigma, eh?
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
Wild, unfiltered, and unashamedly blitzing. Sometimes it can be a little too much for me, but nobody does "too much" quite like Zappa.
I enjoy the playfulness on display quite a bit. Maybe a bit too much in places, but overall a great album.
Yeah, it's a no for me.
This has been such a tough one to get through. I don't know if they were aiming for being funny, but I personally cannot find enjoyment in this at all. 1.25/10
I’m quite apprehensive about this album. Having heard only one Frank Zappa album before, I go into this with pretty low hopes. I actually went back to look at my last review for Joe’s Garage, and I’m surprised I rated it as highly as I did, because I thought I didn’t like it. I guess I was wrong and I just have a bad memory. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Absolutely Free I don’t think it’s any exaggeration to say that this album was absolutely awful. There is lots of noise that I wouldn’t really consider music, parts where music is played backwards instead, and generally just comes across as really annoying. The only times where I’d find myself saying, “Well, this song is decent at least,” was only because it came after something that made my ears bleed. Taken in isolation, even the better songs on this album are still pretty bad. Don’t listen to this album. Do something better with your time.
Nope
Wonderful album.
This was a good fun ablum with heaps of great tracks like Who Needs The Peace Corps?, What's the Ugliest Part Of Your Body, Flower Punk, Lets' Make The Water Turn Black, and Lonely Little Girl.
For a man who had no truck with drugs Frank Zappa sure did produce music that sounds exactly as if it's intended to be listened to while on drugs. I haven't listened to this one much before, and there's a _lot_ going on, so it would probably benefit from more listens. Still, a lot of fun! Fave track - "Let's Make the Water Turn Black" is the one I was most familiar with already. Also really enjoyed "Absolutely Free" running into "Flower Punk"...
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.
In the first half of the album I thought there wouldn't be anything I'd like. But it got progressively better. Very, veeery experimental, psychedelic rock, so good stuff overall! You also have to admire the dig at Beatles here lol Saved tracks: What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?, Absolutely Free, Let's Make The Water Turn Black, Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance
It was okay
not for me ta.
Spoko parodia, ale męcząca
I know smart people adore this but I found it almost immediately tedious. There is something admirably antisocial about setting out so aggressively to put down everyone, but being against everything mainstream doesn't mean you're right. Closing a relatively short LP where no other song is over 3 and a half minutes with 6 and a half minutes of intolerable noise garbage sort of sums it up. Call it a two and a half star for me, and round it up for historical significance and general audacity.
There are only a couple of tracks here that can generously be called songs. It's mostly enlightened centrist anti-zeitgeist horseshit. Best track: Let's Make the Water Turn Black
Yeah… it’s Zappa and all… it’s just too much for me.
Side one is a brilliant takedown of 1967 and the hippie movement. Zappa the satirist at the peak of his snide powers. It even has some catchy tunes. It gets a little self-indulgent on the second side, but overall this is one of the best records he ever made.
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.
Dit gaat echt weer veel te ver, hoor!
Hier kan ik echt werkelijk 10x niks mee
De mensen die vinden dat dit een baanbrekend album zou zijn moeten zich laten nakijken.
Een combinatie van lollig en niet te doen.
Weird.
I am starting to hear and understand more of Zappa's humor, which is dark, satirical, and biting...all of which I love dearly. I know that there are many devoted fans of Frank Zappa in so many ways, and I know I'm extraordinarily late to that party. His music is on its own path, no doubt, and that's very hard to do well. Mixing music and comedy is always tricky for me--can't quite explain it, but it can quickly annoy me--but at least he brings to that mix musicianship that is way above most. I do get what an amazing, multifaceted, and talented musician he was. There is a ton of his work to which I've never listened, and I think it's worth it for me to check it out.
Dirge.
It’s too wired but I like it to an extent
This was horrible. I really like some Zappa, but the chipmunk singing...
Rrrraaaarrr
im too dumb to understand this intellectual masterpiece so 2 stars
rock psicodelico dos 60s, muito experimental e alternativo
4/10
zappa é mor doidão né
Interesting message at an interesting time in our history. Wouldn’t go back to listen
Just.....no. A lot of noise.
Hippies suck, Frank is great. Not my favorite Zappa record but it's still good. It might be his most accessible album as there aren't a lot of long instrumentals that might put off some listeners.
This is such a weird combination of good and annoying that I don't know how to rate it. The smugness is off the charts and it's sort of terrible musically, but there is often something there that makes me want to listen again.
???????? i much prefer zappa when he.... actually tries to play the guitar and make interesting music. like, this music is experimental and satirical, but to no end. maybe i don't get it? i feel like i do get it, but just don't like it. what a boring bit. satire has evolved so much past this point. this is irony-poisoned nonsense. there are moments where i chuckle, but it's not enough to hold up an album that just doesn't hit the mark.
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.
Nah
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
Listening to a Zappa album is always a trip with unexpected moments of brilliance. But a lot of eye rolling too.
What a weird, wild, unique and fascinating album. Bizarrely poetic and literate lyrics that takes jabs at EVERYONE and does so with irreverance and biting dark humour. Musically the styles, production and arrangements are all ove the place but mostly interesting and engaging. My favorite Zappa album that I've heard so far and one that I think will remain in my rotation for a little while at least. As I type this is my 3rd listen. 4 stars
A very odd album which is almost 50% sound and talking tracks, and not music per se, but engaging as you don’t know what to expect. It is almost nothing you could expect from Zappa and the Jazz fusion the group is known for.
What a ride this one was. Probably the weirdest album so far but if you ignore the tracks that are just speech or noise, you are actually left with some good psychedelic rock songs with funny/satirical and most importantly entertaining lyrics. This is definitely an album that you either love or completely hate but I'm willing to give this some credit
Á fyrstu sekúndunum skynjaði ég það að þetta hljyti að vera með því skrýtnasta sem ég hef hlustað á. Í lokin gúglaði ég bandið og varð núll hissa. Herra Zappa var þarna. Það hlaut bara að vera. Áhugavert, en þarf ekki endurhlustun nema ég fari að taka ofskynjunarlyf.
Ok this is the second album from these guys here. This one was done way better - mostly because he was taking potshots at the hippies, and that's something I can stand behind completely. It sounded like late 60s bullshit but the lyrics turned it into something far better. I know Zappa is a hipster darling these days but I have to give this a 4/5 for being one of the best pisstakes I've ever heard. Can't give it the full 5 because some of it was just annoying (see: the last "song") but I was tempted.
тоже немного психоделичное 60е ее whats the ugliest Party of your body
Mielipide: :D Tosi kokeellista hippumusiikkia 60-luvulta Mukana intiaani
Remember, kids: when you're listening to silence, you're listening to not-Zappa. Also, the wisdom of Zappa is still appropriate today: steer clear of San Francisco. Loving the police while they kick the shit out of you is an activity that has aged like wine. And if you don't have an Indian in your group, get one! What is wrong with you? Welcome the Dance Hall of Chopped-Up-Cabbage Music... doo wop doo wop. You need a makeover! The palimpsest of sound that is called an album speaks one eternal truth to me: hippies suck in every galaxy.
I've heard about Frank Zappa for a long time and wondered what the best entry point is for his music. This wasn't it for me. Impish and experimental, the album makes fun of 60's culture and music. I'm sure this felt radical at the time but it feels like a relic now. There aren't enough standout moments to elevate it beyond being a curiosity of the era. "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?" was my favorite. Absurd and goofy and parodies 60's R&B very well, but it's real goal is to shake you out of your mundane existence and tell you that your life is a lie. I think that's the goal of the whole album but this was the only time that message really clicked and worked for me.
The whole album is obviously a commentary on some world/societal topics. Lots of lyrics about abuse from cops- I'm up to track 4 and I think I've heard a lyric about that in 3 songs so far. There's this thing that pervades in Frank Zappa projects that just sort of annoys me... so much of his music comes across as weirdly pompous, even though his whole shtick is that he makes experimental music and fights conventionality (which is usually attractive to me). I don't fully understand why I feel this way, and to be honest I've probably only heard maybe like a third of his released material across all of his projects so maybe I'm not well versed enough to give it an objective critique. I feel this in this release too. There's just these overwhelming concepts that I feel like are just being screamed at me from Zappa / the band. "THIS IS ART." "LISTEN TO OUR ART AND FEEL SOMETHING." "OUR ALBUM COVER IS LIKE SGT. PEPPERS." "LOOK AT ME IN A DRESS ON THE ALBUM COVER." Maybe it's because I'm in a great mood and I don't feel like ingesting art that is critiquing everything, but in the simplest form of experiencing music, this just isn't enjoyable for me to listen to. There's a lyric on track 7, "Harry, You're a Beast": "You paint your head Your mind is dead You don't even know what I just said That's you, American womanhood" [then burping pig sounds, cacophonous chimes] "You're phony on top, you're phony underneath You lay in bed & grit your teeth" I just, I dunno man. Maybe if the music here was some amazing melody or some really incredibly written hook or something I would enjoy this part, but I can't help but think "who hurt you?". I do understand the idea that this was experimental at the time, and also could be seen as a form of "punk" music in a rebellious sense and without typical punk timbres like distorted guitars, fast drums, and aggressive vocals. It's outsider (ish)! It's the artists saying "we are seeing things in the world that we don't like and we are using our music as a vehicle to express these feelings" and I respect and appreciate that. It's interesting to me that an overarching theme in this listening project is the listener's context in experiencing the music. On a different day, maybe I would be enjoying this more- even now, I'm listening to track 9, "Absolutely Free", and it is cool sounding. It has meter changes, interesting melodies, instrumentation at times that isn't what I would expect for the 1960's (like the ending 20 seconds of music). But I guess that's just part of the experience and listener context is inherent, ubiquitous, and unavoidable. I read that Jimi Hendrix on the album cover (far right) is actually him in person. I just gotta give it a 1/5.
Not my cup of tea.
Just noise. Couldn’t wait for it to finish.
The parts that were actually music were just ok, the rest was insufferable noise. Not at all for me
Frank Zappa made a lot of music, I mean a lot of music. Some amazing, some ok and some well just bad. This album spans of those, it's interesting to listen to once maybe twice but that's about it for me and I'll just listen to a few tracks.
Frank Zappa was a genius and every musician top shelf. Best, the attack on hippie culture is ruthlessly hilarious.
I was expecting a little bit of everything and I wasn't wrong. For as experimental as it was, there were still some highlights. Not sure how to rate an album like this.
It started off pretty strong. I'm thinking that Zappa didn't like Hippies very much. But the back half of the album sort devolved into something that was too experimental for me. But the good outweight the bad, I think. Tough one to rate.
Interesting sounds by Zappa. This is one that will take more time to get to know better.
4.25
Not good.
Por alguna razón, vino justo cuando necesitaba escuchar algo así 🥴
Прослушано! Откровенная Мура, вообще не понял набор звуков.
Listening to this made me irrationally angry
One of my favorites of Zappa’s.
I'm convinced Zappa's brain must've naturally produced too much DMT or something. He didn't need to use them to get it. For someone who not only didn't use, but despised psychedelic drugs and its entire culture, he truly made some of the greatest psychedelic music this world has ever seen, and this unique work is absolutely no exception. "What's there to live foooorr"
9/10 always love hearing a Frank Zappa album don’t get me wrong, Sgt. Peppers is one of my favorite albums but it’s so much fun hearing these guys parody it
Takes real vision and courage to make an album that sounds like this. It seems a bit cynical, which I'm less interested in, but the freedom with which this album bounces from one motif to another, yet stays cohesive and keeps a thread throughout is remarkable.
Probably my second favorite of Zappa's next to "Absolutely Free." I like him in this manic kitchen sink mode best. Though it's a real wooden rollercoaster of an album and there are all these bizarre interludes throughout, he's still keeping it relatively tight. If you don't like something, he's shortly onto the next idea. Whereas on something like "Uncle Meat" it just gets too self indulgent and becomes a mess. Always appreciate his bravery in experimentation, total embrace of humor, and willingness to call things as he sees them.
Even more experimental than I thought it’d be. Neat for 1968 but sonically it actually isn’t very interesting, just delay manipulation and pitch shifting, likely via tape. Probably novel at the time but now the results aren’t special.
Avante garde satire done in an enjoyable way. I wouldn't listen again, first time wasn't bad.
Maybe it was funny at the time, but humour has moved on since the late '60s. To be any good, comedy albums need to be both really funny and musically excellent. This is neither. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? Date listened: 10/11/22
Frank is an acquired taste. This album was a little too odd for my liking
Batshit crazy - quite fun, made no sense
I don’t get its
Far out, interesting shit
This album proves, rather conclusively, that a recording of a bunch of guys talking amongst themselves as they fool around does not make for great music.
Interestingly weird
Not really my vibe
It’s a big NO from me Just not the genre of music that appeals to me, having listened to it I wouldn’t do so again
Što se mene tiče, može biti i cijela njegova diskografija. Ovo je itekakva satira i sprdnja na glazbu 60-ih, ali ponajviše na Fab Four iliti Bitlse.
Enjoyed
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: What’s the ugliest part of your body?
Surely there was another album that could've squeezed into the 1001 list over this bullshit. Horrid late 60s nonsense. Gotta be one of the worst albums on this list. 1/10.
Always strange and fun
Entertaining if a bit cynical. It's interesting to hear the musical parodies. They're good enough to easily identify what genre/song/etc they're going after.
Sophomoric, anti-hippy sound collage psych.
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.
Massive trip, a strong contender for the definition of cool conversation/argument
Yeah, wow.
Really stupid and somewhat annoying. The more album sits with me the more I wanted to buy a vinyl of it just destroy it
DUH
Let me take a minute to tell you my friend…this was a super interesting album that I’ll probably never listen to again. 😂
silly
Stellar homage to Sgt. Peppers. First song sounds pretty techy for the 60s lol. Didn’t get to read about this album, but I’m 100% certain it’s all just making fun of the Beatles - and I’m here for it lol
This was the shit I was afraid of when we started this project. Listened to this at 11pm at night while outside walking my dog. Went to bed. Nightmares. Great in a weird way. What an experience. Amazing work
I loved this. It was very entertaining.
Nach dem offensichtlichen Schrott der letzten Wochen ist dies eine Wohltat. Zappa halt.
style of music is unique.
what? what did i listen to? i’m not entirely sure this is art or even music. the reoccurring whispering was awful and grating to my ears. it was plain weird and not in the charming way. there was a nice piano solo, but uh. that’s all. i respect frank zappa a lot both personally and professionally, but this was one of the worst albums on this list. i just have so many questions for zappa. i’ll never get them answered. but thank goodness he moved away from the kazoo in this album. i can say the personnel notes were the most amusing i have ever seen.
This is more tolerable than the other Mothers of Invention album on this project. But just barely. I can at least see what the intended purpose was: to parody The Beatles and the hippie movement. This album's scope was much more specific and carried a message encouraging people to rebel against binary social and political thinking. This made it a little further from drivel and closer to making an important statement. But still. I didn't like it.
"We're Only in It for the Money" is the third studio album from The Mothers of Invention. It is a concept album satirizing left and right-wing politics especially the hippie subculture and The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Why not? The original album cover which is now the album cover but on the initial release was not the album cover parodies that Beatles album including the band dressed in drag. At times, this album is hilarious. As with all Frank Zappa albums that I've heard, there is a lot going on. Voices and noises from everywhere, multiple instruments, time signatures, spoken word songs, telephone conversations, etc. The music is classified as experimental, rock and psychedelic. Hard to classify Frank. This album was the first album in a project called No Commercial Project which included the next two Mothers' albums and a solo instrumental Zappa album. It is included in the National Recording Registry for its "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significance" and "a scathing satire on hippiedom and America's reaction to it." "Are You Hung Up" starts things off with various people talking including a stuttering Eric Clapton. This song rolls into "Who Needs the Peace Corps" which is a satire of the hippie culture. Very funny. Sort of pyschedelic Indian-sounding music. "Absolutely Free" begins with a piano and then goes into a waltz with a harpsichord and various sound effects. Another song criticizing hippies and the Summer of Love. Next is "Flower Punk" and it is just great. It parodies garage rock and is a carnival version of Hendrix's "Hey Joe." The distorted vocals are hilarious sounding like the lead singer was huffing helium throughout. On the second side is "Let's Make the Water Turn Black" probably the song I've heard most from this album. Frank sings like a teenager/kid and it's about two kids he grew up with: how they fart, pop pills, go in the army and make alcohol with raisins turning the water black. On "Lonely Little Girl" you finally hear a Zappa electric guitar. The music and vocals kind of go pyschedelic. Definitely 60's sounding. "The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny" ends things with a piano and various noises - musique concrète - recorded sounds modified through audio techniques into a song montage. A very Frank way to finish. This is one of those albums that if you like Frank you'll like it and if you don't you won't. The parody started wearing thin on multiple listened but was initially hilarious. There's always enough going on experimentally with Zappa's music to appreciate a lot.
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)
Frank ❤️
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.
My god it's random, but not in a good way.
The forever difficult-to-nail-down Zappa and his instrumental monsters have here for us a most intensely head-scratching and fun album.
My thoughts on finishing this album were something along the lines of: What just happened? I feel like my brain is leaking out of my ears. Did people get paid actual money to do this? I only listened to the first 15-20 seconds of most tracks because that's all I could take. Not even "so bad it's good."
I kept thinking over and over again: “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”
I do like myself an ADHD trip from time to time. I mean, I listen to Fantomas and They Might Be Giants -- by choice. But the individual fleeting components have to be good. This is maybe 10% good and none of the good bits get to stick around for long before they move on to the next whatever.
Not an easy listen but one I would like to do again.
I'm so confused. The first Mothers of Invention album I got made me so irrationally angry. But then I got "Hot Rats", and I found it one of the greatest things I'd ever heard. I thought I just liked Zappa instrumentally and that was it. But no, actuality, I really enjoyed the Mothers this time around. I feel like the jokes worked a lot better here. An acquired taste?
Wau. Interesting and ahead of its time. But not for me to listen daily.
This is another one of those albums where it helps to be stoned to truly love it. I'm gonna need to take a whole lotta more of whatever they took.
Just too big brain and quirky for me. Seems like interesting jazzy music, but then it is nerds doing skits and songs they think are funny. It's not that clever.
satire is cool
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
Hi i'm Jimmy Carl Black and I'm the Indian of the group Prefs: Who Needs The Peace Corps?, Concentration Moon, Mom & Dad, Bow Tie Daddy, Harry, You're a Beast, What's The Ugliest Part of Your Body?, Absolutely Free, Flower Punk, Let's Make the Water Turn Black, The Idiot Bastard Son, Lonely Little Girl, Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance, What's The Ugliest Part of Your Body (Reprise), Mother People Moins pref: Nasal Retentive Calliope Music
Beatles but on more drugs 2/10
Very experimental
2/13, 15%