Reviews (page 4 of 7)
6/10 Are we really sure Zappa disapproved of drugs? Highlights: Trouble Every Day You're Probably Wondering Why Im Here
Deeply strange and surreal and satirical and unnerving, and also quite enjoyable! 3.5
A Frank Zappa album that I quite like. The zaniness hadn't taken over yet.
I hope there's more Zappa to come.
Different, seemingly an album of two parts really. Some that seemed a bit shit and oldie, but on a second listen felt very satirical. Other half of the album very experimental and political. Enjoyable, but feel other albums might be better?
it's fun enough Will I listen to again: 9%
This one is a bit better than the other Mothers Of Invention I got. I appreciate Zappa a lot, but still I don't find this extremely good. It's way more interesting than the other one, but not great.
Overlong, but there's some gold in there. You can hear the bands it clearly inspired throughout it.
I can get behind oddball music if it’s reined in properly. This is about half and half.
Frank Zappa is too much for me sometimes. Yes some of these songs I enjoyed but some of them made my head hurt and my ears bleed. Chaotic neutral to say the least.
Wonderfully eccentric, but......
This was fun
A vast, weird first wave psych record. Gosh… 1966? Compare this to what the Beatles, Stones, Velvets, etc. were doing at the time, and it reveals this effort’s astounding novelty for its time.
Frank Zappa as a person, 5/5. This Frank Zappa album, 3/5.
I love seeing people be their authentic, freaky selves. At the same time, I find spending too much time with them exhausting. It was the same with this album - what a complete orgy of creativity and anti-establishment feeling - but there’s only so long I can listen to people being funny about things that really aren’t that funny. Glad I listened to it, glad it exists, but won’t be rushing back to listen to it again.
This is very weird, and I was prepared to not like it at all, but I strangely enjoyed it.
The first track of this double LP debut album is called “Hungry Freaks, Daddy”. It’s absolutely terrible, from a traditional pop music perspective, but really establishes the ! I’ve listened to a moderate amount of psychedelic rock for this project, and every time I find myself wondering “this is fine, but when does psychedelic rock get REALLY weird?” Turns out, it happened right at the beginning, in 1966, before most of those other albums even came out. Neat. Part of me is curious what this listening experience would be like on even a fraction of any of the drugs consumed during its creation. I’ll probably never know. It’s fun to hear Frank Zappa sorting things out. His solo stuff is pretty wonky/nerdy and hard for me to get into, but slacker/stoner Frank Zappa is its own vibe. Idk how often I can listen to this but it’s more frequent than never.
Great first album. Zappa already had his sound. Influence of do-wop carried throughout future albums
Interesting, but not my vibe. ★★★
I don't get Frank Zappa, never did. Was he supposed to be like the Weird Al Yankovic of the Baby Boomers? Still, not the worst album on this list.
Truly some parts of this still sound contemporary and fresh. Idk how they did it, but I know it blew minds back in the day. I’ll probably not ever listen to this again, but it’s very cool to see a clear step in the evolution of rock music preserved in the fossil record this way.
seeing zappa twice within a month or two is really cool, even if this album is just a really long SNL skit. as always, cool guitar work from zappa-- this is expected-- but the rest is just a little too goofy for this to make it onto my "i will play this album again" list. it was fun to listen to once, and i feel that once is enough
I think this album would have grown on me with more listens. It wouldn't be something I reach for. However, the creativity was really engaging, albeit a little weird at times.
On Freak Out! Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention both pay tribute to and target 1960s pop. They're true to the sounds of the era, then twist them into distortion and satire, mocking pop conventions and calling out social hypocrisy. As it goes, the humor sharpens into biting commentary on media, government and the glorification of violence, and the final tracks are chaotic performance art that also highlight the emptiness of counterculture, psychedelic ritual. It feels like Weird Al’s spirit with punk attitude and an avant-garde edge—funny but abrasive. Interesting.
Trippy comedic rock
Never heard of this band but I noticed this is fronted by Zappa, whom I never listened to but know how legendary he is as an artist. Interested to hear this. Very psychedelic.
Very strange album. I probably won’t listen to again but it was interesting. I liked the bluesy style and a lot of the songs had elements I enjoyed paired with some stuff that made it weird. Some songs were just too odd for me but a few were nice enough on their own. All in all a weird experience I won’t repeat. Fav song: Trouble Every Day - also liked Go Cry On Somebody Else’s Shoulder Least fav: It Can’t Happen Here
These guys would love youtube/tiktok musical skits. It's a comedic album and sometimes the comedy comes at expense of the music and sometimes they go hand in hand. I think this album balances that a lot better than We're Only In It For The Money but there's still moments where the punchline is a scream or weird noise that makes listening a bit rough. Could have done with a few cuts but there were a lot of songs that were really fun to listen to! Favourite song: Anyway The Wind Blows (or You Didn't Try To Call Me) Least: The Return Of The Song Of Monster Magnet
A strange, unholy union of decent instrumentals with lyrics sometimes akin to incoherent blathering. There's a song called. You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here, right around the 3/4 Mark, and yes, yes I am. Immediately followed by a song called Trouble Everyday that I actually enjoyed very much for its dialogue on social issues. Then came Help, I'm A Rock which consisted of some foreign language moaning, grunting and an array of different oral noises. These guys are definitely making a statement and I think I love it. You could tell me this came out in 1986, 2006, or 2036 and I would've believed you but to find outthis was released in 1966 is.... Not as far fetched as I thought when I began writing down this thought. 3.3333333 outta 5?
Never liked this one much, but I appreciate the energy and influence it brought to its time. I enjoyed a lot of the tracks more this time around, but the weird stuff Zappa always does are still a major turn off, like the whole last three tracks. Feels like he never does it with meaningful intent.
Crazy lyrics but I was feeling it until that last track
Ah, Frank and the Mothers, finally. My brother from another mother worships Zappa. I appreciate how experimental he can be, but man -- listening to a whole album is a slog.
Actually cannot imagine someone in the 60s making this lmao, or someone else in the 60s listening to it. Would have loved to be in the room when the last song was pitched/performed for the first time
freak is right. A lot of progressive stuff, kind of scary at the end. Clever lyrics lending to the satirical nature of the album
Funny alternative
At first I was like "what the hell is this?" but then when I understood that it was Zappa it made more sense. Some good, some bad. I understand why it's something worth listening to though, which is a lot more than I can say for many of the other picks I've heard so far.
Yeah, it needs to be here and it's fun to hear Frank torn between celebrating and mocking the hippy thing that he's clearly part of, but I won't ever listen to this again.
Good.
A lot of good stuff here but I don't know if I'm quite seeing the genius through all the 'creativity'. Probably a grower but this is like a 3.5* right now.
I am partial to a bit of Zappa and co, although I hadn't heard this album before. The musical genres he played around in are ones I usually enjoy (although not so much the weirder avant garde stuff) and I've always been tickled by his humour although it's not everyone's cup of tea (there's definitely a lot that would get him cancelled these days). The tail end of this album was kinda hard work but there are some good tunes here
Frank Zappa for the most part is just a bit much for me. Feels a bit samey, self-indulgent. Not bad, but not something I particularly feel in awe of.
Its 1966 and the mix is good. But they are prats really. Yeah needs a listen but I doubt you'll play it twice
Quite liked this at the beginning. Then the drugs kick in too much and they take the piss out of the listener.
Zappa is so silly and this is fine
Difficult to listen to but I respect the boundaries they pushed
This was cool. And weird. But I thought it would be cooler. And weirder. 3.6
Although The Mothers of Invention seem slightly more mainstream than Frank Zappa's solo work, my long-standing inability to enjoy and appreciate Zappa also seems to extend to the Mothers (at least this early iteration of Zappa's Mothers). I *do* appreciate the fact that this album generally has recognizable song structures and sounds, and even some pretty standard rhythm and blues numbers, but the somewhat pervasive late 60s psychedelic rock sound, coupled with Zappa's distinctive arrangements in many of the tracks (especially on the second disc of the too-long double-album), don't really speak to me, and often it felt like a slightly more musical version of a Jonathan Richman album. The highlights for me were probably the paranoid "Who are the brain police?", the Watts-riots-inspired "Trouble every day" and the sinister "Help, I'm a rock", with a nod to the surprisingly retro/campy stylings of "Go cry on somebody else's shoulders", plus of course the kid-favorite "Wowie Zowie" :) I'm a bit disappointed that there's another Mothers of Invention album ahead in the collection, but not exactly surprised.
would have been a lot stronger if it were half as long. I especially didn't need the jungle noises in the last 10 minutes or so...
I have a big respect for Zappa and the influence he had on some of my favorite artists. I still struggle to enjoy his music personally, but I feel like this album has the most relatable songs in Frank's entire discography.
very interesting listening experience not great not terrible, was enjoyable
Pretty innovative for 1966. Sgt Pepper comes out the following year so maybe it was just the time these psychedelia albums came out. Was growing tired of this towards the end. 2.5/5. Raising to a 3.
It lost me at the beginning, but it started coming around towards the end. 2.5/5
Surprised this was ‘60’s sounded more 80’s
Frank Zappa is so weird
who knew satire music could be so interesting
Weird as expected. Doo-woppy? Fucking tapped lyrical experience. Interesting choice ending an album where every other song is 3-5 mins with a 12 minute song about cream cheese.
This one might take a couple of listens - the lyrics seem unbelievably juvenile but the music is great. The sort of 50's swing mixed with psych rock works strangely well. But I never really landed on whether I liked it or not.
When I was a student a Zappa loving goth told me people are either Zappa people or Beefheart people. I'm definitely a Beefheart person by some margin. I quite like the sound of this one and there are some great tracks like I'm Not Satisfied and Trouble Every Day but its occasional Zappa patented arch tone can be a stone cold drag. Let's listen to The Fugs instead next time.
Frank Zappa. Fucking weirdos.
Always something interesting with Zappa - there are some fun songs early on, but the extended "musique concrete" section at the end reduces the likelyhood of revisiting.
From the first track, this was very groovy and evocative of its time. I also heard a kazoo. So I gave myself over to the images of daisies and pink and yellow swirls that suddenly filled my head, and tried to enjoy the experience. However, I'm not quite sure I ever worked out what journey, or concept, we were supposed to be following. The 50s rock n roll songs definitely wandered into spoof-sounding territory: Wowie Zowie could have belonged in The Little Shop of Horrors or Rocky Horror. Small peeve that there were a lot of rhythm changes mid-song: stop-start tracks annoy me a bit. Some tracks were just trying too hard to be odd (track 3!) and the last track lost me all together (cream cheeeeese!) I feel a bit bemused, but that's Zappa, I guess. I can't agree with the top review which states this was ahead of its time - to me, it screams 1966. Overall, a 3 it is, but I'm glad I had an excuse to listen to it. I think.
Enjoyable instrumentals and fun satire. Not bad
Quite wacky, especially for 1966. Didn’t offend me but not massively memorable. Healthy use of glockenspiel.
Lyder meget satirisk men det er vidst meningen. Meget tidstypisk og jeg kan jo godt lide 60’er musik. Men det bliver lidt ensformigt
Interesting album, important for music history, but often very annoying. I mean there is a song that has kazoo in it. It is all too long, I don't need half of what is there, but it is a swing and I respect the ambition, I embrace the weird sounds, the trying. I don't like it, but it is better than when they are trying to emulate what is popular at the time.
Once I realized I was in for a Zappa album I steeled myself for grating wackiness. I'm struck by how accessible this is. For something that is satirizing popular music genres, it executes those genres very well and I can imagine if people heard some of these songs in isolation, they could have earnestly enjoyed them without realizing he was taking the piss. Random thoughts: Go Cry On Someone Else's Shoulder sounds like the beginning of that Crystals song Any Way the Wind Blows is cool. Who Are the Brain Police? creates an interesting atmosphere They lift the melody from Sherry Baby for the end of Wowie Zowie Help, I'm a Rock is hypnotic It's too kooky for me by the last two tracks, It Can't Happen Here and The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet but it's solid up til then. This is a hard-and-fast 3.5 out of 5 for me. Quite solid. I don't want to undersell it, because I do enjoy it, but I hit a wall with this stuff.
I can hear the experimental element throughout the album which I enjoyed. I can see that this album was definitely out of place in its era which makes it that much more awesome to me. Plus I like the originality and the message within it so I’m impressed with them. I do think the sound is at times jarring which is stopping me from rating it super high.
I will henceforth be known as Suzy Creamcheese. No questions will be taken at this time.
Cool album, some good songwriting and that 60’s “freak out the squares” vibe which I quite enjoy. Not as bogged down in guitar solos as some of his other stuff. Made me think about how the weed they smoked was nowhere near as strong as the weed we have now. They had blocks of plant matter full of stems and seeds, but they was appeh.
at least it was interesting ?
much less freak than i expected and i felt the freaking going on in the pop songs was very bearable and often did not take away from the songs, kinda cool to think about this coming out in 66. i do feel like zappa's tendency towards being epic and random kazoo for the lolz pancake bacon swag can be kinda annoying but im glad they mostly kept that bullshit to the last few songs and particularly the final song which didnt really detract from the album that much to me though i was not happy to have to listen to it Fav song: Anyway the Wind Blows
Super fedt tidligt psykedelisk rock/blues consept album.
OK, I sort of know what to expect now whenever the Mothers of Invention/Frank Zappa comes up. Expect the weird, expect the satire and wittiness. It turns out that this was the group's debut album and there's a LOT here. I know it's not the primary focus here, but there is some good song construction here despite the zaniness. It does a fairly good job mimicking popular music from the time whilst satirizing stuff like the American school system, teenage love, and protest culture. You won't find me arguing against the idea that this album is groundbreaking and foundational in any way. But as per usual, we've also got a lengthy & chaotic sound collage in the album's final track. Who is Suzy Creamcheese?
I wasn’t looking forward to this when it popped up; I remembered the other Mothers of Invention album from quite a while ago (Only In It For The Money?) being pretty weird and abrasive, although I didn’t hate it. Actually, this isn’t bad at all, and refreshingly creative. The style jumps around wildly. There are kazoos. At this point in this project (some 700 albums in), anything that feels distinct and unusual is welcome. …okay, I had written all that about halfway through, but it does get weird at the end.
Lots of silliness, but a lot of fun too!
Udsyret nok. Trouble every day var fed nok. Blues rock med en overraskende tempo skift til sidst
A bit dated, but I thought this was a kind of clever album with some interesting music.
I always want to like Zappa. And some of this album was good. Not great, but good, as in I could listen to the whole thing. Except for the last track. I’m just going to pretend that doesn’t exist.
Listening as I write notes on ancient Rome and reading from my laptop. Major clashing of times. Recently my curiosity for psychedelic rock has consumed me, so being given this album as the first felt like some sort of fate. What I loved in this album are the funny voices. Other people have said this album is a comedy, and yeah I understand. It's funky and fun, what can I hate about that? Although I have to admit there were a few skips for me.. Whats wrong with cream cheese :'(
When I first started listening to this album thought I was going to hate it l, but I liked it more and more as it went on liked how weird it was. It is very 60s felt bit like was in Austin powers are some points think it’s definitely an album you have to listen to a few times to really appreciate
Actually got into this after a ropey start. Quite cute!
I think the word is tedious. This album absolutely needs to be on this list. Part of the reason I'm going through this list is to force myself to listen to these "important" albums, and I'm glad I did because there is some interesting aspects of this album. But man. Its a lot. That last song especially. Ugh.
"Help me i'm a rock" est très très freaky !! It cant happen here chelou aussi euh 12 min c'est long et freaky la à part les musiques freaky/bizzare (qui correspondent au titre ducoup ça va) jtrouve ça pas mal, musique/chant/parole bien, respect les anciens
Quelques sons très typiques de la période vibe beatles bowie etc Quelques trucs originaux sympa avec de bonnes idées qui ont surtout été reprises plus tard, mais les cris de singe c'est de trop
This is hilarious....this band has everything to do with Frank Zappa. Nuff said.
Getting an extra star for I guess historical significance. I didn't really have any patience this playthrough so everything just rubbed me the wrong way from the many kazoo fills to the accent/impression that Frank Zappa does I just think this one is overrated. I don't think there's some extra smart secret layer to it.
Frank Zappa weirdness. Those last three songs are fucking insane for 1966
Favorite: The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet and How could I be such a fool Hungry Freaks, Daddy - I don't think I really like this song but it's got a lot of very interesting things going on it. I don't love the guitars with the elevator music or his voice in some of it so I hope that doesn't persist through the whole album. I Ain't Got No Heart - Already like this way better than the last song What are the brain police? and Go cry on someone else's shoulder - I'm starting to enjoy this album, there are still some odd choices that I don't like but it's still interesting. This album does not seem like it's from the 60s After this point it kind of stays the same for the rest of the album. Help I'm a rock - This song goes back to being weird and I don't think I like it again but it's again still interesting and definitely better than the first few tracks of the album. The return of the son of the monster Magnet - "Susie Cream Cheese, Honey" (I adore this). This feels less like a song and more like a thought experiment but I vibe.
Is it too much? Of course But it’s too much of a good thing
Okay I enjoyed this more than I planned to. I don’t get this guy
Started off OK and got progressively less listenable, which is fine, that's what it was doing. Mission accomplished.
This album is as annoying as it is ahead of it's time. Top Tracks: Wowie Zowie, Help, I'm a Rock
This is how I imagined a West Coast college sounded in the 1960s. 3 stars.
A difficult one to rate, as it is very much a mixed bag. In the balance, I kinda like it though.
It’s adventurous, challenging and groundbreaking but also a bit jokey - more Bonzo’s than Beefheart. Maybe that’s a good thing, but I’m not sure it’s intended. When in the mood, I can enjoy the music but Zappa’s vocals can grate a bit. Not something I ever really need to put on, but I’m glad it exists.
Off the cuff remark: I saw some of the Mothers of Invention, sadly after Zappa died and they were interesting. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would with the exception of the last track which tested my resolve. At times it's remarkably silly, but tight and fun. Standout track: possibly You Didn't Try to Call Me. Further listens might change this? Revisit?: I think I may have to
it was all right but the ending interstitals were FUCKING ANNOYING
I guess I thought Frank Zappa was like…a novelty guy? And so since this has Frank Zappa I thought it was like a joke band? Guess I was (mostly) wrong and this was sooooo great. Some of the nonsensical droning does go on a litttttle long for my tastes, but I have to give it a pass because drugs.
Meh. A little better than the other Mothers album this list already served up, but not by much. More doo-wop-y than I was expecting. The more Frank Zappa I hear the more of a fan I am of them as a musician/guitarist/composer and less of a fan of them as a singer/vocalist/lyricist.
Funny, during my high school Zappa phase, this was just fine. Nowadays it’s still fine but better than the last Zappa which I had previously loved. I hope my biographer is getting all this.
About halfway through, I thought that this was actually pretty interesting and fun to listen to. They were trying out different stuff, and hitting on different styles of music. By the end, this was off the rails. Evens out to a 3, I suppose.
Weird shit. My mind is debating with itself whether I liked it or hated it, so I’m settling on an undecided 3 stars.
The other Zappa albums, or indeed Mothers of Inventions albums, that I’ve heard have all sounded quite bad to my uncultured little ears, so I think it makes sense that I had very low expectations for this album. However, for the most part, it was actually pretty decent! It’s still quite tongue in cheek anti-pop, but actually does sound like music here, rather than the incoherent noise from the other albums. And I did find it quite catchy too. It’s still not an album I’d spend money on, but nowhere near as bad as I’d expected.
More mediocre pretentious Zappa crap. Doesn’t need to be on list
Frank Zappa-led experimental rock. Standout is "Trouble Every Day" with the harmonica before the next track "Help, I'm A Rock" where it gets off the rails and through the end is really weird.
An interesting album that didn’t quite hit the mark in terms of what I normally listen to, but it was a good opportunity to listen to unique novelty albums.
I think I like the idea/concept of Frank Zappa better than I like the actual music, LOL. It wasn't bad though; it's entertaining for the length of the album but I wouldn't want to listen to much more than this, or listen to this too often.
The doo-wop ones always remind me of Tom Lehrer, but I don't have much use for the psychedelic ones outside of maybe Hungry Freaks, Daddy.
Groovy and a good amount for weird. Not sure if it was supposed to be funny but certainly made me internally chuckle.
Some drugs must have been involved in this... It is quite interesting but a bit exhausting after a while.
I'm not familiar with the Mothers early work. This is pretty good.
Glad I gave this a chance--there's some cool and funny stuff here. As I said about Hendrix yesterday, tho, I'm always going to appreciate Zappa in theory more than I do in practice.
I love psychedelic rock generally and ought to appreciate Zappa more, but this album is unbearably pretentious and trying too hard to be clever. A low 3 which the last track nearly brought down to a 2.
Very experimental 60’s psych rock. ‘Freak Out’ is kind of a good title for this… Was ok; maybe a little too trippy/eclectic for my taste.
It took me until the 3rd track to realise what this was. It's satire. Satire of the state of music in the 60s, but also of the state of music before the 60s, and the state of music in the future. Ridiculously hilarious lyrics, funny instrument choices (Kazoos wtf), strange singing and harmonies. I can understand disliking it, its not for everyone, and I even considered giving this a 1, but I can't cos I appreciate what The Mothers of Invention were trying to do. As a result, solid 3/5
They're fucking around and I'm finding out
I prefer Zappa's solo catalogue, still pretty nice though
Always heard of group, never listened. Was fun brand of various weird, until last song or two. Those are but harder to return to. Overall, wasn't disappointed
I appreciate what Frank Zappa achieved, but I admit I skipped ahead in some of the later songs because it's not 1966 anymore.
Didn't really enjoy but I could tell the musicians have lots of talent.
3/5
Weird, incohesive, bonkers, yet entertaining.
I do not like Frank Zappa as a singer on a lot of these tracks
You can tell this is the first Zappa record, but there are still flashes of utter genius found throughout. A little too rooted in traditional 60s psych for me, but tracks like Trouble Every Day and Who Are The Brain Police really show how forward thinking and ahead of its time some of the ideas on this album were. There’s better Zappa records out there though by far.
It's a decent album, not as divisive as other Frank Zappa's records. This one actually sounds a little too normal. It wouldn't be on this list if Zappa's name was not attached to it.
Maybe 3.5? I didn’t have time to listen multiple times today but I’d come back to it
Not sure what to make of this one, but seems to be ahead of its time. Some interesting songs, humor, and commentary throughout.
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🩷💊🩻 Production: 🎧😐👍 Music: 🧠🤡🤔 Rating: 🤯🤯🤯/5
Off it’s face
After the first three songs, I was prepared to skip through the rest of the album as fast as I could. Then came the next eight tracks, which I found to be fun and worthy of the good reputation this album has garnered over the years. But the closing numbers were a disappointment. I suspect that the songs I like on this album share Zappa's influence, and the songs I did not like belong more or less to Captain Beefheart.
Meh me moc zappa neba
Good
One of the least enjoyable last 3 minutes or so of an album I’ve had. The rest was fine. 2.75 Stars
Frank zappa
Frank zappa en baladas? Descubriendo un mjndo nuevo
I didn't know what to expect with this, knowing that Frank Zappa was in the band. It ended up kind of sounding like 60s music that isn't afraid to have fun and be funny. Not bad...
Sonically good, but nowhere close to how good Frank would get down the road.
Sympathetic to this brand of strange
That’s the beauty of this exercise, I start putting things into perspective. After Captain Beefheart, the other wild project Zappa was involved in, this album feels surprisingly accessible. It playfully runs through all the phases of rock from that era, with sharp, irreverent humor. But unlike Beefheart, it’s clean, tight, and much easier to follow. It also really helps to get some understanding about Zappa’s talent and why he has such a cult following. The talent is obvious, and I find it just as interesting, maybe even more, than other albums from the same time, because it is very well written and has that extra dose of irony.
Holds up well for being nearly 60
01) Hungry Freaks, Daddy - 8,0 02) I Ain't Got No Heart - 7,0 03) Who Are the Brain Police? - 6,5 04) Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder - 8,0 05) Motherly Love - 7,0 06) How Could I Be Such a Fool - 7,0 07) Wowie Zowie - 7,5 08) You Didn't Try to Call Me - 6,5 09) Any Way the Wind Blows - 7,5 10) I'm Not Satisfied - 6,5 11) You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here - 7,0 12) Trouble Every Day - 6,5 13) Help, I'm a Rock - 5,5 14) It Can't Happen Here - 1,0 15) The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet - 1,0 TOTAL: 6,17 (62/100) Current ranking: 419/550
6.5/10
6/10
I liked this better than Only In It For The Money. A bit more accessible and slightly less reliant on the parody - the music stands up pretty well aside from the concept. I didn't really get the satire of freak culture tbh, didn't know what the lyrics were about beyond surface level, but never mind. They must have been very out there for 1966 I liked the mixture of doo-wop and bluesy rock 'n' roll, it's a nice variety and each song brings something new. Zappa's weirdness is also relatively quite restrained (for the first half anyway) so this is a decent album for someone like me who hasn't acquired the taste Nearly gave this a 4 as I write but the last 3 tracks bring it down a lot and reduced some of the positivity from what I thought earlier. That cream cheese nonsense is seriously irritating. So it's 3/5
Sometimes crazy, sometimes amazing, sometimes both.
Weird, satirical, against the grain. It is bunch of different things and they kinda work! I know next to nothing about Zappa aside from he was prolific and very very intelligent. Hoping to hear more from him
This has to have left a real mark on the doors
Man I did not know what I was getting into.
Man I don’t know how to rate a Frank Zappa album! I like him! 6/10 Favorite track - go cry on somebody else’s shoulder
Interesting for sure, but no matter how often I try, Zappa doesn't really work for me.
Some of it is pretty good, but some of it is too avant garde for me.
Weird... funny at times, annoying at times... Guess, if I were drunk, this would be incredible... Sober, however, this is mostly meh, significant, but not overly enjoyable.
An emotionally intense record to me. To some lyrics I could relate a little too well and I was actually uncomfortable. That is not the record‘s fault, just my own vulnerability. But it probably speaks to the strong writing on here. I liked how socially conscious they were - most of the love songs were not traditional love songs either which I liked. Trouble Every Day was very interesting and then followed by Help, I‘m A Rock was hilarious - Help I‘m A Cop lmao. 3 stars for all this and the added obscurity on top.
Fun listen after reading nixonland. The satirical more poppy songs were a highlight. Got super weird at times but it’s Frank Zappa
Nothing special
This album had its way with my ear holes. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. 3/5 Album 34/1001
Interesting enough to be on the list. Is it wasn't I'd have never heard of Suzi Creamcheese!
Well, that was “interesting”. I can only assume that copious amounts of acid were consumed during the writing of this album. In parts the album seems to be pastiche, decades ahead of Flight of the Conchords but laying down a path for them. In other places, it has a focus on playful experimentation with sounds and production. The last track was wild. I was definitely hearing huge amounts of inspiration for Trevor Horns production on Welcome to the Pleasuredome (which I immediately listened to for reference) with its animal noises and the frequent “ooh ah” utterance. The ensemble stands up well, displays fine musical understanding and is really creative especially when taken in context of the era, but it’s not my kind of thing in all honesty. Very much deserving of its place on this list, but not what I’d term a particularly enjoyable listen
On first listen, I was struggling to give this as high as a 2, mostly because I wasn't paying attention, and I would only cue in on the distracting chaos that occasionally happens (and that really happens at the end for the last 3 tracks - so that's the taste I had in my mouth after chewing on this album). But then I started it again...and again...3 full listens. I kept hearing those first couple seconds of track 1 thinking this is bound to be great. But I kept having to convince myself to get over the talk-singing as soon as the vocals enter - I found it really unappealing. But as I pushed through and forced myself to pay more attention to the songs...the music, it's actually pretty smooth sailing. A classic mid-60's sound that somehow reminds me of They Might Be Giants - surprising musicianship with occasionally (or not so occasionally) ridiculous or far-reaching lyrics. If this were a 12-track album, it might even approach 4 star territory for me, which, on first listen I would have though was ludicrous. It's really a lesson in listening intentionally, and not boxing something in based on preconceived notions ('oh great...a Frank Zappa album...not gonna like this'). Overall, I think I'm at a 3.5 falling to a 3. But I'd listen to the majority of this again and it would probably continue to grow on me.
Love me a bit of Frank Zappa. Weird and amusing and then even more weird. It's a bit long for one sitting but I made it through. Not the sort of thing I can listen too every day but I will listen again and the score may go up. (edit : I have and it won't)
Am I on acid? Honestly? I had a really fun time listening to this. It took a lot of risks Help, I'm a rock!
Goofiness and yes, a bit freaky. And clear hints of what was to come.
Strong lyrics, great recording, annoying vocals and melodies.
Tää oli ihan kiva. Jaksoi hyvin kuunnella koko levyn.
Ihan ok, mutta liikaa.
Ei parasta zappaa. Sekoilun määrä on kuiteskin vakio ja muutama hyvä styge tässäkin
Ihan jees aikansa rokkia.
From what little I knew of Frank Zappa, I didn’t think I would like this album. I am pleasantly surprised. I try not to read the reviews or the Wikipedia article before listening to ann album. I listened to this on a road trip and came away with the impression that The Mothers were trying to make fun of their other musical genres. I wasn’t surprised when I read the Wikipedia article and found that it was supposed to be satirical. That said, I think it’s a pretty good album.
What? Weird. Some songs remind me of my ex-wife, like “Go cry on someone else’s shoulder” and “How could I be such a fool?” Left me craving creamcheese.
I generally don't like this type of music, but this was pretty cool.
I don't listen to this Zappa/Mothers album often, but I appreciate its innovation, especially for its time. It leans more on lyrical concepts than musical exploration.
Started listening to this and made a comment to my wife that it's not quite as weird as I expected it to be. Then the second half came on and I was put in my place. It's not a bad record, but it's not one I see myself putting on again anytime soon.
Musically a great album. Lyrically? TBD
In the late 90s, I bought my first - and only - Frank Zappa CD in a shop in Barcelona. It was a compilation that was largely comprised of Freak Out. For all Freak Out is a concept record, I don't think the material was helped or hindered by my listening to it in a fragmentary manner. After all, the album's twisted mix of contemporary pop pastiche and musique concrete isn't meant to be stylistically coherent. It is more like listening to an AM radio station - but an AM radio station that hates you. The snide critiques just keep on comin'. Until the final offering breaks down into chaos. This ain't the hit parade either, because nothing really sticks out. An obvious comparion is the Bonzo Dog Band's The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse, from two years later. There is the same variety, the same high and low humour, and the same reflective commentary on both the normies and the freaks. But the Bonzos welcome everyone, Normie and Freak alike, into their silliness, whereas as Zappa is content on keeping everyone out. No silliness, but frequent meanness. Still, the music is not as gruelling or punishing as Hot Rats, which we listening to a few weeks back. Of course, this isn't really Zappa's music. This is him messing around with music that other people like. It is not so exacting, not so rigid. But it isn't exactly loose and funny either. 2.5 This is hard to judge. It isn’t bad music, for the most part, but it is slathered in such a thick layer of irony that it is hard to credit it with much but adolescent contempt for music and people that aren’t as cool as the Mothers of Invention. To put that kinder - it consistently has the quality of the smartest kid in the class being merely facetious. It is also worth pointing out that nothing here is actually funny - Dylan and The Beatles (both of whom are conceivable targets of some of the pastiche here) were both very funny in their songs when the mood took them. That said, the effectiveness of the comedy is not so much my problem with this stuff. I know Frank Zappa is clever and good at music but what does he love? There’s the rub. There is no risk in anything here because there is no sincere attempt to create anything that people might love. He’s a wee prick, that’s about it. 2.5/5
Just not my kind of weird
Великие люди развлекаются как могут. Лучшая песня - How Could I Be Such A Fool.
Too much of the crazy zappa I don't like a much and not enough good guitar zappa
Listened a while back and forgot to review. From what I really remember the whole album feels very satirical in its lyrics and it all feels like a joke about the music industry at the time.
Ved ikke helt om jeg er på Frank Zappas bølgelængde, humor-wise, men det er MEGET bedre end det sidste album vi havde med det her band!
Ville have været en 4'er hvis de havde droppet det sidste kvarter hvor de blir helt åndssvagt. Ellers er det faktisk virkeligm fedt, meget diverst men de spiller det hele vildt godt.
This was fun! +3 !
Recht abgehoben ...
Was that a ... kazoo? Trouble Every Day was good - depressing that it's so relevant in 2025, but that's where we are. I found the satirical doo wop, Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder amusing. Don't forget to press your khakis.
Interesting album, I don't think I'd seek out the album to listen to again but I wouldn't skip if any songs ended up on a generated playlist.
I just listened to this two days ago after pulling the Hot Rats album on this website. It had been like three decades since I'd last heard it. This time I at least knew what I was in for--as a 16 year old kid expecting something in the lines of other rock at the time, I had no idea what to make of it. Back then the only song I really loved was Trouble Every Day. Upon re-listen, it's easy to see why. That's definitely the most accessible traditional rock song. But then again, you get the sense that he just does songs like that to prove he can before delving back into weirdness--his bread and butter. Another example of this is Anyway the Wind Blows, which is a solid doo-wap kind of early 60s rock song. Other songs like Hungry Freaks have promise, but then why the wazoo? I guess the wazoo is one Zappa's things. Outside of that, the album is all over the place. But that's kind of Zappa's thing. In some ways, it fits in with acid rock of the era, like Jefferson Airplane or Love. I Ain't Got No Heart is decent... I just don't love many of Zappa's choruses. It's like many of the songs that have promise go off into strange choruses, bridges or breakdowns, which is pretty consistent through much of Zappa's work. I didn't find this album as good as Hot Rats, which seems to have polished some of the concepts that Freak Out began. Frank Zappa is always like this though. When he's on, it's really good. But you also never know what kind of spaced out stuff you're going to hear on a given album. A genius for sure, but one who often gets lost in weirdness. And this album is probably among the less weird of his vast discography. In any case, it's fun to listen to Zappa again after all these years, but I can't say I'll go back to this for another decade or two.
Hrm. For the longest time now, I've been sitting here tryna figure out how exactly I want to review this album. It's not for lack of opinions and feelings about the album and the artist at the center of it — Zappa is one of my favorite artists of all time, as it happens — but... Gosh, I'm just not sure how exactly I wanna put it all together. 'Coz, look, this album is a lot. Across psychedelic rock, doo-wop, musique concrete and jazz, it skewers pop music, satarizes then-contemporary American culutre, and, well, sometimes it just plain freaks out. All spread throughout two records: this was the second-ever double album, only beat to the punch of being the first by Bob Dylan's BLONDE ON BLONDE. For any average listener, it's way too much. Heck, even for someone like me who gets a lot of what it's doing it's daunting. And this isn't even getting into my thoughts on feelings on Zappa himself. To keep it brief, he's definitely the smartest man I've gone back and forth on wondering if I agree with him or not. Some days; others... If you ever get the time, go read THE REAL FRANK ZAPPA BOOK and you'll see what I mean. But let's keep the focus on this album. I think if there's anything I wanna focus on, to structure my thoughts around... Let's go back to how I said I get a lot of what this is doing. Honestly, in some way, I feel like that's a detriment. It's a similar sort of way I felt about TROUT MASK REPLICA, actually. With that album, I listen to it and I can understand all the eccentries and oddities around it. I'm not as repulsed by it as I know a lot of people are. But at the same time, I feel like I'm kind of, y'know, seeing through the Matrix, as it is? 'Cuz the deeper I got in to TROUT MASK REPLICA, the more it sounded to me like just kind of odd blues music that goes on for an hour. My last go around with it, I actually wasn't terribly impressed, and I ended up slapping it a three outta five. Now, FREAK OUT!, as I said, has a lot more going on than TROUT MASK REPLICA does, at least on a more obvious level. The pop, the psych, the doo-wop — on that level, I enjoy it way more. But, like, I'unno. Actually understanding what's going on here, the whole album just... Doesn't strike me as weird as I feel it should? I hear the skewed pop songs, and I get how stupid Zappa thinks they are, but as I'm listening to them they just sound like slightly odd pop songs. Y'know? It could just be that I'm too used to this kind of music for it to feel as strange as I think it should, but I can't be sure one way or the other. Although what's funny is that when this album actually does get as freaky as I feel it should be I like it a bit less. Neither "Help, I'm A Rock" or "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" scare me, and at a point I'm just left wondering when they're gonna end. Especially "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" — it's actually only the basic tracks of a monster Zappa wanted to make, but Verve refused to shell out any more money for overdubs, and honestly, I'm kind of really glad they didn't? Goodness, take me back to the white blues of "Trouble Every Day" — or even "Who Are The Brain Police?", for that matter. I'm not against Zappa being all experimental and avant-garde, but it's never been my favorite part of his discography. I've more just accepted it as part of what he does than anything else. And as a matter of fact, the 60's generally aren't my favorite part of Zappa's discography. Oh, sure, there's albums like HOT RATS and CRUISING WITH RUBEN & THE JETS that I couldn't imagine going without, and even while I do generally enjoy a fair bit of the stuff he put out in the 60's, the 70's are more where it's at for me. ONE SIZE FITS ALL, OVER-NITE SENSATION, APOSTROPHE ('), ROXY & ELSEWHERE, SHEIK YERBOUTI, ZAPPA IN NEW YORK... **That's** the good stuff. Hell, I even listen to a number of his **80's** albums more, particularly YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS. It kind of makes me wonder why they don't get as much respect as these early Mothers records do. APOSTROPHE (') has never made a "greatest albums" or "essential albums" list. Of course I'm just speaking from personal bias in this matter, but I just wish there could be a bit more acknowledgement this man did a lot more than two albums in the 60's for the 60's commenting on the 60's. Y'know? And just like everything else, I know how impressive this is for the 60's. Hell, it's arguably the first concept album, depending on how you view stuff like PET SOUNDS and IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS. There's a lot of weird sounds being made across this record, and it opened the door for a lot more freak and outsider music. The fact alone that he was even allowed to do all this, regardless of Verve putting their foot down on "Monster Magnet"... This is a man making it clear from the very first album what the fuck he does and how much he doesn't give a shit what anyone else cares. "No commercial potential" and all. To that end, there is a part of me that feels bad for liking the dumb pop songs the best out of everything here. These are songs where the whole joke of them is that they're deliberately banal and stupid, and Zappa spends a lot of liner notes for the album razzing them for being inoffensive and safe. I'm supposed to laugh at them, not earnestly like them. But, y'see, listening to these songs again, I wound up thinking about how a number of them got reinterpreted for CRUISING WITH RUBEN & JETS. That's an album where, through parody, Frank got to sincerely and earnestly show his love for greasy 50's R&B and doo-wop. And considering that I've listened to that album a lot more than I have this one... That's not nothing. I can tell you what much. Coming to the end of this review, I'm honestly still not sure if I talked about this album the right way or not. Now, everything I said is truly how I feel, let's not get that confused. More, like I said, this album is just a lot. And short of writing a 33⅓ book about it, I'm not sure I could really capture every corner I'd want to about it. Hell, I've spent so long talking about Zappa as if he's the only member of the band, I completely forgot to mention how talented the people backing him are. Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada, Ray Collins, the billion people in the Mothers Auxiliary... The last thing I wanna do is forget Zappa's band (I don't hold the Roxy one in such high regard for nothing), but again, between the mountain this album is, and how much I don't really ever revisit this era of Zappa **or** The Mothers... Yeah. I suppose I should actually just close this review out before I find something else to go on forever about. Giving this album a rating... I'd honestly stick it with a 3? I do think this is something people should give a spin, just to help expand their musical horizons if nothing else, but it's absolutely not the first Zappa album I'd recommend to people. This is the kind of thing that needs to be eased into a little — and certainly, my pop-melody lovin' ass never chooses this first over anything else. And when I do, I'unno. I'm just not wild about it. Maybe if I was a freak in 1960's L.A. (instead of a freak in 2020's New Brunswick) I'd be hipper to it. As it stands, though... If absolutely nothing else, if this album hadn't become a cult hit with the Laurel Canyon freaks, I don't know if we would've gotten the rest of Zappa's expansive discography. And what a shame that would've been, huh? That mother be crazy. Sincerely forever, Listie Creamcheese
Fine
Of course there are some very odd tracks, and parts of tracks, but this album is still pretty decent! I would listen to most of it again
Funny little album but I can't for the life of me remember any songs on this. Like the sound, some of the lyrics are funny. I can see this growing on me if I become more familiar with it. Favorite track(s): Hungry Freaks Daddy, anyway the wind blows Will I revisit?: low priority Current rating: 5/10
Some good samples in this one
Psychedelic man ✌🏼. Can only imagine how this would have landed with ‘the squares’ in 1966!
A sprawling mess but with nuggets of glory. The crazy stuff is fun but doesn't warrant repeated play. The shorter tracks are inconsistent. Some are very good. It does sound a little dated. There's no doubting the album's influence.
Not the best by Zappa or the Mothers era
Can see that it's revolutionary for its time. Tough listen all the way through though.
I tried to like this one, as I always do any Frank Zappa. Real recognize real, but not so easy listening
If you don't listen to closely, it sounds like somewhat standard 60s British invasion, with psych elements. Occasionally they interject a 50s Doo-Wop and song. But then the kazoo kicks in which perks up the ears. Then pay attention to the words, and rlyou realize this is a weird fucking band. Which makes sense because it's a Zappa project. This is a lot more tolerable to me than Captain Beefheart (which I'm sure we will have to listen to at some point). I love this era of music and am a big fan of psych rock. But I don't love Zappa's weirdness for the sake of being weird. I do 💯 agree with the sentiment "I'm not black but there's a whole lot of times I wish I could say I'm not white."
Has its moments in the middle. Could’ve used some editing; sure, obviously, though a tidy album would not exactly have been in the spirit of the endeavor. Last song is a disaster. Yeah, well, so’s the world, baby! Lol
Was going to make another comment about Zappa as adjacent to Captain Beefheart with no heart (Captain Beef?). After having just listened to the Everly Brothers, you know what snark away buddy. I think this one is more sincerely trying to do something than Hot Rats was, even if some of the ideas are straight up dumb. C for effort. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Ehh I can’t get there on this one, it’s too kitschy, too ironical. I mean overall it’s fine and it’s influential, but it’s sort of annoying. I’m sure when I come back and listen to it again I’ll love it, but right now I ain’t got time for this sarcastic bullshit.
3/5
Kinda fun, very weird. Bit too much parody for me. Also the last track was one of the worst things I've ever heard
My favourite of all the weird albums we've had so far.
I enjoyed parts of it, but it was a little bit weird and I was relieved when it was over.
-this is actually really interesting and fun. frank zappa and his gang had some very unique ideas back in the day -a lot of the songs were more just entertaining and fun for the novelty but some like Anyway The Wind Blows were genuinely really good. A definitive 3.5 stars -Favorites are I Ain’t Got No Heart, Anyway The Wind Blows, and Trouble Every Day
i'm not gonna lie - i've never really been a huge fan of TMOI. This album was definitely a bit more palatable.
Interesting because they completely subvert tropes of both classic and psychedelic rock, but as an album to just listen to and enjoy it kind of falls flat
It’s clever and it’s a virtuoso record but it feels a little too novelty for it be something I’ll happily revisit. I can objectively see its brilliance and there are some really good moments on it - but it feels like a 60s Tenacious D - if you weren’t there it’s not so funny anymore.
Frank Zappa is one of my favorite artists, so you're probably wondering why I gave this album the rating it did(and so am I). Well, when he was part of The Mothers Of Invention, it doesn't hit the same for me. This is definitely Psychedelic Rock, but I don't like cream cheese, and it just goes wayyy off the deep end. The album is still good, but about half of it is filler. Favorite song: "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here"
My problem with Zappa is that he is so clearly talented. He could sing, write, play, arrange, produce, everything. And when he tries, he’s very good. But so much of this record is dedicated to “freaking out the normies”, that the good bits get lost.
Favorite Track: Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
I cannot put myself in the 60s, I'd reckon this would have turned some heads though. I do love me some Zappa, this isn't my favourite ere though.
Lots of similar sounding psych rock albums on this list. This one was probably the most enjoyable of the bunch with quite a clean sound despite the age
Weird vibes, cool and funky but not my thing - “help I’m a rock” is Eric’s ringtone lol
Not good, not bad.
Odd. Not really sure I enjoyed this, but then I didn’t switch it off either? I’ll guess my mind went blank so I’ll give it the average 3 to be fair!
That was a fun listen. I think I should put it in the shuffle that will play at the cottage.
This is wacky and wild and wonderfully impudent. But take heart, all you uptight, overstrung, Karens and Chads. It can't happen here.
Zappa 100%. Cream Cheese.
idk if i can sanction their buffoonery
Mom, I tore a big hole in the convertible
A very ambitious debut from one of the most inventive and surreal artists/groups of their era, Zappa and his Mothers really push the boundaries of what ‘pop’ music can be from the get go. There are some great songs on here - notably the opener - and some interesting psychedelic experimentation, culminating in a 12 minute musique concrete piece where the live band play something between free jazz and proto-metal which is then overdubbed by a barrage of tape manipulation that must have given Brian Wilson and George Martin a real kick up the backside for their studio wizardry in the coming months. The fact that all of this was possible in 1966 is insane - doesn’t mean it sounds good though
Not bad
I was expecting a lot more from this album. There is a weird moment here or there, but for the most part it is just a straightforward rock/blues album. The last three songs are strange, I kind of expected the whole album to be like that. There are some silly lyrics, but besides that and the last few songs I don't think I would have guessed this is Frank Zappa. This reminds me of Pink Floyd's debut album (if that makes any sense). Mid 3.
Frank Zappa is a weird cat. This album speaks to that. I sorta categorize the songs on this album into a few different styles (if that's a way to make some sense of this). Anti-Establishment Poetry over Whacky Jazz/60's groove rock: Hungry Freaks, I'm Not Satisfied, You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here, Trouble Everyday Pseudo Do Wop: Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder, Wowie Zowie Kazoo Rock???: Motherly Love Melodramatic 60's break up songs with bad changes: Ain't Got No Heart, How Could I Be Such A Fool, You Didn't Try to Call Me, Anyway the Wind Blows Psychedelic Potpourri: Who Are the Brain Police, Help I'm a Rock, It Can't Happen Here, Return of Son of Monster Magnet. Out of those categories I probably like the Pseudo Do Wop the best. The Anti-Establishment songs are okay. Maybe they were more revolutionary back in the 60's but they have a pretentiousness about them. If you've ever watched a Frank Zappa interview, that remark is not far off. Regardless of what I think about Frank Zappa's personality, he is a creative musician. I liked Trouble Everyday. It sorta has a Bob Dylan vibe to it. I'm not a fan of the Melodramatic stuff. First of all, it's pretty hard to take them seriously. Doesn't feel like genuine sorrow. I'm Not Satisfied is a total downer. wtf? Is this supposed to be a blues song or something? Might as well just sang "Nobody loves me, Everybody hates me, Guess I'll go eat worms." That's what MY Mother would tell me when I cried about shit. The psychedelic freak out songs just sound weird for weird's sake. ooo... I'm totally freaking out. SO, overall... interesting songwriting but lacking any melodies to make "good" music. And even though it seems to have a sense of humor at times, it's kind of a pretentious mocking humor and not a FUN kind of humor. I won't call it "bad" music. I'll just leave it at "it's different".
This was … interesting. Some of it was just really weird, but then songs like Wowie Zowie and Anyway the Wind Blows were fun. Go Cry on Somebody Else's shoulder was funny with the sock hop vibe. Trouble Every Day sadly hits home still today. Help, I'm a Rock and It Can't Happen Here were way bizarre. As was the last track, which also felt unnecessarily long so they could fill up the end of the record, but probably they were just enjoying jamming and being weird. Is cream cheese a metaphor for something that also involves an orgy in the jungle? The album intrigued me enough to give it a full second listen once I got a feel for what it was all about. Its weirdness did grow on me a bit.
I know it was revolutionary but not something I will choose to listen to
Slow 60s rock. Easy listen, but nothing that I must hear again.
3.3
Off the wall and fun. 3.5/5
Enjoyed this until the last two songs. Won’t be listening again
In one word, this album is absolutely bizarre. A wid blend of parody, chaos, and social commentary make this an intriguing listen, but not a very enjoyable one. Fun as a gimmick, but nothing I'd ever come back to. Top tracks: How Could I Be Such A Fool; Help, I'm A Rock; The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet
I know this is supposed to be one of the greatest albums of all time but it sounds like another mid-60's Psychedelic rock album to me. Not bad but then compared to the Beatles or Pink Floyd it's average.
I liked the sound this album had, made me think a bit of early Pink Floyd at times, like on 'Who Are The Brain Police', and 'You're Probably Wondering Why I Am Here' with its quirky kazoo, for example. Overall it felt like something I should have enjoyed more, but didn't for some reason. It think it got a bit too silly honestly. In addition, it felt relatively lengthy, which wasn't in its favor. Weak 3.
Strange, but creative. Repulsive, but interesting. Demands your attention like driving by a car accident. Reminds me a bit of Zappa, Steve Vai, Pink Floyd,, Zep, and the Beatles.
Early Frank Zappa offers a sort of psycho doo-wop with teenager themes sung in funny voices. It really freaks out in the end. As smart and subversive as it may have been, it no longer resonates.
No había escuchado a Zappa antes y es muy random pero interesante
I’ve found you really have to be in the mood for Frank’s humor and zaniness to not go over like a lead balloon. I wasn’t really in the mood but this album isn’t very out there either. I guess I’m just hoping a more Zappa album will come along on a day I’m in the mood to listen
I quite enjoyed the first 3/4's or so of the album. But the back portion went off the rails for me. Especially Can't Happen Here.
Is interesting but I think I just don't understand it. What's with the cream cheese?
Ermmm. Im not going to lie, I can’t remember this one, so I’m assuming it was neither a 5/5 nor a 1/5. Therefore I’ll be a coward and rate if a measly 3/5.
An amalgamation of a lot of different genres that would come about later. Clearly very ahead of its time but lyrics are lacking and some songs are just not good and hard to listen to Favorite Track: Who are the Brain Police?, Help I'm a Rock
Like anything involving Frank Zappa, I always feel like I've stepped into another dimension where everyone is absolutely insane. I just cannot get my head around the raw insanity, but I respect the unique approach I guess. It's creative at least.
Zappa halt, aber doch ein paar Songs die man hören kann. ***
contains all the weirdness and humor we come to associate with FZ, but only occasional brilliance.
I actually appreciate what The Mothers were doing here, and it really is a landmark record. But it is also stuck in a time long passed as a critique of a movement no longer relevant in pop culture. Miles ahead in 1966, but long since overtaken. Also, too long.
I really disliked some of these songs, but I unexpectedly liked others. Weird, but playful.
I seem to like about 10% of Zappa's work.
Zappa on fire.
Weird, experimental, trying to express several things, not always awesome, but cool overall.
It's weird and I'm here for it.
My only frames of reference for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were: A: Frank Zappa seems like he was a pretty woke dude for his time, and was an incredibly creative guy who probably did a shit ton of drugs. B: They’re name checked in Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” I knew I was in for a weird time, mostly by reputation and the track names. And yeah man, it was fuckin weird. At times It felt like a parody album, like it was taking on different genres (rock, acid rock, doo wop, and more), which is funny because psychedelia is often known for being parodied in itself. If all tracks are taken as a sincere effort to innovate and make significant serious attempts at bold statements through artistic expression, you probably aren’t going to like it much. But if you accept that it’s a wonky parody of both itself and other genres, it becomes pretty listenable…mostly. You’ll still have a weird album to listen to that may make you slightly uncomfortable. But that’s what challenging music will do to you. Also I do just need to give them the credit for having the balls of steel required to include the following line in 1966: “Hey you know something people/I’m not black/But there’s a whole lot of times/I wish I could say I’m not white” (from “Trouble Every Day) I gained a lot of respect for this album with that line. Anyway, I liked but didn’t love this. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder, Trouble Every Day
My problem with Zappa is that he is so clearly talented. He could sing, write, play, arrange, produce, everything. And when he tries, he’s very good. But so much of this record is dedicated to “freaking out the normies”, that the good bits get lost. It’s like Weird Al, but without the sweetness and silliness. Zappa had little more than contempt for pop culture. His writing, again, is compelling. But singing off-key and being annoying to make a point, still makes you annoying. And it kills me. Cause the sound mixing is so good that he even made harmonicas work. Trouble Every Day is rad. But that’s it for me.
Good trip bad trip
Bit strange but good
Messemble pour du Zappa, c’est un peu…bland? I guess il est pas parti tête baissée direct dans l’expérimentale et dans la fusion de genres, mais jsuis quand même un peu déçu
An album very much of its time, and with a range of styles including garage, R&B, acapella, and psychedelia, Humorous undertow to some of the songs will not have aged well. A couple of gems, especially trouble every day, but the closing experimental tracks really don't add much
These guys could not not ruin an album by putting schizophrenic seizure inducing pieces on everything. This rating is really a 5 and a 1 and there is no in between, despite the 3 rating.
Fine. Decent 60s sound but probably not listening again
This is a foundational album. You can love it. You can hate it. And without denigrating anyone's opinion, it just doesn't matter.
Wacky and insightful, as is the style of Frank Zappa
Listen up, Pod People!
Really fun, if I didn’t know the year I’d think this was more recent. Definitely poking fun a bit at some song genres kind of like it’s a parody in some ways, but the songs themselves hold together on their own well. 3.0
Some 60 years after this was recorded, the most notable thing for me is how little speech patterns, mannerisms and accents have changed in the intervening time. This could have been recorded weeks ago. It's a bit of an all-over-the-place album, with lots of stuff pressed that doesn't really make sense, and a lot of it is repetitive to the point of annoyed distraction. It's avant-garde jazz for people who like rock & roll.
Incredible production for an album from the 60's. This really pulls me in in parts and then other parts were tough to sit through. Overall a fun experience though.
Very, very strange album. But honestly it was a bit refreshing to hear something different. NOT my thing but I'll give credit where credit is due: These cat's are originals.
Weird but interesting. Never got the whole Zappa thing myself but I can kind of see why others dig him.
An interesting listen.
Wowie zowie is and a couple of other songs are really good but is held back by self indulgent wanking.
Frank Zappa's first efforts were a handful of odd singles, but his first REAL effort was this album. A double album, no less! The Mothers Of Invention aim to make fun of American culture all over the place. It's pretty messy actually. Most of the time it seems like the band is trying to speedrun early-mid '60s music while having fun with it. Seems like the band didn't take it too seriously, which is nice. The second LP, however, has the Mothers getting really weird with it. Acapella, sound collage, musique concrète, and other bizarre, layered sounds on Help, I'm a Rock and The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet keeps things interesting to the very end. I feel that no matter how smart or creative or inventive this is, it's limited by my personal enjoyment which is mostly fine. I occasionally enjoyed it, but this record sounds like it was more fun to make than to listen to. Cream cheese.
Typical Zappa. Moments of brilliance, but can never quite put it all together.
I certainly enjoy the satirical nature, and the foray into blues, doo-wah, and mo town genres. The music is well played, recorded and mixed. My only critique is that nothing is particularly strong in its own right. Just a fun album.
Ok!!
I’m a Zappa fan but even this was a bit out there for me 😵💫😵💫
Starts pretty normally and descends into absolute madness. Musically excellent when it tries and as mad as a box of frogs at others. I can’t say I enjoyed about half of the album but it’s certainly an experience.
Слышно что умеют, но не хотят, сильно экспереиентируют и угарают.
I was about to give this a 2 as it really was a painful slog, that last track has been added to the collective toll this project has had on my sanity. But then I spotted it was made in 1966 and that does put the whole thing in a different light - especially that weird lyric about wanting to be "not white". Thanks for the pioneering but I'll never ever listen to this again, bye.
Certainly creative… perhaps a bit of an acquired taste 😂
This is like Captain beefheart but more mainstream? It gets more experimental and unhinged as the album progresses. While this album was probably way ahead of its time, my ears are not huge fans.
Simpatico, ma non eccezionale.
Starts way too freaky, then gets really good, then gets way too freaky again. Another album of 3 halves! 2.8
listened to again definitely varied and interesting but not Zappa's best work
Pop rockier than later jazzier, proggier Zappa with hints/seeds of what’s to come. Less impressive in its class but a fun album
2.9/5 -- listened 2x. decent.
Soul heavy, almost poppy, but contained within the future of the Zappa freakdom that will blossom in years to come. It's a true 60s sound. Like psychedelic Tommy James.
Never explored Frank Zappa. This is the debut album - at times it sounds like a standard 60s guitar band, and at other times it's a psychedelic mess. Neither of these things are my cup of tea but I somehow still got a buzz out of this. It does fall apart at the end.
Interesting album. The vocals aren't the greatest, the tracks themselves seem unoriginal, the lyrics at times are completely nonsensical, and there are definitely some...interesting... musical decisions that were made. Definitely fitting for Mother's Day, with the band being The Mothers of Invention. I hadn't heard of this band, let alone the album and I'm kinda glad I didn't. +1 for the sick-ass album cover tho, this cover absolutely slaps.
The forest half had some songs.
Interesting!
Found this at a garage sale, plunked down my 25 cents, then went home and put it on the turntable. My world literally changed. I was now in a world where I had heard this album, where previously I was in a world where I had not. They were very much the same, these two worlds. However, there was no going back from the world where I had heard it to the world where I had not. Breakfast still tasted the same, I lived in the same place, went to the same school, slept in the same bed, and drove the same car. Yet I couldn't help but wonder if things would have been different if I had never listed to this album. I guess I'll never know.
Wild ass shit
i get that it's supposed to be satirical and ironic at points but man
This was such a strange and surreal listening experience. Some songs are like, weird Al before weird Al. Then suddenly it's kind of powerful political stuff, then we are back to kazoos and fake love songs. I kind of loved the parodies of pathetic teenaged boys though honestly.
A couple songs I really enjoyed. Some I really didn’t care for.
Oh Frank. You are an enigma.
I was surprised by this. Thought I'd hate it. Not as experimental and freaky as I imagined. Quite fun at times.
2.5
Frank Zappa! This one is pretty weird (and in the goofy-weird category for the most part). It's generally pretty fun, though is fairly uneven. It's a double album (though a 1966 double, so only 60 minutes total), and there's pretty big variability throughout. Some of the songs are fairly standard '60s rock (a little doo-woppy, a little Beatles-y) with a relatively decent amount of earnestness. Others are quite a bit more avant-garde and experimental. I didn't dislike it at all, but it's definitely a bit outside the box ("Susie Creamcheese, this is voice of your conscience baby"). I think this is considered to be fairly mainstream for Zappa, so I'm curious to listen to more as I go. I think I'm a bit less into it than a lot of the other '60s rock, but I do appreciate the uniqueness of it. Approaching a 3.5 for me, but not quite enough to round up I don't think. Favorite song: Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder Other: Hungry Freaks Daddy, Who Are The Brain Police?, Anyway The Wind Blows, Trouble Every Day, Help I'm A Rock 4/6/24
I know Zappa was a genius with perfect pitch, amazing musical talent, and just super smart. But his music always makes me feel like I’m doing homework. I should be paying more attention, getting more of the references. I’m not having fun, I’m not enjoying it.
I know this is a seminal album, breaking boundaries and being ahead of its time. It had an entropic feel to me, starting off cohesive and musically less challenging. By the end it all starts falling apart and become crazy. But funny with it. I really liked How could I be such a fool?
I can see the allure of Zappa and The Mothers for others but it's simply not for me.