Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Good context, but still... just not for me. https://500songs.com/podcast/episode-140-trouble-every-day-by-the-mothers-of-invention/
Hot Rats got me listening to Zappa, so I was looking forward to this album. The album was interesting from a historical perspective, but the sounds weren't for me.
I think on more objective level I’d give this a 4 as a piece of art but it was just not fun to listen to. I appreciate some of the protest angles but they’re really buried among a mostly cacophonous sound. I understand how that’s the point but again it just wasn’t fun.
Maybe the biggest disparity between lyrics, music, and vocals that I've ever heard. I found the former two to be pretty enjoyable in most parts, but the vocals were easily the worst that we've been exposed to so far.
Review - "Did you like the album?" "No, but I agreed the fuck out of it." Rating - 5/10 Need to hear? YES
Amongst the ridiculous singing on this album there is actually some decent and well-orchestrated rock 'n' roll. (Some of this might sound like early Steely Dan if you took away the kazoos and the absurd vocals.) But Zappa ain't gonna let you ignore the vocals - the purpose of this record is to foreground his message (i.e. conforming to social norms = bad, "freaking out" = good) and the bizarro singing is meant to emphasize that Zappa is SAYING SOMETHING IMPORTANT HERE SO PAY ATTENTION. *Freak Out!* is not a put-it-on-in-the-background-and-go-about-your-day record, by design. In small doses, this approach might be effective. But 60 minutes of being pummelled by this stuff is a bit much, especially when the record devolves into weirdo vocalizing and sound effects in the last third.
Ok I get it but I don’t like it
This album feels too much like a rant and not enough like music. Which is fine. Art is art and any medium is acceptable to pass a message. That being said, I'm a simple dude when it comes to music, I just want it to be good. Even if the tone is in protest, bands like RATM or Gabriel O Pensador managed to make songs that are amazing on top of being critiques.
Don't think I'm cool enough to get this album. Several moments I enjoyed, but mostly, what the fuck?
517/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
This is random and absolutely unserious. I liked first half of the album but the second one was just a mess.
I can see why this is influential. And I'm all for counter culture. Heck I like Devendea Banhart and I now know he pretty much ripped off half his sound from this album. But did I enjoy it? Not really. I'd also quite happily never listen to another album with this much kazoo. Not inspiring me to explore Zappa's 2359 other albums.
Simultaneously fun and obnoxious
Standouts Trouble Every Day
I gave it a shot. Then I started to think about my life draining away while I listened to this instead of actually good albums. So I bailed out after three ‘songs’. No more Zappa please.
Stellenweise witzig, teilweise anstrengend.
I understand why this is on the list, but it doesn’t necessarily mean I like it, which I don’t. Mothers of Invention were just always a little too… weird… for me, which is saying a lot. Wowie Zowie felt like it was just somewhere between an artistic expression and mocking. How Could I be Such a Fool? was really the only track that kind of resonated with me. As the album continued, it just felt more, …shock value, …psychedelic, unnecessary, in my opinion. I will not be looking to put this on vinyl.
Random thoughts: * While most of this was very psychedelic there were still a few standard 60s sounding songs - Anyway the Wind Blows. * Lots of this was psych rock and was just fine. It didn't blow my mind but I also not currently stoned. * I could definitely live without this but I'm guessing this was pretty far out man when it came out. Respect for being a pioneer. However, I won't be revisiting any time soon.
I generally like Zappa.....just not this much. I know his stuff toes the line between parody and political social satire with musical excellence.....this just ain't his best.
Enough of this
Not my cup of tea. Odd bits are of it appeal but I dislike the majority of this
So so. A few tracks just seemed like random noises
meh
AHHHHHHH! WAHHHHHHH! YAHOOOO!
Frank Zappa’s band - bizarre lyrics and sound choices set to good music.
Very strange band. They have a lot of albums and definitely a few show up on this awful list. And from what I have heard, this is the best one. And it’s not that good. Couple decent songs but…weird. Wowee Zowee, maybe Pavement liked them?
Go cry on someone else’s shoulder is a gem. Definitely weird, sometimes funny but probably not going to be played by me again.
Interesting to listen to. But not something I would ever play. Also it does not sound like it was released in 1966
My tolerance for strained "wow we're so weird and wacky" music is basically at zero. There's lots of unusual music I enjoy, like Slim Cessna's Auto Club, but that has an internal coherence to it that is satisfying and has depth. Frank Zappa music sounds like a beginners improv group getting their sillies out before class. I understand a lot of this is Dadaist "don't take it so seriously, man" and maybe I am taking like too seriously, but it falls on my ears with all the pleasantry of a grackle.
Crazy 60’s freak out
As you might expect from Zappa, a crazy mix of late 60s rock, satire of 60s American 'pop' and stuff that is mad experimental. It reminded me of a trip to the Tate modern, interesting but generally confusing and not something I want to do every day.
Seems like they set out to make something quirky and esoteric without considering if the music would actually benefit from it (it didn't)
certainly innivative in many forms, but too cynical for my taste
Funky 60’s pop
Weird for weird's sake. Maybe I'm too old, maybe I'm not old enough? I'm into very few novelty acts. Bonzo dog band, and that's kinda my limit.
They're better when they don't sing
Not my thing per se. I can hear why people would like it, as it is well produced, and has some nice licks, but doesn't land with me.
I get this is supposed to be quirky and silly but I just found it annoying. 2/5
irgendwia sehr unmelodischi songs mit mangmol ganz random grüsch element, text au ned so deep
Det er bedre end det andet album, der dukkede op med dem. Der er en klar happy-60'ervibe i mange numre. Teksterne kan egentligt også noget, men alligevel er det ikke rigtigt noget, jeg ender med at falde for.
weird but not terrible 2/5
Best Song: Anyway The Wind Blows. A short song with some structure. Worst Song: Wowie Zowie. Really just an annoying chorus. Overall: One of those albums where it feels like the musicians are probably having more fun than anyone listening to the album. Good for them, not so great for us.
As a Zappa fan i am likely biased. Love this debut album. It is like it spans decades - from 50’s doowop shebop tupe aomgs, theough 60’s psychedelia (with a dose of loathing for the hippies), to standard Zappa tropes. Its a well balanced album compared to some if his and not too much of the long experimental stuff that can grate on me a bit.
Слишком экспериментально для меня. 5 из 10.
Det er weird n’ wacky. Et sjovt lyt, og helt klart et album der har været betydningsfuldt for udviklingen af musik. Men det komme ikke i rotation her
I appreciate what the band was trying to do with this album but I found the songs consistently annoying
Some of it sounds good, but it just feels kind of weird for weird sake and I don’t need to hear it again
What is this?
This album was weird, but not in a fun way. Being so early saves it from a 1 star
This one isn't for me. Musically it was ok and fun, but Zappa's voice is not good.
I'm really not sure what to make of this. After the first track I hated it. Off key droningz kazoos. But it grew on me. Then I got to the last three tracks and I was back to hating it.
I can't put my finger on exactly why but this didn't work for me at all. The singing and the music both feel off somehow. Like I have heard this before but cleaner and more my style.
A couple decent songs. Most of the songs just sound like parody songs though. There’s some sort of inherent insincerity to Zappa that makes this thing a total drag to listen to.
Expérimental, on dirait juste une bande de potes qui s'amusent à faire des bruits dans tous les sens (YEAH) On respire le blues, on critique un peu la société américaine (normal) Jusqu'à la troisième "partie" de l'album où on rentre dans le côté vraiment "Freak Out!" de l'album Et ça porte bien son nom : Je suis freaked out!
Début un peu chelou mais on commence à s'amuser avec la musique mid-album, c'est pas dans mon style musical général. J'aime pas vraiment les paroles et parties chantées (genre ils chantent mal) Album bien produit en vrai mais un peu long à force (surtout la fin). Musique pref : "Anyway the wind blows" Pires musiques : "Help I'm a rock", "Can't happen here" + dernière track wsh c'est quoi ça. On dirait juste qu'ils se prennent pas au sérieux dommage. 2/5 (pour la dernière track qui dure une éternité et j'ai pas vraiment aimé overall)
Interesting sound but not something I'd listen to again
Not a fan, don't like the vocals.
Weird album
FREAK OUT! features well arranged psychedelica music but it is ruined by the toddler-esque rants of the cynical idiot in Frank Zappa. And trust me, I GET his satire, but I just think he was overly cynical and wrong. Aside from all of that, Mothers of Invention, was pivotal as a seed of the proto punk movement that set the stage for anti-establishment whining both lyrically and in three chord structure that would prevail in the 70s. So an all-time album from a historical point of view, but not from an artistic achievement point of view. I respect that Frank Zappa took experimental risks, it's just that is cynicism and contempt is not for me. Of course the British loved this more than the Americans. Two cynical peas in a pod that were perfectly matched for one another. And if you haven't guessed by now, I would not have put this on the list.
I could see why it's a standout for psych music, but not my thing.
Just unfortunately did not click with me - felt like listening to an inside joke I wasn't a part of. Which is a shame, I really want to like Zappa!
I know it's a satire, I get what it's going for, but man is this a *rough* listen if you're not part of its exact target audience. Not a fan of 60s rock? Well this is straight 60slop with a shitload of kazoos and absolute vocal fuckery! On the lyrical side there's quite a bit of depth, I can tell this Zappa guy is based, but again his sense of humour is so wacky that the album falls apart entirely if you don't vibe with it. It gets a 2 star because I do see how this could be a great album to the right people, but I'm personally very far removed from Zappa's wave.
At some point a weird lil guy like Frank Zappa, either through longevity or by inspiring more mainstream acts, gets described as making “challenging music” instead of just being a weird lil guy. Weird lil guys are critically important, but the shine wears off when they become “challenging musicians” instead, so I’m always going into Zappa vehicles braced against whatever sucker punch is coming and there it is: a call and response in the melody with a kazoo on track one. Weird lil guys forever, but also probably only one listen per
After listening to Trout Mask Whatever yesterday I was really scared of More Frank Zappa but this was.....fine. 2.5
I am sure this was probably a mind blowing “freaking out the normals” during its heyday. But in spite of all the intelligent things I’ve read of Zappa, god, this album is just “check out out how wild and zany we are! Are you freak out yet?!”
Not a fan
1. daddy - 1.5 2. heart - 1.5 3. police - 1.5 4. Cry - 2 5. Love - 1 6. Fool - 1.5 7. Wowie -0 8. Call - 1 9. Wind - 0 10. Satisfied - 1 11. Wondering - 1.5 12. Trouble - 1.5 13. Help - 1 14. Here - 0 15. Monster - 1
Eh, not for me.
fin, når ikke at høre så meget. ca. 2-3 stykker. Og så blev de træls. 2!
Crazy weird ass 60's rock. Some songs are ok for that year, but the second and last song are COMPLETELY weird. Smells like cigarrets, alcohol and LSD, like a good 60's rock band. Wouldn't listen again I guess
So, uh, that was interesting. It's a little difficult to rate something I didn't particularly like, per se, but found entertaining in a very strange way. The only song I could say I really liked was Trouble Every Day, most likely because it was a pretty straightforward blues rock song. There were other tracks I somewhat enjoyed, but not to a very high level. The rest... I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about them, other than that I didn't really like them. That said, the value here doesn't come from how good/likeable the songs are; it's about what is happening, both in the songs and outside them. This is just an off-the-wall album in many ways. It's progressive in some aspects, regressive in others. There are doo-wop breakdowns and weird experimental sections that go on for seemingly longer than they should. The lyrical content goes from nonsensical to point-blank honesty. How to even describe the instrumentation? I'll just note it features a kazoo heavily on certain tracks. Can't say I've listened to an album that had that before. Perhaps the wildest thing they do is slip in the standard rock song in the midst of all the craziness. Through it all, you can hear some of the ways it would influence later artists, and I'm sure it helped many of them to take more risks. In all, it's a good inclusion on the list. Definitely something people should hear and experience. But there's not really a lot of what I'd call "good" music there for me to rate it all that high. Also taking a few points away for the length-- it's pretty long, not really in a way that makes it a better listen. Overall: 2.2/5
Increasingly, I think I love the idea of Zappa more than his actual music, especially the early stuff. When the music you're parodying has disappeared from culture, does your parody have any value? IronicallyI got more from the later experimental sound pieces than from many of the actual songs. Didn't appall me, but just fundamentally a bit dull. A high 2.
4/10 - It is very 60s, and it is from the 60s. It kind of sounds like patrick from spongebob helped make this album. Why they screaming about cream cheese so much in the last song
I had a friend in high school who was really into Zappa. I just did not get why. As an adult, I grew a respect for his musicianship and that of the people he chose to work with, so I was happy to see this pop up so I could listen with the respect I’ve grown to have. I guess adult respect is not what this album needs. Holy crap. It’s just as juvenile and annoying as it was to me back in high school. It’s the musical equivalent of giggling teenagers in my store. And here’s something I never thought I would say in a review… enough with the fucking kazoos already.
Bad stuff here
Fun rock stuff but didn’t really standout for me
I guess I am not in a mood for experimental albums.
Today I learned that edgy ironic hipsters were already a thing back in the 60s – and that they were exactly as cringey as their modern counterparts. Parody is funny if it’s one or two songs at the end of an album. If most of your album - especially your first album as a band - is based on mocking other bands... well, you’re not funny, you’re just annoying, and you only prove that you spend a very unhealthy amount of time thinking about what other people do. Musically speaking, this album was a just a whole lot of nothing for me. It tries to be experimental, but with far less success than other bands of the same time period. The psych-rock parts are not particulary well done, and haven’t aged well. I didn’t care much for the lyrics either. Maybe it’s just not my kind of humor. Parody in music has never been something I find particularly funny. Listening to this album felt like being forced to watch a long one-man show by a stand-up comedian who never makes you laugh. I'm sure some people found it hilarious... but for me it was mainly cringey. I'll give it a 2* for originality, but I have zero interest in this kind of music.
I wish I were a fan, but I am just not. I can totally recognize the influence the album had but I don't really like it tbh
2/5 psychedelic rock. Mostly just weird and not good music.
If I was 14 and just getting into experimental music, I'd see the value of this much more than I do now I'd sample the hell outta this though
Fucking crazy and weird. I like crazy weird music, and I like Frank Zappa, but I wasn't blown away by this one. Not terrible though.
I was going to write a long, considered review, but ultimately it comes down to this: I will never listen to this album again, and if it wasn't for this project I wouldn't have listened to the whole thing.
I listened to this for another list and the gimmick-y aspects of it really turned me off. I didn't care for it at all. 1.5/5
Groupe inconnu, mais second album avec Frank Zappa après 'Hot rats' que j'avais assez apprécié (noté 3/5). 'Hot rats' est en grande partie instrumental et plutôt jazz/rock. 'Freak out' n'a pas cette chance, le chant est omniprésent. Et pas très inspirant ... L'accompagnement est parfois original, mais lassant sur la longueur. Et trop masqué par le chant (je ne parle même pas du kazoo, une horreur). Aucune envie de l'écouter une seconde fois. =>2/5
I like to think that someday I'll appreciate Zappa. So many people with great taste in music have tried to convince me that I'm an idiot, but I don't get it. Never have, but I'll keep trying. There were a couple of good songs on this album, Trouble Every Day, foe instance. The second half was far more interesting too me than the more poppy first half. I know that it is on several top list and I should give it another listen, but it is so damn long. Maybe someday.
Hippy Freakout album. I absolutely loathed the last track.
Tf is this 1.75/5
Must've seemed hipper and wittier back in the day because today it's evident how hard they were trying to be both. Like the Smothers Brothers who also seemed tame, despite their reptuation for subversivenes. Cheech and Chong also seem a fair comp – it's moderately amusing at best, and really not heavy at all. oo many horns and strings and obvious and goofy effects (oompa-loompa vocals and kazoos) on “Your’e Probably Wondering.” All of it reads corny today. One can't be an anarchist (or whatever it is they're trying to be when doing lame satires of '50s doo-wop). More than boundary-blurring or -breadking, just feels overbearing, like their parents' music almost, and overindulgent. Maybe bonus points for having a song called "Wowie Zowie" decades before Pavement, but definitely not too many points.
The Temu Rolling Stones
It's pretty good, just not my thing.
There were a few silly songs that made me chuckle, interesting sounds, but nothing was really that catchy for me. Listened to on a hot spring walk, so i was slightly distracted by the sun blaring me x.x
This started out ok…and then went downhill.
A strange combo of fairly straightforward pop songs, or at least attempts at them, plus some weird shit that was often unlistenable. This must have been pretty wild when it came out in 1966. Not my fave of his by a long shot.
wouldn’t say i liked a single song on this album. defintely can see it being the foundation for psychedelic and avant- garde music but its a little too out there for me. some cool sounds and lyrics tho very interesting. zappa being zappa. help, i’m a rock.
I was optimistic about this one and then the song “who are the brain police” came on and it was just screechy noise. Then it gets a bit better and more listenable but it wasn’t anything special. “Help I’m a rock” is also awful. The last song being almost 13 minutes as well!?! Not a fan, glad this one is done and I absolutely didn’t need to hear this one.
Some tracks on this record were so painful to listen to that this was the first record I had to skip tracks on. I understand what this record was going for. The genres that they tried to satirize just made some tracks awful to listen to. I think this record is probably important with the messages that it brings throughout each track, the experimental sounds (that didn't age too well, in my opinion), and the freedom of being able to clown on other genres of music. I found that "It Can't Happen Here" to be particularly relevant to today. Favourite Track(s): Anyway The Wind Blows Least Favourite Track(s): Help, I'm a Rock
I've come to the conclusion I just don't love Frank Zappa. This is musically intersting. Lots of variation within this album. But dang the vocals are just cheeks. I'm glad it's over.
Heard of the band but it's my first time listening to them. It did give me a bit of a headache but then at times I was amazed how they managed to create this shitpost of an album back in the 60s. So even though I didn't enjoy the music I do appreciate it 2/5
Eh this doesn't really do it for me. There are some cool moments that I found enjoyable but overall feel like it was a miss. First exposure to this band though I am familiar with Frank Zappa's solo stuff. It does seem groundbreaking/unique though. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)
Zappa is another artist I have been meaning to check out, really haven't listened to much of his stuff before this. I was kind of surprised to see this album came out in 1966, but listening to it you can tell. This seems like something important more for what it laid the foundation for, not something that was that great on its own. Most of this sounds like psychedelia for psychedelia's sake. I'm sure it terrified our grandparents.
I. don't get on with Zappa's music. I get it - the sarcasm and humour. He's just constantly taking the mickey out of mainstream and oip music, demonstrating how easy it is. But it quickly wears thin, because, great musician though he undoubtedly is, it's just not very pleasant or satisfying to listen to. I'd prefer him to just 'play it straight'. The first track could be a perfectly acceptable tune but he deliberately subverts it. It's just tedious.
Mixture of styles - 50s rock, psychedelic, etc. A few noteworthy songs- wowie zowie, help I’m a rock.
Ihan kai passelia musisointia, ei tee mieli kuunnella uudelleen.
Wat. Sucks
Okaish
Okay...I kind of dig the cynical lyrics, but musicaly, it is so so. I have never understood the hype around Zappa.
4/10
Not my cup of tea
did not like, no more please
Pre-listening thoughts: hmmm... curious. People either seem to love or hate Frank Zappa so let's see where I fall. Post/during listening thoughts: it is rare that an album leaves me with my jaw hanging open. And this one was not in a good way. Almost tempted to give this a one but the first few tracks imo save it from being terrible and unlistenable. Now there are a few songs on here that are unlistenable. Yikes! 3/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: I Ain't Got No Heart, Motherly Love Least fav tracks: lowkey... everything else...
Weird concept satirical album. Maybe big at the time but nothing of interest now.
Sellainen huumorilevy, aikansa parodiaa
Just because it’s weird doesn’t mean it’s good.
I always meant to getting around to hearing what Frank Zappa has to offer. Well, now I just did. It's pretty strange stuff, but I did like "Trouble Every Day" so that one will make the playlist. The rest didn't do much for me. "Wowie Zowie" was kinda fun too I guess.
Zappa was just weird
Generally love some Zappa but this one is more annoying than catchy.
Wow. That was weird.
Never seen the attraction
Never been a Zappa fan so admittedly came into this release with some negative bias. Turned out to be more listenable than expected. I'm sure it sounded weird as fuck to people in 1966. Despite it being ahead of it's time and one of Zappa's earlier tamer releases, it's still just not for me. A couple decent tracks out of the 15, but none I'd likely return to. It hit a nice stride in the middle but dropped off completely for me at the last 2 tracks. 2/5
Isot pointsit tamburiinin liiallisesta käytöstä, fuusijazzista ja kazoosta! Tyylipuhtaampiakin rocklevytyksiä on toki kuultu.
I like Zappa much better on his own. This comes off as smarmy.
Definitely odd at times. Not as musically interesting or exploratory as expected. 2/5 Won’t listen again
They were going for something, I'm just not sure what.
Kind of meh, doesn't really stand out. But not bad, just not for me.
So friggin weird. Proggy in some parts, but weird as hell.
I mean I appreciate they’re pushing boundaries and the music is super inventive but it feels smug and indulgent and when it finally ended I have to admit I just felt relief.
I just don't really get Zappa I guess. I like the irony, wit, and philosophy, but the music usually just sucks. Maybe you just had to be there? There are a couple cool tracks here, "Trouble Every Day" being my favorite, but for a double album there's gotta be more for this to be more than a 2.
Some fun, weird tracks. But so many that are self-righteously confident that they're Saying Something Important, and you know how I feel about that.
Nothing special... didn´t make me freak out
Just because it was influential doesn't mean it was good. Maybe if I was on drugs. A lot of drugs. 3/10
Not good, but not as awful as some of the other Zappa entries on this list.
i generally really quite like frank zappa so i was disappointed with this. doesnt have his usual charm
Decent but wouldn't listen again
Freak Out is weird because it's not one single thing, it's a load of stuff all thrown together and not really in a way I can enjoy. Agree that Trouble Every Day is a strong track, the first two tracks are also good but then followed up by rubbish and/or stuff that just doesn't fit with anything else. It also closes with a mental and mostly crap 12 minute classic 60s overindulgence of sounds when everyone was clearly off their tits on every substance possible. 2/5, disappointing.
A very weird, very mixed bag. Some well put together, interesting semi-psychedelic songs, mixed in with a lot of real nonsense. Trouble Every Day is a highlight, the closing track is a real nonsensical lowlight. I don't think it quite merits a 3, there's just too much crap in there. 2/5.
It's alright. Like. Uhm. It has these seemingly unironic pieces that sound like they want to be the Beach Boys (Anyway the wind blows) as well as bits that make you wonder what on earth obliged them to put them to tape, let alone press them onto a record. Besides a general appetite for tomfuckery (The Return of the Son of...) It's also rather long. You could say I didn't care much for it but realise some people may disagree with me on that. Not a lot of people, though. Loud people, probably.
100% belongs on this list. But I, personally, do not enjoy the attitude and edge of this album. I ranked other Zappa on this list 4 and 3 but am not feeling as warmly towards this one.
I think I like Zappa now, but this one is a bit much. I imagine the psychedelic rock aspect is tongue in cheek, because everything Zappa does has to be Versus something. But even so, it’s too much like other 60s psych rock for me.
I respect Frank Zappa and his massive influence on all sorts of music. I just haven't found anything of his that makes me want to listen to more than 15 minutes. This album is the same. *shrugs* 2/5 for some funny lyrics and making fun of 50's Dop Wop.
Well at least it’s a different I guess. Different isn’t always enjoyable though
4/10
1.5
Not sure what I just listened to. Giving 2 for the somewhat rock vibe but that was otherwise just weird.
Zappa is a skilled musician, parody is funny. But he was so pissed people didn't want to play his avant garde that he went full-tilt with a whole album thumbing his nose at all parts of the 60s music industry. It's adept at capturing the sound of the different styles and twisting the message. But it's also... unoriginal and not very good. He sacrificed his integrity and skill on this one. It's fine, a passing listen is at least funny, and there are moments that sound cool, but by the end of every song it's just "yea, okay. Got it." Plenty of assholes in the history of the music industry who are willing to spite themselves just to "show" the doubters. Frank Zappa is definitely one...
My WHOLE LIFE, people I respect as musicians have been trying to sell me on Frank Zappa's greatness. No matter how many time I try, I just can't. This was no exception. Much of the music IS great. I love the experimentation. But there is something about the goofy feel to the compositions overall that just turn me off. Frank's voice and delivery, the lyrical content... I just can't take any of it seriously and that makes me just not care enough to be invested in it.
No drugs were hurt in the making of this record.
sorry did not like this
Overall, not as bad as I expected. A few songs were downright listenable. Tim found it "utterly charming." I found it too weird for words.
This was strange. I genuinely liked “Trouble everyday”. The only other comment I would have is that I guess it is better and more interesting than most “2’s” but not enough to get to a 3. 2.5
Well…when you name your kids Dweezil and Moon Unit (Zappa), that pretty much sums it up. I can appreciate the sardonic approach here, but overall it falls flat. Ranking up from the bottom based on sheer bizarre factor.
This album is a bit of a head scratcher. I guess it’s fairly influential (cited as an inspiration for Sgt Pepper?? I don’t hear it). I get the social commentary they’re going for, but it’s just so on the nose and unfunny. A handful of decent tracks, but musical this is all over the place.
This sounds like the way hippies smell and drugs taste. Some interesting stuff but a lot in here I wouldn’t consider music. My son got a kick out of the kazoo or whatever that was…so there’s that.
Second half nice and wacky first half boring
freaking out rn
Wowie Zowie, I'm Not Satisfied after this one! My biggest issue with this album is that it sounds very dated, and just doesn't hold up, much like The Stooges, and with some songs on Led Zeppelin. It's hard to tell exactly what makes it feel dated/not hold up, especially when older artists like Frank Sinatra hold up quite well, although I think it's a combination of that unclear, blurry, "garage rock" sound that sounds like they ran their guitar amp through an television missing it's antennas; the jumbled, drawling vocals that simultaneously drown out, and are drowned out by the instruments; and the yap-congested, obscene lyrics sung by someone who took singing lessons from SimplyPiano, and I'm not just talking about that one guy, it's all of them. (CREAM CHEESE!!!! 🗣️🗣️🔥🔥) On that note, the one "inbred guy" (Reich, 2024) on the vocals sounds like a deeply Québécois homme qui chantant en Anglais. It's not all bad though, there are some good tracks, even the bad tracks are kind of a jam, and the most notable track, "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder," doesn't contain any of the aforementioned issues.
Bland, shallow, overly cliché, often annoying. Wowie zowie, this sucks! "You know it doesn't bother me at all / That you're only 18 years old / 'Cause I got a little motherly love for you baby" -Zappa. Well he was 26 at the time but still Also why do they get the inbred guy to start yapping on vocals sometimes???
Some cool moments in between some absolute shite
There are some good moments, but all in all it seems too straightforward and amateur. Hungry Freaks, Daddy was weirdly spoken word and kind of felt like third graders 'singing' at a school concert. Who are the Brain Police again felt really amateur and little kiddish. Go Cry on Someone Else's Shoulder has roots of being good, but they didn't do anything cool and different, it just felt like they were trying to mock it but didn't do anything cool, they just played bad. Wowie Zowie, I get it you are trying to be satirical, but you weren't good. Then Return of the Son Monster Magnet was just some weird bad LSD trip sex orgy, that a person didn't want to be at and was trying to get out of but couldn't seem to find a way out because everyone was wearing bird or monkey masks before turning into cartoon chipmunks that just kept going (much like this sentence). Motherly Love was okay, but left me confused. Are you actually saying you are mama's boys or mocking being a mama's boy...I honestly can't tell and I think that might be one of the overall problems with this album. I can't tell what they are trying to do because they aren't really doing any of it well. It really felt like third graders wrote and performed this album.
So I started this album thinking this is fine. I don't love it, I don't hate it. It's bizarre and not going out of my way to listen to it. It's fine. The jokes really aren't funny and outstay they welcome a bit but it's perfectly fine background noise. Then Help! I'm a Rock and It Can't Happen Here happened. Did not like these two. Finally we get to Return of the Son of the Monster Magnet. Collosal waste of time. It's just noise. And it's 12 minutes of it. It's a fifth of the album? Why? It takes an album I'm already ready to be over and makes it a slog.
Some of it’s cool but there’s just this air of tongue in cheek, pretentious heavy handedness that I find kind of boring.
Wish they hadn’t invented this one
Didn't really leave any big impressions. Had an ok sound but some of the experimental parts were hit and miss. I actually enjoyed "You're Probably Wondering Why I Am Here" the most. Was feeling generous and was going to give the album a weak 3. But the last track going on for 15 minutes pushes it down to a 2 star, it was just plain annoying.
Strange album. Just didn’t really feel it.
# Playlist track - Anyway The Wind Blows # Notes - This starts out super interesting. It's a dazzling journey crashing on so many different styles and references that I cannot help but admire it. - There is such a thing as "too much kazoo" for an album. Lol. - Taking 3 stars out for the last 3 tracks. They are incredibly annoying. Maybe that's the point? Couldn't stand it, so congrats if that's what you wanted.
I mean honestly for a Zappa album it's kind of restrained. It is super cool to see this album as an evolutionary step in rock coming out of the blues and the freak scene in the west coast in the 60's. I'm deducting a star for 12 minutes of noodling being the last song.
Bloody hell this album could have been an email. I’m sure a load of groovy dudes thought it was far out man, but it is way too baggy.
It just didn't connect with me. I understand that what they were doing was a blend of absurdism and experimental, and I appreciate it, but it's not an album I want to listen to
I've heard this before, as well as several other Zappa albums. A big part of Zappa's whole project is that he's different from other mainstream rock, he's almost defined in contrast to prevailing rock. But this CD was released in 1966, and rock has evolved outward in every direction since then. At this point, listening to it near 60 years later, if you're not a rock historian it's impossible to notice that this is not the same as "You Really Got Me" and "Satisfaction". In fact, sonically, it's much more similar to "You Really Got Me" and "Satisfaction" than is mainstream rock from even the mid-70s that was consciously trying to rip those guys off. Recording and amplification technology just evolved, songwriting techniques evolved, and it leaves all that mid-60s stuff sounding very dated (in some cases good, but clearly of that period). For a guy like Zappa, that kind of defeats the purpose. It doesn't help that many of these songs ("Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder" the most obvious) are lampooning aspects of pop culture at the time that would've been familiar to contemporary listeners but are now just completely buried, as if he was making fun of insider details of a Cotillion ball. Then there's the music itself. Even on his good songs, Zappa is not a good singer. He's got just an OK voice, and on many songs he's not even trying, partly for comedic effect. The Mothers have nice vocal harmonies on many songs, but nearly as often they're intentionally abrasive - the chorus of "Who Are The Brain Police" I think is supposed to be a musical joke, and it is kind of funny, but it's also as ugly a harmony as you can possibly come up with. Even some of the nicer backing parts they'll often just subtly screw up, like on "Wowie Zowie", and I think they're doing it for comedic effect, not due to incompetence, but it's tough to tell and either way it sounds terrible. Some of the songs are pretty funny though.
Frank Zappa is a wild cunt 2*, fucking bizarre but entertaining at times.
Sounds like a bunch of people doing a lot of drugs decided to hit record in a studio and see what happens. If I took the same amount of drugs, I'd probably give this five stars, but it's not going to get a rave review in my unaltered state.
Jotain kiinnostavia ideoita, mutta välillä mennään reilusti huti sekoilun kanssa. Hyvä, että levy on olemassa mutta kerralla kuunneltuna 2/5
2+
Apparently this is some kind of parody of 50/60s high school rock'n'roll but then it's also really pointlessly weird for no good reason. Feels like an odd in-joke that I don't get. And while fragments of the normal songs are OK, the utter bollocks that passes for the final track is just an irritating, deliberate 'look-how-zany-we-are' effort. I'm sure Zappa is a genius but this was more annoying than funny.
I don't feel like this is a very cohesive album, it's supposed to be a concept, but it's not clear what the concept really is to me. A lot of the tracks sound like Beatles did at this time, but extra bland. I can maybe see how this could have been the inspiration for some of the early Pink Floyd, but in a way more refined form. The singing also just isn't... good..? On top of all that I just don't really like psychedelic music Standouts - 2/5
This shit is bonkers.
Odd.
Not great and nothing notable 4/10
"Trouble Every Day" saved this from receiving a single star.
Strange album. All over the place.
Obnoxious and annoying
For FUCKS sake, I've only just had these guys and it was one of the worst albums I'd ever heard in my life. And now you're subjecting me to another whole hour of them? Why on earth have they got two albums on here? Once again they seem to think they're really funny, but they're just annoying. There's clearly some skill there, so it'd be nice to hear an actual serious album from them to see what they really have. Some songs have some promise to them, before they're inevitably ruined by some stupid interjection or undercurrent. Overall this is definitely better than the other album I had, but it's still SHIT. I hate them and everything about them. 1.5 rounded up.
Let’s give credit where it’s due that as a debut album the musicianship, invention (shouldn’t be surprised at that) and production is seriously impressive. However, the song writing much less so. It’s seems to be either experimental songs with good/bad bits or piss takes of doo wop or other softer 60s pop styles. ‘Trouble every day’ is great and the only song I’d come back to. Overall I just don’t get it (maybe you had to be there at the time), I’ve seen this described as satire, but copying styles with some ‘amusing’ lyrics just seems the easy way out and not that interesting to listen to. So come on lads, you’re clearly talented musicians, why not put that satire into something original that defines a genre. This just feels a bit mean spirited. C- could do better.
I have never heard this before, it's pretty crazy. The lyrics are pretty good, sometimes funny. It's interesting to hear the word "corny" used in several songs. I can appreciate what they are doing although I can't see myself listening to this often. If I had been a teenager when this came out I would have loved it.
ahead of its time sure, but also not very good lol
Deliberately cringe. wow.
I get it, they were psychedelic rock but just not that good (IMO). I'll give them a generous 2-star rating.
Skilled yet dreadful
first half was really good and i was having a grand time then it got REALLY bad at the end. :/
Frank Zappa was certainly an innovator, and this album shows a lot of the ways he experimented with what could be done in popular music. But listening all these years later, I have to wonder: What was the point?
This is like Jefferson Starship and the Sponge Monkees had a child. Danced between 1 and 2 stars. Would call it 1.5. It’s just really freaking weird
Time did not do this album any favors. It's not so much an 'invention' anymore, it just makes you roll your eyes and smile politely because all that was probably special about this was lost. On a personal note, I'm not big on satirical albums either. They're just kinda whatever to me.
What did i even just listen to? I already knew Frank Zappa wrote some pretty weird stuff back when i listened to Hot Rats for this project but Freak Out! just feels like if Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The United States Of America had a baby (which kinda is weird since those two albums came out 1 and 2 years after this album respectively) and gave that baby a ton of crack and LSD. While the songs in the beginning feel like they might have worked. The later songs definitely didn't due to just being all over the place in terms of music and direction. I also hope you like the sound of laughter because you hear it a lot during the back half. I get that this album is meant to be satire based on pop culture and Los Angeles' freak scene and that's cool and all but being satire doesn't automatically excuse something for being not very good. Best Song: I Ain't Got No Heart Worst Song: The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet
This is mostly shit, although part of me is impressed that they were able to make this album in 1966.
Meh
Very ahead of its time, but still not very good.
Frank Zappa is like David Lynch. I love hearing them talk about art, life, and politics but I just don’t really like what they make. This record has some great lyrics set to music that I find incredibly annoying. 2/5
Well that was weird. 2 stars
Might be clever or groundbreaking intellectually but it's dead dull and pretty conventional sounding musically (the mock doo-wop notwithstanding), which is not especially surprising given the pedantic preachifying on offer throughout here. Nothing about this inspires anything even remotely similar to a freak out, it must be said. Or maybe it's just that the jokes don't land anymore.
It is an impressive album considering it came out 1966 but i did not enjoy listening to it that much
I was not feeling this one
Drugs. Lot and lots of drugs used to create this album. Somehow though they managed to actually put something together. 2.5 down.
Goofy, not groovy
2.5 Zappa always tryin to be cute
There's some good, there's some bad, there's some really freaking weird, but it's overall okay. I can see and appreciate the effort while still accepting it's really not for me
A couple songs are okay but the rest are just annoying.
Ok, ale nudy
A bit too eclectic for my tastes
Yeah not feeling this one
Not really my thing. I’m sure quite fun to see live at the time b
Not annoying but utterly unremarkable.
zappa... oh boy. it didn't "wowie zowie" me.
60s psychedelic
Zappa’s singing and lyrics are so bizarre that they trick you into thinking the music and melodies are terrible, too.
it had such interesting records! preety revolutionary but not all song are really listeanble. still important for the genre and its time ahead
Quirky corny and cheesy in ways that I don't really want. I didn't really enjoy the other "The Mothers of Invention" album that was on this list and this one isn't really grabbing me either. There are a few moments that I like, like the doo-wop outtro in "Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder", but there just aren't enough moments like that for me to fully enjoy it. I went back and saw that I listed their other album a 1, and I think this is a 2 in that context. This one is simply more listenable, but still not something I really enjoy.
a lot of creativity. For Zappa fans. Too much too soon
2.5/5 For its time it must have been revolutionary. But at the same time it’s also pretty weird. There are some good songs on here and also some garbage. In the end it was okay to listen to but not again. Favourite song: - Wowie Zowie
Nice
I listened to this totally sober. For me that means I was not nearly high enough to get it. And already too high to enjoy it.
General culture
This sucked. I’m already tired of how often this list feeds me 60s rock. There’s nothing special about this flavor of psychedelia unless you find these dudes sarcastic “wit” more amusing than I did. Highlight of this album was their facetious doo wop song, merely for the fact that it didn’t sound like everything else on the album or have any irritating Alvin and the Chipmunks vocal effects. Frustrating listen.
Another "The Mothers of Invention" album... Was I excited? Curious? Worried? Anxious? The answer is yes. As my most popular negative review (https://1001albumsgenerator.com/reviews/6549b9db2a9d735a211f553c) was in fact on another album by the band. As fate would have it, I had a flight to Milan soon after I got this album so I decided to save it for the flight to match my previous listening experience. This time no screaming babies on the flight (a couple of kids but both well-behaved), perhaps this was foreshadowing the listening I was about to have, as this album is significantly more listenable than the last one. With that said, I don't think it's a great album, musically it's not that interesting. A lot of that twangy guitar tone I kind of associate with bad avant-garde music. A lot of random 'talk singing' throughout, most of it bad. Though I would say 'Trouble Everyday' is a very cool song, rapping over experimental rock + 2 cool solos featuring harmonica and guitar.
Frank Zappa
nan
Average
There’s some good stuff here but a lot of rubbish as well
Interesting
I can’t believe this came out in 1966. Clearly way ahead of his time. This is not my favorite Zappa album but it is interesting.
could i write poetry to this? n
The Lord is testing me Ok so actually I’ve been dreading getting any Frank Zappa since I know there is quite a bit on this list, and this ended up being not as bad as I expected. At least the first half. Sure, it was trolling and not as funny as Zappa thought it was, but the musicianship and melodies still worked to make actual MUSIC. Then, like most double albums, the last 20 minutes are garbage.
The Mothers of Invention are Frank Zappa's band before he broke off on his own. This album is weird as fuck. There were a lot of drugs done for sure. I mean, it's fine I guess, it's just horribly experimental. Like.... All of the psychadelic drugs were taken while recording this album. All of them! One song on the record is called "Help, I'm a Rock". That song was definately written while on an acid trip. Another song heavily features a kazoo. Fuck kazoos. The last song features like 8 minutes of people fucking, and like 2 minutes of people saying "cream cheese". What a trip. The musical stylings range from psychadelica, to blues rock, to satirical doo-wop. All over the place. I mean, I know that without experimentation, there would never be growth, it fuck this is weird. Favourite songs: Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder, "Hungry Freaks, Daddy", Motherly Love, Anyway The Wind Blows, Trouble Every Day Least favourite songs: It Can't Happen Here, The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet, Who Are the Brain Police?, You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here, "Help, I'm a Rock" 2/5
I didn't enjoy this album
Go Cry On Somebody Else’s Shoulder // 1.5/5
Vage freaky psychedelische ouwe boomerrock. Hier stel ik me bij voor dat je shitloads aan LSD moet slikken om het interessant te vinden. Of dat je gewoon heel erg graag interessant wil doen tegenover andere mensen als je zegt dat je dit goed vindt. Frank Zappa en kornuiten lopen raar te kreunen en te steunen in een microfoon. Er zit amper lijn in de nummers. En als het al op een normaal nummer lijkt, dan lijkt het dus juist alsof ze een parodie doen. Het is meer een soort muppet-show. De paar fatsoenlijke nummers redden dit album van de hatelijke 1.
One size does not fit all. I like Zappa. I even own a number of his albums - actual physical media! But there's a high qualification to that initial statement - he put out something like 815 albums...? There was a bit of a progression and this being his/The Mothers' first album .... it's more than a little different from "Inca Roads" Mid 60s sounds mixed with a healthy dose of the Zappa unpredictability; sarcastic to the point of "ok ok I get it already..." lyrics. It's interesting from a historic standpoint and I have *on occasion* been amused by his lyrics but lyrics alone don't drive the bus and sometimes derail it. In other words - it's fine to listen to this to hear how his official recording career started but it's not something I can put on and enjoy. I don't like "funny" or snarky albums. The 90s were difficult... TL;DR: It's a little like reading The Hobbit. Quaint and occasionally cute and prescient, but it just whets your appetite for the One Ring. Give me the 70s fusion Zappa. 5/10 2 stars.
I tried hard to love Frank Zappa unconditionally at one point in my young music listening life, but it never fully took. I can appreciate a few songs here and there. It's also true, no lie!, that his work with The Mothers of Invention was the music I found myself returning to more often than his other adventures. In particular, Roxy & Elsewhere was the record I gravitated to. Why bother to give you all this background and context? Well, I'm afraid I'm not going to rate this album very highly and I just want you to know it's not out of some misplaced Zappa antipathy but rather an honest reckoning that this music only moves me partially. Also know that I've added an entire star just for "Trouble Every Day" which, sadly, is still as socially relevant as when it was written (and if you've read any of my Dylan reviews you know I usually can't stand the harmonica). You should also know that "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" is the kind of song that knocks stars off for me.
I get it but I didn’t like it🤷🏽♂️
I’ve tried and tried. Just can’t get into Zappas stuff. I don’t like silly lyrics
There's 2 ways of looking at this album. The first way is historically. In 1966 this parodied the music of the day and pushed boundaries. The second way is to take it out of that context. As a stand alone album it's fairly meh. I appreciate this for its impact on music that followed, but I wouldn't listen to it again
Not a single song I wanted to finish..or start for that matter.
I wanted to like this
Meh
Really annoying,I’ve heard Frank Zappa is a master of his craft but on this album he just comes off as trying to make the listener want to stop listening as soon as possible.I don’t know why you want to listen to most of this album.Anyway the wind blows is good though.Saving this album from being a 1.
I wish I "got" Zappa. Truly I wish I did. It's just all weird for weirds sake to me. I just want to be a part of it. But I'm not. This sucks. And I hate that I hate it.
What an eccentric album. Some parts were humorous, but mostly the thought was why? I am not sure why this made it on the list. It was OK.
At first I thought this sounded like a spoof of a 60s band, then I read the Wikipedia article and found out it was!
Te psychedelisch/experimenteel, heeft op het einde niet veel weg meer van muziek.
I had rated this a 3 until the last two tracks when it got experimental so that might bump it down to 2
Ugh. Who is this for? I guess it was slightly better than the last MOI album we had but still unnecessary. If you’re going to make fun of music make better music. Also according to my research Zappa is not at all Latino which makes that voice he puts on kind of messed up. Idk, this whole thing rubbed me the wrong way. Low 2 because I thought 2 songs were ok.
Not really sure what’s going on here. Sounds kind of like darker version of doo-wop? I liked the later half of the album when the social commentary shone through. Not my favorite but not terrible either.
I don't get the appeal of Frank Zappa. I never have and this doesn't change my opinion. Is it strange just for the sake of being strange? There is some good musicianship here but definitely no enough to get me to listen to this (or any other FZ record) again. I would give it a 1.5 if possible. Since I don't actually hate it, I'll round up.
Maybe this was cool in the 60s but now it just sounds like a mess. A few tracks had some decent social commentary, and these guys are skilled musicians, but overall it was just too “wacky” for my taste. I will not be listening to this again.
ehh.....
The joke wore thin quite quickly for me.
2/15, 13%
I don’t read anything about these until I listen to them so maybe this a groundbreaking satire and was incredibly biting in 1966, but it doesn’t hold up for me in 2023.
Not my favorite tbh. Very old school "metal", sort of like steppenwolf I suppose. Wasn't a fan of any of their songs <1m plays on spotify...
Occasionally I found myself enjoying this - but overall, it’s a fucking hard listen.
Frank Crappa
Hmm
I didn't like most of this album, it was just too weird and psycadelic. There is some interesting music here but then the album ends with three bizzare tracks. Highlights: Hungry Freaks, Daddy Trouble Every Day
Absolutely fine, but not something I'm that excited about.
Just can’t get into it.
crap
oooh, it's Frank Zappa. No wonder I didn't like it. Just some goofy, silly shit
Knock it off with the marimba. Whatever value this album has, it’s totally derailed by Zappa’s awful voice and the incessant need to be ‘weird’. I guess for 66 it’s cool to be weird but on an actual listen it gets old pretty quick.
Trying to keep my bias in check because I really can’t stand Zappa. Putting all of his goofball crud aside, I think the pop elements on this are mid and the “experimentation” is insincere and uninteresting.
"1001 albums of dad rock from the 19th century"
The first few songs got me thinking that it would be a good, experimental album. But after a few next songs it turned out to be a weird, monkey-noises, experimental album. Not for me.
Reflex review: hate this stuff, ‘kin Boomers! Review in kind: at least the Sultans of Ping had Where’s Me Jumper. Comic records I like: Locust Abortion Technician by the Butthole Surfers (though the sexual assault song is revolting), Dante’s Disneyland Inferno by the Sun City Girls, the few Rutles tracks I’ve caught, maybe Meet James Ensor by They Might Be Giants (biased as I associate it with the incredible Chris Morris/Peter Baynham Radio 1 show), a smattering of Bonzo Dog tracks I’ve had shoved into my ears. All of these have something unusual, some new shapes and intentions of their own, other than a wish to point to something else and yell “ha ha”. These records have skin in the game. Most comic records suck, are childish and petty, and this is no exception. Leaves me sad that time and talent went into making music for self-identifying smartarses. Apart from Trouble Every Day, which I think is good and not an over engineered sneer. There are worthy parts on most of the songs, infuriatingly.
I get what they were trying to do, but man is it annoying. No thanks.
Oh look it's a slightly angrier Piper at the Gates of Dawn. I'm glad Zappa exists but I really don't get him. And I love weirdos!
Jotenkin tämä on suloista. Hyviä hauskoja pikkujuttuja. Mutta etenkin loppua kohden liian ärsyttävällä tavalla muka-naiivia, vie hohtoa paremmalta alkupuoliskolta.
Had not listened to this album for twenty years or so. It is better than the previously 1001list-generated We're Only In It For The Money. The majority of the songs are catchier, but also on Freak Out!, too many tracks are parody genre songs: well executed but ultimately not so interesting and a bit too boring to listen to more than once. There are some nice exceptions, such as "Trouble Every Day", and three stars would have been about right, but the final two "songs" (25% of the album length) bring it down to two stars. Hopefully some of the later Frank Zappa albums will also be included on the list (apart from Hot Rats, which has been generated already as well).
If it's a joke, it's a bad one.
It's ok but it feels very long
I did not find this to be a very entertaining album.
Nah it’s not for me. It’s just not it sorry…
2 If in a nearby parallel universe The Beatles’ experimentation with LSD resulted in a bad trip, I imagine their subsequent music would have sounded something like this instead of Sgt. Pepper’s. Yet somehow, this album was composed by a man who famously abstained from drug use, which kind of makes it more terrifying to me - though to be fair, I guess their producer was on LSD so I’m sure that was a factor. Anyway, apparently Zappa’s goal with this album was to satirize contemporary American culture and music, and that definitely came through to me, especially with the takes on pop music that sounded purposefully inflated with goofy, overdone lyrics and kazoo solos. I’m not sure if that’s the aspect that makes people revere this album, but if you ask me, just because it’s satire doesn’t mean it’s automatically smart, insightful, or even any good for that matter - I mean, there’s a reason Meet the Spartans isn’t hailed as a cinematic masterpiece. That kind of stuff takes up the majority of the album, with the beginning and end being bookended with some near-unlistenable songs that feel a bit more like psychotic episodes - kudos to anyone else who made it through all twelve minutes of The Return of the Son of the Monster Magnet. Even if Zappa himself didn’t do drugs, he clearly knew who his audience was. The only other particularly notable track here is Trouble Every Day, which happens to be the one moment on the album where Zappa decided to drop the whole satire thing and just go all in on his grievances with modern America in a blues number. I really wanted to appreciate it, but ultimately it just kind of boils down to “TV=bad” and “these racial riots are an annoyance to me”. The line “Hey, you know something, people? I'm not black, but there's a whole lots a times I wish I could say I'm not white” gave me hope that he was making some kind of progressive statement acknowledging white responsibility for minority disparagement, but the next verse seems to indicate he says that because he’s annoyed these incidents are affecting white people. Maybe there’s a deeper meaning to the song I’m missing, but overall it just doesn’t seem particularly forward-thinking. So yeah, purposefully bad, purposefully weird, and one decent song with a questionable message is how I would summarize this album. I considered a 1, but I think it’s just interesting enough to keep it out of that zone - still, don’t understand the hype surrounding this one.
Not a huge fan to be honest
Fine melodies but rubbish lyrics
Some of the music was good but in general this was a deeply unpleasant and annoying experience
Sommige dingen kon ik wel waarderen, maar al met al toch te onrustig voor mij.
Te freaky en experimenteel voor mij
It’s Zappa, so I expected puerile silliness. Wasn’t expecting Zappa sounds and phrases that continue to appear throughout his other works this early in his oeuvre. Clever to hear his mimic/pastiches of contemporary styles. Not a keeper for me. I’ll stick to Hot Rats, Grand Wazoo and live at the Roxy, but if it was shorter it might pass as entry level Zappa.
This is awful, but also so strange that I couldn't pull myself away. I never want to hear it again, but I don't regret the experience.
This album is satire that dances with satirizing itself. Meta humor gets to be too cyclical when it can't take itself seriously, and unfortunately this album continues to push that line. There's a lot here to like, but it feels like folks who stand for nothing bashing anyone with a stance.
1. Trouble Every Day 2. Motherly Love 3. Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder
I wish I was anything but a rock
I (VERY) obviously haven't done enough drugs; or at least not the right kind. This is another one I can appreciate for their musical contribution and leave it at that.
It seemed average at first, then the last three songs got very experimental and did not sound too pleasant to say the least. At least the beginning was ok
Not really vibing with this.
I like strange but this is a little too strange even for me
I appreciate the boundary pushing, but ultimately, it's not that enjoyable of a listen. 2/5
27th December 2022 Listened on the drive to Norfolk. Chilled day and afternoon. Had a couple of highlights but the eleven minute prog shocker at the end establishes this at something I won’t listen to again. 2.5 if I could.
It just lacks energy. Maybe I need to be more stoned? Ahem, I mean, stoned. Yeah, that's what I meant.
Not my style too many weird noises
Strange but interesting album
To me this album is a bit too satirical and self aware. Everything about it is impressive though, especially considering the time that it was released. It's just not a very enjoyable listening experience to me.