Freak Out!

I just don't get it.

awful! heard elementary school bands that are better

Guess i had to be there. It’s avant garde I hear you, it’s fundamental purpose to push boundaries, challenge convention etc etc etc. yes I know the rational. Tell me it’s groundbreaking if you want to, sure tell me Zappas innovative if you like, but I still think it’s a poor excuse,. I don’t from this have any belief that they can write a half decent song it’s just recycled 2nd rate tunes from the previous 10 years that are just vehicles to show oh how witty they are about the then current culture, as if above it when they are slap bang in the middle of it. There maybe the odd social comment but it ain't exactly high literature or challenging, more high school humour. As said maybe I needed to be there, but 2 MOI albums and think they're just a bit shit. I just don’t need to hear this again. 1 Star ( would have been 2 but this is so well regarded that hearing it I like it even less).

Zappa is not my thing. Its just noise to my ears.

Not for me 1/5

You laugh you go to hell. I can’t believe this is the 2nd Zappa album I get in a row and this album is just significantly WORSE than the last one I got…

Weird band, like the first half of the album was just bland, uninspired 60s music, but then to just make nonsensual music at the end that was such a delight to listen to is incredible. Likely will be the worst artist on the list.

This legitimately sounded like a bunch of 60s stoner friends got together in their mom’s garage and started fucking around and being silly instead of actually trying to make good music. What the hell was this? Also, Trouble Every Day was a pretty good blues rock song that did not fit in with anything else on it, but it certainly got me to listen to two more songs in a desperate moment of hopium before officially tapping out.

Not for me. 1/5

Not for me Clive

meh

Zappa was a low rent lyricist and pseudo intellectual.

Maybe it needs a few listens....

Not for me. This was a struggle.

Genuinely the worst album I've ever heard even if many of the songs are listenable

Sometimes o.k. or even fun but often and especially on sides 3 and 4 way too weird to be listenable for me. 1,5

Thank god zappa’s dead

Not one I will listen to again. Strange.

Frank Zappa the early years. Pretty much what I would expect from this, but some moments of fun like the parodical Go Cry On Someone Else's Shoulder and the tracks that followed it. On the other hand, I mostly found the tracks ugly and annoying, It Can't Happen Here most of all. Some have accused them of trying to hard to provoke, which maybe they are. Taking a kinder view, they might genuinely have wanted to make the weirdest sounds that they could, but for whatever reason that they made them, I don't want to listen. Did not enjoy this.

Sounds like something the Muppets would do as a skit. But I like the Muppets.

What is wrong with this guy lol

Old album… I didn’t like it

Too much kazoo

Had to turn it off after like 4 songs

Ludicrous Frank Zappa Shit

I hated this.

Fav: Anyway The Wind Blows Least Fav: The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet Generating this album on April Fool’s Day was an omen. It’s great to have a laugh at, but for listening it’s absolutely terrible. What do you mean the last song is 12 minutes???????

Obnoxious I suspect Zappa would have appreciated that description

OVERALL: I wish this was more than a great concept. I had to sit through this entire album, and the only songs I remotely likes were ones that weren't too experimental. Experimental doesn't always mean bad, but sometimes you should tone it down. The last song did not need to be twelve entire god forsaken minutes, and It Can't Happen Here did not need to have three movements. I wish I got my hour back. There are good songs here, the best by far being Trouble Every Day, but all of the good is outweighed heavily by dogshit, and the last two songs alone singlehandedly ruin any hope of a rating higher than 3/10. I am never listening to most of these songs ever again. I've heard really good things about Frank Zappa, so I was kinda expecting more, but it is what it is. Super experimental, personally I didn't like it very much but if you're freaky then you would probably love this. The review for The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet that I wrote is over 100 words, I need to go to bed. Hopefully I get blessed tomorrow (technically today). SONG AVG: 5.2733/10 PERSONAL RATING: 2/10 Hungry Freaks, Daddy: What the fuck. This went from really good to really weird to really good again to really weird again to really good again again. Great lyrically, the lyrics are probably going to be timeless or relevant for a really long time. I don't really know what to say about the instrumental, I guess I didn't really like the kazoo but it wasn't horrible. I didn't really like the vocals too much. It's really interesting and sounds good sometimes, but the weirder parts bring it down. 6.75/10 I Ain't Got No Heart: Really good. I love the instrumental, and the vocals are pretty good usually (why does he throw up at the end). The lyrics are okay. I guess the instrumental is kinda generic, but it still sounds really good and has some interesting stuff happening. Score lowered because of the weird ending. 7/10 Who Are The Brain Police?: What is happening. I don't really like the weird drunk moaning sounds, but what the hell is the interlude? Actual jumpscare, I was not ready at all for that. Who the fuck are the brain police and why did they infect this song. I don't know what is happening at all, the outro is also weird as hell. Unbelievably experimental, and I don't think I like it. I guess everything else was fine, if not good, but what did my ears witness. 2/10 Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder: It was at this point that I looked up what this album was about. It's apparently about Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture and is pretty satirical. Anyways, this is probably a satirical doo-wop song. It feels like a doo-wop song on hard drugs, so I guess it sounds good. Idk man, I guess I'm too stupid to understand what this is supposed to mean. 6.55/10 Motherly Love: How do I even review this? I like the instrumental, but I hate the kazoo. I guess it sounds alright mostly, but I don't like the outro. Also, this is about fangirls, right? I guess the good and the bad balance each other out. 5/10 How Could I Be Such A Fool?: Where did this come from and how is it on the same album as Who Are The Brain Police? This is the least experimental song so far, and it's my favorite so far (I don't care if I'm basic). Nice horn arrangement and harmonies, pretty good overall. istg if ts is a parody song i will run over a family of 7. 7.75/10 Wowie Zowie: Okay this has to be a parody song. It actually sounds not that bad, but it's really goofy. I kinda like Sherry, so I guess I like the outro? The instrumental is pretty good, though. Nice sounding but complete nonsense. 7.25/10 You Didn't Try To Call Me: Again, a pretty nonexperimental song is probably my favorite so far. I like the instrumental a lot, great drums and really nice horns. Also the outro sucks, but I can kinda ignore that. 7.8/10 Anyway The Wind Blows: Okay, when are we gonna get back to weird acid trip, because I'm very confused. It was at this point that I realized it was a double album. Anyways, pretty good, similar to the last song, but without the pachuco so I like it more. Please don't be a parody song, please don't be a parody song, please don't be a parody song, please don't be a parody song, please don't be a parody song... 8/10 I'm Not Satisfied: Okay, when is this gonna get weird because this is really conventional but also really good. Pretty standard, but still sounds good and has pretty good lyrics. Captures the feeling of being depressed pretty well. 7.75/10 You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here: Someone play Baba O'Riley, both because of the title and because I need to be saved from the weird stuff. What is that goddamn intro. Also, they fucking murdered the kazoo player halfway through their solo. This song is actually capable of making people insane. The "yeah :DDDD" in the chorus is funny as hell. This sounds like a Bo Burnham song (derogatory). I think this is supposed to be singers in a bar complaining back to the audience, which is a nice concept but I don't like the execution. 3/10 Trouble Every Day: Where did the satire go. This is a song about the Watts riot, and it does a pretty good job at covering it. Great lyrics, pretty good instrumental, okay vocals. I guess this is a rap song. Really nice and bluesy, if this was the only song on this album I've heard I would probably want to listen to the whole thing. Sadly still relevant, great commentary on racial unrest. 9/10 Help, I'm A Rock!: I really don't want to write a whole description on this song, I was going to just put "I refuse" and move on, but I don't think I should do that. I guess it has a good concept, that's about it. The instrumental is not interesting at all, the entire first half is literally just random syllables, and the lyrics are really not that good when there are actually lyrics. Also, the outro is not good. I know that this is not a genre that I like, but I genuinely cannot see how someone would love this song outside of the concept. I guess if you're freaky enough, you would like this. 1.25/10 It Can't Happen Here: This has to be intentionally bad. Gotta be a drug trip or something. Please, I beg you to listen to this and tell me 2 things you like about it. I can barely make up something. 0/10 The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet: The following are my thoughts throughout the song: cream cheese... I swear I heard the Kendrick scream, I am not going crazy. It's midnight, I am too tired for this shit. I guess this is funny, although I can't really laugh right now. Good drums I guess, sometimes the instrumental break that is way too long is fine. What is even happening. This does not need to be over 12 minutes long. I am currently in creamcheese purgatory. No sir, I did not pick up on that. Why are we sped up right now. I swear I heard a sped up "fuck". THANK GOD IT'S FINALLY OVER. I hope I can give this a negative rating. 0/10

What I assume a bad acid trip is like. I was so glad when this ended.

What a mess. Frivolous, and not in the fun way.

This is all a bit dramatic and OTT - which I guess is the whole point of The Mothers. I didn't laugh - or even smile - throughout. Ha, bloody ha.

It's just not that good, right? Maybe you had to be there. Was going to give this two but the self indulgence of "It Can't Happen Here" tipped me over to 1 and Monster Magnet confirmed it.

Like a musical version of R Crumb comics. I like comics. I like music. But Crumb and this album are not appealing to me.

I couldn’t take this seriously. I don’t think they could either.

An hour of psychedelic nonsense. The only redeeming factor is I never have to hear it again!

Ugh. Too-cool hippies decide they’re smarter than everyone else in the room and record a bunch of masturbatory nonsense designed to freak out the squares. It’s parody music most of the time, and it’s not funny. I think it’s supposed to be funny. Weird Al for the acid generation.

Fuck this for existing. Found out this is Frank Zappa, I've always thought I should get into him but maybe I was wrong.

I did not like this even one bit. It felt like a joke album. They could play their instruments I guess? But that’s all the good I have to say on it

subjugated my ears to this album for its entirety. my ears now need counselling - 0/5.

This is another one that goes downhill. I hate that I spent my lunch break listening to the second half of this.

Just another band with a bunch of white people thinking they're doing something innovative, which might have worked in the 60s, but in 2024 is pure bullshit. For a band called "Mothers Of Invention", this shallow content is a bit disappointing.

quite terrible, can't get through this one either

No

This fucking sucks. 1/5

This is genuinely one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard. Frank Zapa should have been tried at The Hague for crimes against humanity.

Horrible

This was like really bad. Most of this album didn’t need to be recorded. It sounds like some teenagers recording their joke songs in the basement. Maybe one of them finds the tape years later and goes wow we were really bad, but looks back on the time fondly. Seriously though there’s like 30 minutes of them just screwing around at the end of the album. Before that the actual songs feel like they’re supposed to be satirical takes on 50s rock and roll but they miss the mark by a mile and it just sounds stupid.

I really hate everything about this sonically. There may be some valid social commentary within? Alot of it is joking around. The vocals hurt too much to closely listen. Yuck.

Aside from all the cult vibes, the music just isn't for me and has none of what I enjoy.

Meh

Yeah, I'm not on enough hard drugs to be able to enjoy this album

There is nothing here that I ever need or want to hear again. 1 star or F for me.

Decided I won’t finish an album if I can tell I won’t like it like this one. Got halfway through and didn’t like anything about it.

Terrible

Did not like it. Was way too weird and they were definitely on something strong..

Is that a kazoo? Why have one tone deaf singer when you can have two? I don’t think Mr America was too concerned with this one Getting a hint of Iron butterfly . This didn’t do it for me 2 star and that’s generous

I've tried with Zappa on numerous occasions, just can't see the appeal .

Hmm - perhaps this worked out in 1966. For me the psychedelic stuff is quite annoying. Sorry guys, one star must be enough

Can't help but think that this album influenced the Oompa Loompas in the 1971 film - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Really not my thing - this album/group. Love the film.

This is just nonsense!

Grating, annoying, hippy-boomer shit.

Unique 60’s sound, probably ahead of its time. Frank Zappa always pushes the envelope for new, and unique music.

Listened to this while playing Pax Pamir solo. I lost. I admire some of Frank Zappa's music. Not this though. Please don't make the same mistake I did, and listen to this at a decent volume with the windows open. You'll know why.

Rubbish.

Ugh, what a slog. Frank Zappa was told he was a genius, so he ran with the idea that he could put anything on a record, including kazoo, free form jazz, and random people saying random things, and people would eat that crap up, which they did. But Zappa's work hasn't aged well. It comes across as pretentious garbage, and nobody younger than his generation is picking his albums up. The few high points were the 50s doo wop sounds in a couple tracks, and the track "Trouble Every Day," up to the point where Zappa has to interject white self-loathing. The last track, "Return of the Son of Mother" is a little over twelve minutes long, but sounds like an all night bad acid trip.

What a horrible music, my god. Terrible voices. Totally not my taste. Was probably pretty alternative for its age, but given the fact that the most listened song only has a million listens, it is probably not even nostalgic for most people.

Not fun, not melodic, more annoying than anything. Not something that I would enjoy listening to from beginning to end. Never been a Zappa fan and this hasn't changed my opinion

Another fail. If I lived in this, I don't see why this would be an album I would have picked up.

I am not understanding this list, not worth listening to more than a song.

Terrible.

Umm no

What the fuck did I just listen to

Made it through four songs, then gave up.

I have a distant affection for Frank Zappa but this album is too much. I can appreciate satirical and parodic music, but this takes it too far. I appreciate the mocking reference to Sherry in the melody lines. But the best thing about this album is the cover art. Favorite track: Wowie Zowie Least favorite: It Can’t Happen Here

Growing up I always heard people talk about how creative and talented Frank Zappa was and I never got it. After listening to this album I still don't. Yes, they're good musicians and experiment with sounds and combinations that others haven't, but it just isn't very entertaining to listen to. The entire weird lyrics/kazoo/doo-wap thing just sounds like a it's meant to be a gag -- like a real-life Spinal Tap or a SNL skit. It's just annoying at the end of the day.

Eeesh. No thanks.

Also bad

Don't get it.

Ach, in de jaren '60 hadden ze ook al punk-ideeën. Nog niet het ruige gitaarwerk, maar wel lekker afzetten. 'Satirisch' framet wiki dat. Vast door een fan geschreven. Mag je zelf leuk vinden, maar er is geen enkele reden om te vinden dat iedereen naar mensen moet luisteren die expres vals zingen. Wiki looft ook dat het het een van de eerste concept albums is. Het lijkt mij geen goed teken dat ik na het luisteren wel even terug moet naar wiki om te lezen wat dan dat thema zou moeten zijn. Ik raak al snel mijn interesse kwijt en krijg het hele artikel niet gelezen. Wat is er uithaal; het overkoepelende thema is 'afzetten'. Noem het maar een thema.... Verder lees ik zinnen als: Zappa later found out that when the material was recorded, Wilson had taken LSD. No shit, Sherlock...

Nope. Weak af vocals

So I actually hated every second of this. It was so terrible and every single song continued to get worse. I cannot say one good thing about it because it was also a million hours long. This was horrible. It’s not music.

Too weird

Otro más de estos raritos? Tienen razón, debo escucharlo, sólo por motivos históricos, pero no volveré a oírlo.

I can’t believe I spent 1 hour and 1 minute of my life on this ):

That’s a nah for me dog.

This is skit. Not an album, a skit. Except there's no punchline, you get to listen to monkey noises for 5 minutes or ramblings on cream cheese. Progressive concept album for the time, and vastly improved on since.

I was unaware that this was Frank Zappa at first. When I heard it, I immediately thought of Syd Barret. I know it wasn't him. But stylistically (for the first few songs) it had a Barret vibe to it. Started out psychedelic, meets barber shop, with a pinch of Doo Wop. My immediate thoughts were "This singer really just wants to be heard." Every second their is unnecessary vocals. There is nl room for the songs to breathe. And no space for other instruments to be heard, or to shine. After finding out it was Zappa, it makes more sense. Now, I don't care for Zappa. I think his music, his mentality are nothing short of pretentious. It's one thing to have hidden meaning or social commentary blended in your music... But this album specifically is the equivalent of a Jackson Polluck painting, where it is so abstract, that the social commentary only makes sense to the creator. I can't even really call this album a complete album of music. The last few songs sounds like a bunch of junkies, tweaking, and having a conversation with each other as well as themselves. Lyrically, this album is 0/5. Musically, a 1/5. For the songs that are "songs" - the lyrics are still stupid and the phrasing not good. When their is no singing, Zappa has to run his mouth with spoken word.. Or just talking. Which, to me, is the worst thing a singer can do. It's never done well. For example, it's relatable to David Lee Roth saying "I got my pencil!!! .. Give me something to write on" in Hot for Teacher. It's annoying and very cringey. The melody sounds out of tune on every song. The last song is again, junkies making zoo animal noises. And if I have to hear the words 'Cream Cheese' repeated over and over again, I'm going to lose my mind. The only good about this album is, I am now certain the band Monster Magnet got their name from one of the songs. That's it. I wish I had the minutes that I gave to this album back. I wish I could rate this negative something out of 5. This is an album I would show people and tell them "do anything but this." I get Zappa is weird. I don't hate weird. I love bands like Primus, Tom Waits, Ween... That type of weird is done right. Zappa weird is just idiotic. I wish this album was satire. Because the only way I got through it was listening through that lense. -1/5

Frank Zappa is the frontman of this band? I thought I recognized that stache! lol "a satirical expression of his perception of American pop culture and the nascent freak scene of Los Angeles" didn't listen to the whole thing but from what I heard. it's not my fav.

Ist progressive Rock immer so komisch?

Ei ole jatkuvan varautuneisuuden arvoista.

Not in the mood

1/5 Best: I Ain't Got No Heart Worst: It Can't Happen Here

got bored fast

Seriously, what in the fuck was this crap? Did not get the humor. Did not get anything about this album. The end couldn't get here fast enough. And the end was worse than the beginning. Right up there with one of the worst things I've heard off this list. And you play this crap right after the electronic dance album? Just terrible.

Freaking out myself, having to listen to this psychedelic nonsense

mediocre

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Not really Favourite song: didn’t have one

Puerile nonsense

I'm sure this was hilarious when it came out and you were off your tits on cheap acid or terrible pot but fuck me this is interminable. Parody is fine and all but it helps if you sound like you actually like the genre you're parodying other wise it's just mean spirited. You feel like their excuse for you not "getting it" is just you're not cool enough when really it's just groan inducing. Best Tracks: Hungry Freaks, Daddy; Anyway The Wind Blows; Trouble Every Day

1. I don't like this, won't listen again, and would never buy it.

I’ll be honest I only got through half of this album and skimmed through the last half because it was dragging on so long. There’s not much going for this album at all, weirdly paced, strangely mixed at times and way way too long. There’s also times where random noises are chucked in that don’t make much sense, so what I’m trying to say is I didn’t like any song on here, it was all just a bit dull.

Way too crazy (AKA "concept") for yours truly to be able to listen.

A quirky album with satirical commentary lyrics and even in attitude. I appreciate it for its vision and concept intellectually. I also agree that it is definitely influential, but it was not enjoyable listening to it. Reminds me of when I was super drunk trying to be a rock star at my friend’s flat. I thought I was super witty with my random lyrics but I wouldn’t listen to it again the next day.

Had het zeer lastig mijn concentratie bij dit album te houden. Net iets te experimenteel met momenten

Terrible

I cannot get through this. It makes my ears sad

i really hate this kind of thing

sounds like they planned on being on the ed Sullivan show also pretty rough/garage 1.5

I hated every moment of this album.

I’m sure they thought this sounded good when they made it while off their faces on drugs.

Awful

I viscerally hated most of this album. So dissonant, such generic British Invasion sound. The bright spots were clouded by my hatred.

Very weird

I feel like I'm listening to the soundtrack for a poorly-produced high school (or middle school) musical where the cast is just middle-aged, alcoholics.

Clearly these guys can play, but why they chose to play this is unclear. And really? A kazoo?

Not a fan

There was a lot going on here.

Idk what this album was supposed to be but calling it music is not it. Just a bunch of weird noises sometimes. Guttural sounds. This album had a bunch of weird stuff. Didn’t like it at all. 1.2/10

I just couldn’t engage with this at all.

I tried. I couldn’t. Not for me.

I had admittedly never heard of The Mothers of Invention, but as soon as I saw the album cover, I saw and recognized Frank Zappa and knew I was in for...something. There is some interesting musical composition in this album, but god, that damn kazoo. The kazoo was enough to send me spiraling into madness. Every moment of kazoo was agonizing. Too much kazoo. I've probably said 'kazoo' more times in this brief review than I have in the past decade or more. I like weird and bizarre, but Frank Zappa lives in his own world that is within his own galaxy, and it's not a world or galaxy that I can personally handle for very long. It's a world of eldritch insanity that compels me to release myself from my mortal coil. This album was no exception. I never wondered and will never have to wonder again what doo-wop parody would sound like.

No mamar

“I don’t even care if you shave 🪒 your legs”…..Next

This is laughably bad. 1/10.

The problem with Zappa is that tried to be so avant garde that he became a cliche' of himself. He wanted you to: like him so that he could smirk and bash you for being so bourgeoisie and "beneath" his brilliance. -or- hate him so that he could smirk and bash you for being so bourgeoisie and "beneath" his brilliance. Whichever camp you were in, it doesn't matter because you just don't get why the joke is on you.

Nope. I assume it is on this list for being daring at the time, but that doesn't mean it sounds good. Mildly funny at times, like the "doo wop" throwback.

Awful noise

So. Weird. But groundbreaking for the 60s

Lillik

Niet mijn ding. Echt niet.

Hopefully I don’t get any hate mail from this as I’m aware that Frank Zappa is considered to be a God by some of his fans but here goes. I stuck this album on to listen to while taking a bath. Instantly regretted this decision as this meant I was stuck with the album for the duration. Ok, I’m not familiar with his work so I’m just going to say it, if his intention for this album was to take the piss out of early Pink Floyd in a non humorous way, then mission accomplished. There I said it, bring on the hate.

1.5