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Great artisry and musicianship. Breadth of variety!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
You are what you is; you is what you am; make out or make ham - who needs Socrates? This album is a cornucopia of Zappa's styles and influences. Humour, jazz, rock and some straightforward advice about how to live your life (or in the case of Suicide Chump how not to end it). The title track was one of Frank's more saleable pieces. Had the video not been banned by MTV for depicting Ronald Reagan being taken to the electric chair it might have sold better. But that was not the idea of the Zappa project. The humour may not be sophisticated (I'll Be Harder Than Your Husband - to get along with)but the targets are attacked with unrelenting accuracy. The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing, Heavenly Bank Account and Dumb All Over may be aiming at right wing american tele-evangelists, but easily translates to any kind of fundamentalism - I doubt Frank would have wavered in picking on similar targets today. And then there's the anti-drugs message (Charlie's Enormous Mouth) which again marked out Frank from his contemporaries. If you've never tried Zappa before this is a great introduction. There are more jazzy, more rock and roll and more downright weird albums but this gives a taste of everything the man was capable of - and at the peak of his powers; with some great musicians roped in for the ride (Steve Vai on Strat Abuse being a particular favourite). If you give it a try then like me you'll be hooked and scouring e-bay for further bargains in the back catalogue.Read full review
This is quite simply Franks greatest non Mother album.It seems to have started out as two or three seperate concept albums as there are at least 2 multi song suites,the Charlie suite which includes the often ignored Any Downers WHICH HAS ONE OF THE BEST HARD ROCK RIFFS AND SOLOS THAT ZAPPA EVER WROTE.[Although it is played by stevie vai.]Vai is all over this album [originally the guitar parts were recorded by other people
I have had this album for years on vinyl but I don't have a record player at the moment. I was delighted to find that although I hadn't heard it for a few years, it still sounds as fresh as if it were recorded yesterday. Frank Zappa and his very tight and talented band serve up a musical maelstrom of satirical comments on late 20th century life in suburban America that is both hilarious and thought provoking. I laughed, I cried, I turned the volume up to VERY LOUD!
Always wanted to replace this one. I love Frank's lyrics and the musicians are brilliant! Accessible Zappa for the first timer.
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