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[Lemurnator]

What is some of his best material, as in albums... I've heard he's great but I've NEVER heard a single one of his songs.

What makes him so good?

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Do you like Elvis Costello, Lemurs?

 

[DjangoReinhardt]

Pick up Strictly Commercial and see what strikes you.

 

[Star Power]

SHUT UP.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Come on, it's cute

 

[Lemurnator]

SHUT UP.

Fuck yourself.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Listen to Elvis Costello, Lemurs.

 

[Star Power]

Fuck yourself.

 

[Mr. Spinnington]

If you want to delve deep in to what franks extent of musical prowess is, then i suggest you pick up Franks Yellow Shark Ensemble Modern, which is a composite of his serious music. but if youd like to hear stuff that is associated with rock or pop, then i suggest Strictly Commercial, because it has all his 'hits' so to speak like "Dont eat the Yellow Snow", or "Valley Girl" but i personally suggest his albums 'Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar' and 'Guitar' because they are his improvised solos in which he layers his band as if it were a symphony Orchestra.

In short, Frank Zappa is a true genius, at his shows, you would see drunken idiots who want to see the 'guy who took a crap on stage' and you also have Musicolofy P.hDs and music professors at his concerts.

Frank Zappa is this century's Mozart. He will be the ONLY one remembered from our time in music

Frank Zappa is the best

 

[Star Power]

Frank Zappa is this century's Mozart. He will be the ONLY one remembered from our time in music.

Hyperbole much?

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Frank Zappa's got annoying sons and a cool daughter. I remember him.

 

[Mr. Spinnington]

Hyperbole much?

P.S. Elvis Costello sucks.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Elvis Costello isn't this century's Mozart.

 

[Daigoro]

check out the double album Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation.

if you like or love that one, there are many directions you can go from there.

a good starting point.

 

[Varian]

Elvis Costello is this century's Jackson Browne.

I can't get into Zappa, but really like "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body" on We're Only in it for the Money.

 

[Kon Tiki]

I'd start off with Hot Rats, then Uncle Meat, We Are Only In It For The Money (a spin on the Beatles, very well done), then move into some Zoot Allures.

Joe's Garage and You Are What You Is are the hilights, IMO, of his career.

Avoid 200 motels, but watch the movie. You will never see a worse piece of film EVER.

If you like Stevie Vai, grab some albums from the early 80s, as he was the guitarist during that time.

 

[Daigoro]

I'd start off with Hot Rats, then Uncle Meat, We Are Only In It For The Money (a spin on the Beatles, very well done), then move into some Zoot Allures.

Joe's Garage and You Are What You Is are the hilights, IMO, of his career.

Avoid 200 motels, but watch the movie. You will never see a worse piece of film EVER.

If you like Stevie Vai, grab some albums from the early 80s, as he was the guitarist during that time.

all great reccomendations. (and Hot Rats has Beefheart!)

id still start off with Apostrophe as a noob though.

 

[Kon Tiki]

all great reccomendations. (and Hot Rats has Beefheart!)

id still start off with Apostrophe as a noob though.

Well if you start off with Hot Rats, the chances of hearing the best rock instrumental, Peaches En Regalia, are much better. Esp with an artist like Zappa. Many people give up on him to easy.

 

[Daigoro]

Well if you start off with Hot Rats, the chances of hearing the best rock instrumental, Peaches En Regalia, are much better.

considering Peaches En Ragalia is on Hot Rats, im guessing you're right!

but Apostraphe/Overnight Sensation is much more accessible (this is probably the classic introduce Zappa to people album). i dont consider 12 minutes songs and instumentals a good introduction for a lot of people. not that Hot Rats isnt a fantastic album.

 

[White Man]

She's going from Bowie to Zappa? I think Lemurs's taste caught cancer or something.

 

[Littleberu]

Lemurs is like : HEY GUYS, I'M MATURE.

 

[Tedesco!]

P.S. Elvis Costello sucks.

No. You are wrong. Troll elsewhere please.

Broken Hearts Are For Assoles is one of my favorite Zappa songs ever.

 

[tt_deeb]

I just borrowed "Shut up And Play Your Guitar." Seems to be pretty good so far but are they all instrumentals? I was listening to some samples in FYE the other day I was laughing out loud listening to "Jazz from Hell:" some really whacky tunes. Otherwise I've only heard the debut "Freak Out!" and "Hot Snakes" which I enjoy a lot too.

 

[junkwaffle]

Frank Zappa is this century's Mozart. He will be the ONLY one remembered from our time in music

Interestingly, that's very close to an assertion I heard spoken by a music prof. many years ago. Personally, I think he IS a musical genius and genuinely entertaining.

Broken Hearts Are for Assholes was a fave, too, but I think I played it too much. I'd recommend Joe's Garage as an agreeable start to Zappa. Not too rough on the ears and unsurprisingly, it's humorous.

Lumpy Gravy, Zoot Allures, The Grand Wazoo - he has so much to choose from. Just be open and give him a chance. The respect will rise.


(And hopefully you're not easily embarrassed.)

 

[SlickWilly223]

Franky Z is the best.

But I'm going to have to rag on Lemurs again, here...

I don't understand you at all. I understand you're young and you're currently trying to expand your music encyclopedia, but what's with all the questions? I say this time and time again, but only you know what kind of music you like, so why are you asking if Frank Zappa is any good? At the very least, you could start out with his Greatest Hits album, but you don't need me or anyone else telling you that, do you?

You should just go to Ozzfest this year, that'll expand your music encyclopedia a few pages... and you get to see Black Sabbath.

 

[Kon Tiki]

considering Peaches En Ragalia is on Hot Rats, im guessing you're right!

but Apostraphe/Overnight Sensation is much more accessible (this is probably the classic introduce Zappa to people album). i dont consider 12 minutes songs and instumentals a good introduction for a lot of people. not that Hot Rats isnt a fantastic album.

True, but she claims to be a guitarist herself. Althpugh she might call the solos 'pretentious', like she did with Pink Floyd. Which reminds me of the Guitar double album.

For reference, Overnite Sensation was MY first album. The local radio station used to play Zappa for an hour every friday, the first segment I heard was Overnite Sensation. I then bought bought all the albums I could, through Columbia House, no less. Yes, I was a late bloomer. I currently hang out in a trading circle and collect live shows, with the people who actually recorded them in the 70s. hehe.

 

[VALIS]

Zappa is my favorite. The suggestions to get the Strictly Commerical comp are right on. You could break up his albums into different periods - psychedelic (first three), instrumental jazz rock (Hot Rats, Grand Wazoo, Sleep Dirt), comedy rock (Flo & Eddie period), etc. etc, but that's all pretty meaningless to someone who's just curious. I don't think any musician/band has created such a large and interesing body of work.