16 replies to this topic

[vamos]

hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=07KDLI0I

Way ahead of its time, rhythmically interesting, incorporating the infinite expanse of the neverending human existence. A masterpiece, to say the least.

[Holiday in Risk]

Awwww I love Uncle Meat, but it never seems to get the attention that WOIIFTM and Hot Rats get. "Project X" is such a weird little tune in the Zappa catalogue, isn't it? It starts off so innocuous and keeps getting weirder instrumentally, with the bassoon, then the marimba, and I think it ends with some sort of primitive synthesizer.

Everything Ian Underwood does on here is great, too.

[DrAftershave]

his best album, hands down.

[Agrimorfee]

A monolith of a record. I'm still impressed how "Dog Breath" has something like 20 tracks mixed in it, or whatever the credits claimed. The bad thing about the record is that is not made for casual listening...you can't do crossword puzzles, or wash the dishes and concentrate on this album at the same time. Wowie Zowie! (And I cannot listen to "Ian Underwood Whips It Out" for more than a minute)

[Sid Hartha]

You know why this album is so great?

It's by "The Mothers Of Invention"



Sure, Zappa was the mastermind, but these were the original guys. They were with him when he was nobody, sleeping on floors in studios. They learned how to create this sound together. They weren't his "employees", more like fellow travelers. There's real collaboration and chemistry on the early Mothers albums that you won't find on the later stuff. It's a shame Zappa was allowed to change the artist name to his own for the CD releases.

If you haven't heard the original vinyl version of Uncle Meat, do some googling - it's definitely worth a download.

[Agrimorfee]

They weren't his "employees", more like fellow travelers. .

Don't let Jimmy Carl Black hear that...

[Moo & Oink]

I agree that Frank Zappa was much more innovative with the original Mothers of Invention. Whereas the music of Zappa's fusion period (1969-1975) was more tightly structured, a lot of the Mothers' stuff was musique concrete and ventured off into avant-garde territory. Even as early as Freak Out, Zappa was doing avant-garde stuff, e.g., "Help I'm A Rock."

[vamos]

Can somebody explain the "penalty tracks?" Now that we got a nice new thread about Zappa, what do most people consider to be his greatest achievement? I'm more interested in his compositions which explains why Uncle Meat is my favorite. A lot of people will point towards Hot Rats but I feel that it's a bit too conventional.

[Petition]

The Mothers of Invention and Frank Zappa were certainly a great band and social scientists....but I get tired of them being talked about as though they were deities to be worshipped, ie., Clapton is God. The man died of prostate cancer, he didn't die on a cross or anything, for the love of God!!!!!  1842688034_388b859077.jpg   225.12K   1 downloads

[Pavement Ist Rad]

Great album.

Everything Zappa did in the '60s is amazing. Some of the most sonically visionary albums of their time. Faust, Can, The Residents, and a whole history of progressive avant-garde rock took so much from these releases, as well as Beefheart's.

During that early Mothers period, all of the elements were in place and wonderfully balanced. Signature Zappa trademarks like humourous lyrics and technical virtuosity were there, yet so perfectly. Timeless music.

Freak Out!
Absolutely Free
Lumpy Gravy
We're Only In It For The Money
Uncle Meat
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Weasels Ripped My Flesh

All essential and hard for me to rank. Hot Rats is good, too. Too much bluesy dicking around for my liking, though.

[vamos]

I agree with you about Hot Rats. In the right moment it hits hard though.

[Pavement Ist Rad]

Of course, "Peaches En Regalia" is one of the greatest songs ever. One mustn't overlook such a fact.

[Holiday in Risk]

Can somebody explain the "penalty tracks?"

Someone at Zappa Family Trust or Rykodisc decided that the album needed audio snippets from the Uncle Meat film that was never completed, and also added a bonus track from 1981 called "I've Got a Big Bunch of Dick" but in Italian. This was stupid, because the album would've fit on one disc, and all of that stuff sucks. I guess it's the penalty for handing over your back catalogue to morons.

Now that we got a nice new thread about Zappa, what do most people consider to be his greatest achievement?

This or The Yellow Shark, in which he got humans to play songs written for computers. Sheik Yerbouti isn't an achievement, really, but I enjoy it a lot. "The Little House I Used to Live In" is probably his best composition ever.

[DrAftershave]

don't forget Trout Mask Replica. that has to be folded into Zappa's legacy somewhere. i met Beefheart once and i thought i died and gone to heaven.

[Agrimorfee]

Can somebody explain the "penalty tracks?" Now that we got a nice new thread about Zappa, what do most people consider to be his greatest achievement? I'm more interested in his compositions which explains why Uncle Meat is my favorite. A lot of people will point towards Hot Rats but I feel that it's a bit too conventional.

Civilization Phase III, the last work he released before his death, is supposed to be the most fantastic work he ever composed, but I haven't heard any of it to judge.

Paves is right about "Peaches en Regalia" (and the 60s albums--and Hot Rats itself being too damned wanky). Second best song ever? "Watermelon In Easter Hay".

don't forget Trout Mask Replica

Well, he made it sound the way Beefheart wanted to, is that all? I was never so disappointed in any 'critically-acclaimed' album as much as that one.

[Freddie Freelance]

All I have to say is Suzy Creamcheese, honey, what's got into you?

[DrAftershave]

Well, he made it sound the way Beefheart wanted to, is that all? I was never so disappointed in any 'critically-acclaimed' album as much as that one.

felt the same way about Slanted And Enchanted. that album never jelled with me.