The Frank Zappa Thread

[Crocodylus Acutus]

A thread to discuss the musical enigma that was Zappa. Talk about your favorites songs and albums from him and the Mothers of Invention.

 

[sweater_supremacy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzzWEeiUf3Y first song of his i ever heard, instant classic

 

[Crocodylus Acutus]

Hard to choose a favorite from him, but I really like Muffin Man. Goofy intro, but some great guitar playing throughout, hell its mostly guitar. A nice mix of chaotic chords and slick riffs, especially that one halfway through that just builds up and up.

 

[Kiwi Farms Lurker]

 

[Bargain Bin Laden]

This song has one of my favorite bass lines of all time.

 

[Iron Hamster]

One of the first of his songs I heard:

 

[Mister Qwerty]

 

[Huh what?]

Lyrically, this is my favorite album. I despise hippies with a burning passion, so discovering this album was like a dream come true.

 

[i440BX]

Man, Frank Zappa is BASED. I saw an old TV recording where he confronts Al Gore/Tipper Gore and their PMRC bullshit.

https://yewtu.be/watch?v=hgAF8Vu8G0w

Here are the songs I first discovered:

I don't wanna get drafted

https://yewtu.be/watch?v=6X-xIC1lEKw

Broken Hearts are for Assholes

https://yewtu.be/watch?v=-OzuIjSJSkQ

 

[Waifu Days]

I use to hate 200 Motels. The album has a few fun songs but it gets lost in its storytelling. Now that I understand what conditions on the touring road are like and after watching the movie, I can now see it's genius.

 

[The Evil Midnight Bomber]

This song is based

I love this version of Concentration Moon

 

[TheGoodNamesHaveBeenTaken]

I had one CD with Apostrophe and Overnight Sensation on it.
Those 2 albums are forever linked in my brain and 2 of his best IMHO.

 

[Womble of Wimbledon]

This song always made me giggle. Zappa could have been a legitimate hitmaker if he wanted to, all his doo wop is super catchy.

 

[elrond hubbard]

 

[WTBOnlineFather]

So kiwibros, what's the consensus on Zappa's diagnosis? Was he an autist? OCD? Just a 170 IQ genius? What makes a man this special when we know hard drugs and psychedelics are not a factor?

I like his old 60s shit the most in terms of sound. The old Mothers always had a specific and cohesive sound. Newer Zappa is still amazing music but you can tell he's mainly playing with an ever changing army of session musicians.

Side note that Roy Estrada's bass playing is some of my favorite of anyone ever and I hate feeling this way because he is a disgusting piece of shit pedo who should burn in hell.

 

[Crocodylus Acutus]

So kiwibros, what's the consensus on Zappa's diagnosis? Was he an autist? OCD? Just a 170 IQ genius?

All of the above and more. He was probably one of the most talented musicians of his time, being classically trained and a hyper perfectionist when it came to who played with him. Yet at the same time, he had a very special music making technique few know about called "throwing shit at the wall to see what would stick." Sometimes it wouldn't work, he's definitely put out a couple stinkers, but when it did work, the man made some of the most unique and timeless songs that are both technically impressive and fun to listen to.

 

[Lowlife Adventures]

He has intriguing opinions but the fact that he mingled with Pierre Boulez and Beefheart and didn't think they were full of shit makes me hesitant to listen to his music.

 

[WTBOnlineFather]

Beefheart

Beefheart was one of his very few actual friends, afaik it was largely Zappa who influenced Beefheart and not so much the other way around

 

[TVB]

Also, gotta highlight his appearance in Ren & Stimpy

 

[WaveCruising]

I wish Zappa had focused on less experimental and subversive music making. In later albums he also really let his comedy overwrite the music. Whether it was a Rock song like Anyway The Wind Blows :

or an Electronic track like Night School :

I think Zappa was at his best when making genuine music.