Frank Zappa - Apostrophe
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Free Music Notes for Apostrophe
Free Music Review: Zappa!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is classic Zappa. I can't believe so many people haven't heard of Zappa. It's downright sickening. I think it is because you have to give Frank's albums some time to grow on you, and that's why he never achieved enormous commercial success. In this modern age of instant hook within the first five seconds, people get bored way too easily. But trust me. If you don't like the album the first time, go back and listen again. If you don't like it that time, listen again. With any Zappa album, use the rule of four. Only after listening to the album at least four times can one determine whether or not he likes the album. I have grown to appreciate Apostrophe as a rock masterpiece. "...Yellow Snow" is catchy and downright hilarious, "Nanook Rubs It" displays Zappa's amazing guitarwork, "St. Alfonzo" is pure insanity, "Father O'Blivion" is the end to the concept that dominates the first half of the album. Then there's "Cosmik Debris," a satire on the hippie era which was coming to an end. The last track is good enough, but the highlight for me is the instrumental, "Apostrophe." The guitarwork can get tedious to listen to, but STICK WITH IT, when it's over you'll realize you've listened to a musical genius. Then there's always the superb piano intro on "Uncle Remus." If you don't own this album you are MISSING OUT.Free Music Review: Adolescent Mental Orgy
Hit: 5 Stars
I was a high school freshman in '76 at a private boarding school when I first heard a monstrously bizarre sonic carnival. A sophomore dorm mate was playing a "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" record, and it drew me like an absurd intoxicating incense. Who is that? WHAT is that? I was amazed, awestruck, stunned, confused, frightened, and even giddy. I listened to the whole side, then the other, while I clutched the cover intently studying it for clues to the secret of its quixotic allure. When it ended my buddy informed me confidently that he possessed another one that he was sure would Really sizzle my cranium. "Apostrophe" surged into me like the purest melodic opiate. For you see, the disquieting mysteries that "Weasels" had so brazenly vexed me with were then soulfully, sweetly, snidely assuaged by "Apostrophe." I was hearing answers to questions I never, ever could have conceived of till then. Oh sure, we had been regularly tickling and pickling our minds with various molecular additives, as was the custom of the day, but here was sumthin' else. "Apostrophe" became my symphonic declaration of independence. In a matter of minutes I had been released from a life of musical bondage, and led to the promised land of infinite possibility. It was a sublime, cosmic, epic birth into a glorious realm of riotously joyous opportunity. Yeah, exactly like that...Free Music Review: Zappa the way I like him
Hit: 5 Stars
This, and "Joe's Garage, Act I", are my favorite Frank Zappa albums. I have more copies of his work than just about any artist other than Bob Dylan, so I've heard a good history of this stuff. I realize there are musical afficionados that would rather listen to just his guitar work, and that's fine. This is the kind of Frank Zappa music I was introduced to, and while I appreciate the guitar work, it's the funny story-telling that brings me consistently back for more. The period seems to be definately his commercial peak, and I think there's an arguement that it could be his musical peak also. Maybe not in the complexity of the songs (that's for the guitar afficionados to debate), but where it came all together with writing and having a crack set of musicians to help record it. In his early years, he didn't even have true musicians in the orginal Mothers of Invention, and things got stalled as the band members had to learn their pieces by rote. No such problem here, as he has real pros to work with.
I wish every Frank Zappa album were done like this, but he never equalled it until "Joe's Garage I". I wish every instrumental were like the title song. This album takes you into a world that we almost never see in recorded music, even though I keep looking. I really was bummed out when he died.
Free Music Review: great zappa album is also his most accessible
Hit: 5 Stars
This album goes nicely with that other masterpiece overnite sensation. In terms of musical complexity, it is perhaps the most 'easy-listening' zappa album. But don't let that fool you, because there is some incredible musicianship on this record! The yellow snow suite is the highlight for me. It has daft lyrics about eskimos, pancakes, huskie wee-wee,baby seals and yellow snow. It is a delight. If you've braved Ben Watson's poodle play book, you will be aware of the similarities between this album and King Lear, whether intentional/unintentional. Anyway there is a load of conceptual continuity in this album, especially the references to the poodle Fido. But this is for the intellectuals, mere music fans like myself get enough satisfaction from listening to Ruth Underwood's magical xylophone part on 'st alphonso's pancake breakfast', my favourite song on the album. Frank has a lot of stellar guitar moments on the album. His guitar bursts sounds great on nanook rubs it, there is great playing on apostrophe' and uncle remus and the stinkfoot solo is a slippery sounding masterpiece. Excentrifugal force is a joy, a short piece of music that could fit into a sci-fi movie i reckon. It's a masterpiece of recording technique and musicianship. Like the whole album. Thank you.Free Music Review: If you go for ONE FZ album - this is the one
Hit: 5 Stars
When I got into Zappa this was one of the first albums I heard. Now 24 years later when looking back on FZ's carrier I have to say that this is maybe his best album. No doubts that it was (still is?) so popular. The CD release in the 80's however made me a little disappointed but it's still great music. I prefer my almost mint condition US LP. The album provides great songs spanning from basic rock/blues groove to tricky zappa-ish interludes. Even if the music is really complex here and there it's never hard to listen to it. There is a wide line up of top musicians. And the sound...with the exception of the title track itself which is a bit rough, the sound sort of jumps out on you. Try listening to the Yellow Snow suite through a pair of decent ear phones.The best songs on this album will probably always feel fresh:
* The Yellow Snow suite with all of those fantastic little musical details
* Excentrifugal Forz; The opening melody always gets me off, it's probably derived from an improvised guitar phrase that FZ had the violinist to double
* The gospel-ish Uncle Remus
* Stink-Foot; a simple and sort of laid back song, but still grooving!