Frank Zappa - You Are What You Is
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Artist: Frank ZappaBrand: ZAPPA,FRANK
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1995-05-02
Music Label: Zappa Records
Soundtracks:
- Teen-Age Wind
- Harder Than Your Husband
- Doreen
- Goblin Girl
- Theme from the 3rd Movement of Sinister Footwear
- Society Pages
- I'm a Beautiful Guy
- Beauty Knows No Pain
- Charlie's Enormous Mouth
- Any Downers?
- Conehead
- You Are What You Is
- Mudd Club
- The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing
- Dumb All Over
- Heavenly Bank Account
- Suicide Chump
- Jumbo Go Away
- If Only She Woulda
- Drafted Again
Free Music Notes for You Are What You Is
Free Music Review: Totally Misunderstood
Hit: 5 Stars
"You Are What You Is" has always been one of my favorite records. It is sprawling (2 records) and covers an enormous range of genres and emotions from the dopey to the some of the nastiest, most trenchant commentary ever put on record. Also one of the first rap songs ever made (and among the best) called "Dumb All Over." Steve Vai is all over it on rhythm guitar. It has some of Ray White's best R&B vocals ("Doreen"). This probly could have been organized into two separate records since there are 2 or 3 general themes to all of the music crammed on this. But I think if that had been done none of them would have sold better (it's all truly wacked music). Frank's suite of "gospel" songs skewering evangelists has some of his best lines ("That's right, you asked for it. Remember there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over.")I like this record because Frank is truly angry and puts it to use over gospel music but puts enough lighter music interspersed so it is not like getting hit on the head with a mallet. And the "light" stuff is savagely ridiculing stupid Dead Heads, bad country music, Jim Morrison, dumb girls, "beautiful guys" -- you get the picture. Weirdly, it does all fit as a piece.
"Dumb All Over" and "You Are What You Is" are the two songs central to the albums. "You Are What You Is" is both a funny and disarming song about black people trying to act like they are white, and white people trying to be black. It's a disturbing and a very interesting, serious and humorous song about race. There is something in the song that could be found offensive and humorous by overly sensitive members of both races, which is what he intended. In the album he has two exceptionally talented black musicians singing lead vocals (Ike Willis and Ray White) and in 1980 virtually no "rock musicians" (ie. white musicians) had lead black singers or musicians. For those alive in 1980 (and today as well) the number of mixed-race rock and roll bands is still ... well ... nearly zero. In this period bands like K.C. and the Sunshine Band's records were publicly burned at a Cleveland Indians baseball game in 1979 by white people only because they sounded "too black."
Frank's song "Dumb All Over" is arguably his best song ever. It is a pure rap (probly inspired in its delivery by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's 'The Message') and lyrically his most vicious by far. Every word remains eerily true in 2005. Listen to it.
In contrast, "Joes Garage" -- which came out just before "You Are What You Is" -- is a somewhat sentimental trip to the past. "You Are What You Is" is a direct and pungent skunk-spraying on the present and future. Frank hits the right targets, does it well, and it contains very tight and excellent music that fit the material well. By this time in Frank's career, most "critics" were complaining why he did not put out a release like "We're Only In It For the Money." In this release, he did exactly that, but the "critics" were too stupid or coked out to realize it.
Give this a listen.
You Are What You Is Poster
No Description AvailableNo Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: ZAPPA,FRANK
Title: YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS
Street Release Date: 04/28/2000
Genre: ROCK/POP
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