Frank Zappa - Zoot Allures
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Free Music Notes for Zoot Allures
Free Music Review: Not his best, but VERY essential
Hit: 5 Stars
Zoot Allures is one of the most unique albums in Zappa's catalogue. Nearly all of the instruments are played by FZ himself (including bass!), with Ruth Underwood on percussion, the incomparable Terry Bozzio on drums, and some backing vocalists. It really is Zappa "stripped down" as its often described. Most of the songs have the same instruments, tones, and the same heavy-breathed vocals. The drab production, however, makes this album a chore at spots when the songs themselves aren't strong enough to work without a little production effort. What really saves this album are a few incredible instrumental pieces.The opener is often sneered at, but WIND UP WORKIN' IN A GAS STATION is an actually one of the better tracks on the album. Its a little something like rock-doowop. A relatively simple song with a simple riff that belies a pretty intricate vocal arrangement. BLACK NAPKINS, the one live track on the album, is absolutely incredible. Zappa weaves a beautiful thematic phrase into some of his most inspired guitarwork, creating one of his most somber and emotive tone poems in his career. Its unfortunately followed by the mediocre, over-long and over-used THE TORTURE NEVER STOPS. The next tracks, MS PINKY and FIND HER FINER, are rather typical Zappa sex numbers. They're pretty good songs, but the production here really fails them, and after a few entertaining listens they lost their charm. The same can be said for THE WONDERFUL WINO, although this one manages to keep a lot of panache.
FRIENDLY LITTLE FINGER is an incredible instrumental with a great oriental guitar opening that leads into a rather wandering guitar solo. The real treat here is Zappa's rapid-fire bass work. The title track, ZOOT ALLURES, is another one of Zappa's most amazing solos. The composed portion of this solo is one of the most incredible things FZ wrote in his entire career. The majesty of this number is nicely undercut by the levity of the closer, DISCO BOY, which is absolutely fun.
It should be noted that BLACK NAPKINS and ZOOT ALLURES, along with one other FZ solo (Watermelon in Easter Hay), are believed to have been considered by Zappa himself as his best work. The Zappa Family Trust goes so far as to ask cover bands to not cover these songs, and a posthumous album (Frank Zappa Plays The Music of Frank Zappa) is devoted entirely to tracing the progression of these three songs. Its absolutely incredible that two of these solos are found on this unlikely album.
Although I wouldn't call it his best by any shot, or even one of his best, this album is absolutely essential. There's too much interesting going on here not to count this as an integral part of any FZ collection.
Free Music Review: Great Album, Excellent Tour
Hit: 5 Stars
This one brings back loads of memories. I was one of the many that was waiting for this record to hit the shelves. We were part of the cult, the mass of regulars that made as many concerts as we could and knew all of Frank's inside jokes. We thought we were cool, but of course we weren't. This disc caused descent in the ranks. For some of the old school FZ fans, this was the last straw and they walked away muttering about how it was all downhill after the original Mothers were gone.
I was pretty much old school, having started out on Freak Out and progressing album by album, thanks to an old burnout that got me started into Frank's music at the bright young age of 12. But I didn't cling to the old school rant - new was OK and this, when it was new, sounded VERY good to me! The live show of this album tour that we saw was excellent too. For perspective, I was alcohol legal by the time of Zoot Allures... Some of the tunes hit me right in the face. I was working at a gas station while in college and took that minimum wage paycheck to pay for this disc. I worked at the gas station with a reject named Jerry that was a thief. He'd steal money out of the register and we'd all have to make up the shortage out of our paychecks, so nobody wanted to work with Jerry. So I remember hearing "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" and thinking I should go play it for Jerry. I also wanted to go play "The Torture Never Stops" for one of my literature profs, because it reminded me of his class.
To get more to the review, just consider this: the album is a work of synergy in that the whole is much stronger than any individual portion. One could point out Black Naspkins, The Torture or the title track as being particularly strong, but it is the flow of the album that takes over once you get to know it. As usual, Frank was writing from his Amateur Anthropologist point of view (he should have been given an honorary degree in the field) in many of the songs, such as Gas Station, Ms. Pinky, Find Her Finer, Wonderful Wino and Disco Boy. It all weaves together perfectly and the playing and singing are outstanding.
Free Music Review: My First Zappa Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
This was my first Zappa album and I bought it because I heard it had awsome Guitar Playing and that it does! I am not really into his weird stuff thoughI own a couple Zappa albums now and this is my favorite next to "Hot Rats". After listening to these Zappa albums I have realized that Zappa is one of the most underrated guitar players of all time I mean the man invented shred (thats right Zappa not Ritchie Blackmore) the songs on this album, are top notch. "Wind Up Workin In The Gas Station" is an awsome song and it started a concert chant show me your thumb if your dumb, I think thats how it goes anyway. "Ms. Pinky" and "Find Her Finner" are my two least favorite songs on the album, but I do like them cause they are great but I like the other songs better! "Friendly Little Finger" is one of the best songs on the album but I dont really know for sure what its about, but its a good song none the less! "Wonderful Wino" is great just because the title but its more then that I think its a really complex song (just me) but its another gem. "Disco Boy" is a really cool song and its probly the best Zappa song to ever finish the album! Now to "The Torture Never Stops" is like no other song in the Zappa catalog, belive me, its not a strange song its just a really errie song and very bluesy, one of Zappas best songs ever! Now on to the two best songs on the album. "Black Napkins" is my favorite song on the album and one of my favorite zappa songs of all time! The solo on the song is among the best never before have I heard a solo so amazing. The exact same thing can be said for the title track "Zoot Allures" great solo and all. thoughs are probly Zappas best instrumentals ever! Look Zappa is an amazing guitar player and a 'musical mastermind' if you are a fan of shred guitar get this, if you are a fan of Jeff Beck and instrumentals get this and if you are just getting into Zappa get this and "Hot Rats". this is one of the best albums of all time!Free Music Review: ONE OF ZAPPA'S TOP 5 ALBUMS.....A VERY SURPRISING TREAT!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
many people say that zappa's greatest accomplishments were either his instrumental albums or his early work with the mothers of invention. most of his best work is with the mothers of invention, no doubt. "zoot allures" overshadows basically all of his solo work (with the exception of "hot rats") and is a surprise to anyone who thinks that zappa's work was basically second rate after "one size fits all". this album is BETTER than "one size fits all", it's predecessor. both have 9 songs (tracks). both are a year apart. both have some dynamic guitar and instrumental pieces. but where "one size" had expendable tracks like evelyn: a modified dog, sofa no. 2, and florentine pogen, "zoot allures" doesn't really have any. the title track is a little slow and strange (if that's the word) for a zappainstrumental and "the torture never stops" is zappa at his strangest. the guitar solo on "black napkins" is one of his finest....raw and basic but always captivating. "wind up workin' in a gas station" brutally pokes fun at that profession. the vocals sound like the bee gees' evil cousins. "ms. pinky" is about a sex doll. "find her finer" proves that nice guy's finish last and that in order to "score" with a woman, you must do what you have to do because almost all women don't appreciate a man's intelligence...just his looks and affection. "wonderful wino" and "disco boy" are funny and memorable tunes. this album is called a "stripped-down rock album" by some....call it what you want. I call it fantastic!
Zappa's 5 best albums are (in no particular order)
1. Freak Out
2. Absolutely Free
3. Hot Rats
4. Chunga's Revenge
5. "Zoot Allures" ....I rest my case.
Free Music Review: among the alltime greats
Hit: 5 Stars
OK. Most of us know Frank Zappa as the musical genius. The Mothers of Invention stuff was a little ahead of my time, but I actually own about a dozen FZ cds. There were some gems in the mothers era, but unlike some of the mothers fans who were getting off the bus when Zoot came along, I was one that gladly jumped onto the bus and went along for the glorius ride. I was actually in the dating and going out to disco's faze when Zoot Allures was released, I bought it on vinyl because I already liked FZ. The tune disco boy sent shivers up and down my spine and I would crank it up and listen over and over again....the humor combined with the music was mesmerizing to me, but I also love about ever other track on the album and of course added the cd to my collection. I plan to buy more of Frank Zappa's music, but one slight problem is Frank Zappa may have put out a few too many productions. However, Zoot Allures will always be near the top of my list of alltime favorites. I kind of have Frank Zappa in the same ranking as I put Bob Dylan. The volume of works by these two are staggering, but it's impractical to own everything they did. You boil it all down and they have 50% great stuff and 50% so-so stuff. But that's a complement because most any other artists with the exception of The Beatles, would be lucky enough to have 10% great stuff. Well, anyhow I know what I mean to say. To heck with disappointed ex-mothers fans, Frank Zappa did a lot of great or greater stuff way after the mothers era. Zoot Allures, Man From Utopia, Sheik Yerbouti, Apostrophe to name a few.