Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Pure-Negotiation-900 t1_ixv5rdw wrote

I don’t think he was gender bending. I think it’s more challenging the status quo.

40

jfuite t1_ixvast3 wrote

And, challenging the status quo by parody - not by taking it seriously.

7

Flintoid t1_ixud3w0 wrote

A thread on zappa!

I need to ask someone who knows, how do i approach his discography? He has like a zillion albums on Spotify and he seems to be all over the place on style and genre.

17

ProfMeowingtonPhd t1_ixude48 wrote

Shut your eyes, hold your breath, and jump. Maybe start with Hot Rats, Apostrophe ('), Sheik Yerbouti, and Joe garage. If you like those, try the live albums.

22

bigboogers87 t1_ixui5ka wrote

Good advice. I started with Apostrophe. It still took me a while to expand from there, but now consider myself a fan. I'd also recommend Overnight Sensation as a good starting point

8

gratch46 t1_ixujqwx wrote

Once you get Zappa down, take a deep breath, and put on Trout Mask Replica by Capt Beefheart.

7

North_South_Side t1_ixuxu5y wrote

Or put on Zappa's "Bongo Fury" and get Beefheart and Zappa together. Those two were friends from high school.

5

oroborus68 t1_ixx4mey wrote

🎶 and don't eat none of that yellow snow🎶

1

barriedalenick t1_ixuk1b7 wrote

Well my introduction to Zappa was Joe's Garage. Someone got me very, very stoned in my teens and played the entire album and nothing was ever the same again (musically).

  • Joe's Garage
  • You are what you is.
  • Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch
  • Over-Nite Sensation

Trouble is ask 20 Zappa fans and you'll get 20 different answers!

8

Previousman755 t1_ixvfw2x wrote

Totally agree with your recommendations. Another approach could be to find which era and musicians you connect with the most. The Ed Mann vocals and keys are very accessible foe new listeners. The Tommy Mars keyboards are intricate and unpredictable. Adrian Belew’s guitar is out there, Steve Vai’s more rock and experimental. All of the drummers have a different feel. Thunes, Ohearn, Barrow all add different flavors. My take on Zappa is that every version of the band is different. Find a version of the band you connect with then branch out.

3

uli-knot t1_ixug4x0 wrote

My Introduction was “Thing Fish”. Don’t do that one unless you are very brave

2

bobobedo t1_ixuymyb wrote

Just jump in, there is no starting point. Try WakaJawaka or Hot Rats.

2

Newtohonolulu18 t1_ixvnbkl wrote

It depends on your musical tastes upon entering. I grew up listening to punk rock, so actually his work with the Mothers is what got me very interested. We’re Only In It For the Money is a great record that begins introducing Zappa’s eccentricities in a rock-friendly way. From there, Apostrophe, Overnight Sensation, Hot Rats, Chunga’s Revenge. Enjoy the journey!

2

PaperLioness t1_ixx268n wrote

We're Only in it for the Money is that sweet spot between avant garde and rock/pop, and a good sumnation of Zappa/Mothers up to that point. Other albums from this Mothers era can be challenging to sit all the way through. I'd then jump to the "Roxy" era Mothers (one of the last and most talented lineups). Look for Roxy and Elsewhere and One Size Fits All. I'm still trying to get into The Grand Wazoo and Waka/Jawalka - some interesting points, but too noodly to me. Latter Zappa is fine, but I just can't with the cringey oversexualization in his lyrics.

2

shelbycsdn t1_ixwm2lj wrote

I can't say where I would start, i can only say where i did start. It was 1971 i believe, summer before 10th grade. The Mudshark on Zappa's Fillmore East album. I was forever shaped by that song. I laughed at the crazy story and couldn't believe what i was hearing but also utterly transfixed. And i ended up working in music as a lighting designer. Can't say it was that song, but i can't say it wasn't.

1

SBRH33 t1_ixun935 wrote

I think Garcia was wearing pigtails way before Frank.

6

Street_City363 t1_ixwc98o wrote

I was about to say, never trust a guy who looks like that and DOESN’T do drugs. Jerry you could never say that about.

1

SashaWoodson t1_ixuinvn wrote

All his albums sound like they were made under duress

4

idowanna t1_ixvbj1s wrote

About 25 years ago or so, I saw a commercial on TV wherein he says:

When Portland General Electric asked me to do this commercial I said, "I refuse to sell your product." They said, "great". I said, "as a matter of fact, I would encourage your customers to use LESS of your product." They said, "perfect".

And then he just gave a confused look. It was very funny.

4

toobadkittykat t1_ixukwva wrote

don't eat the yellow snow , right there where the huskies go

3

vinnydaq t1_ixvdvrv wrote

Gonna move on out to the wilds of Montana

And raise me up a crop of dental floss

Raisin’ it up and waxin’ it down

5

WhiteBearPrince t1_ixuux2j wrote

Give me your dirty love Just like your mama Make her fuzzy poodle do

3

badscott4 t1_ixwm0yf wrote

He was an iconoclast, a free thinker.

1

PaperLioness t1_ixx2mmp wrote

And yet, as a lifelong smoker who died from lung cancer. he apparently was just as much of a consumerist sheep as the people he critiqued in his songs.

−1

palmtreo t1_ixxg0kn wrote

That is one deeply disturbing picture

1

yorklebit t1_ixxqq9k wrote

I'm stealing the room!

1

PapaRigpa t1_iybn8w6 wrote

Frank was a musical genius. "The present day composer refuses to die".

1

najaraviel t1_ixulllr wrote

One Size Fits All - Sofa #2

0

gOldenhOrse69 t1_ixuc25t wrote

This isn’t/wasn’t cool.

−26

LeoWolfBlack t1_ixuhp23 wrote

No one asked the Trump worshipping conservative boomer. This sub isn't for people who can't mentally handle or grasp anything that isn't endorsed by Fox. Gtfo

−7

bettiebomb t1_ixuqgzs wrote

Yes that’s the only people who might not like Zappa. 🙄 I love Zappa but I swear to God you anti trump people are more judgmental than 99% of Trump supporters (or trump not-carers like me). It’s fkn weird.

4