Over rated

 djmeatwad wrote: 

How could you not like Frank Zappa?????

Yea most Zappa is a little too weird and long winded for me (much like the Dead) though I appreciate the musical skill and complexity of the arrangements (unlike the Dead). However, this is one of his more pleasing songs to the ear. Like this.

 unclelonghair wrote: 
I don't know what you're talking about here, unclelonghair.  Yes, we play a LOT of Frank Zappa - but at no point have I heard any of our live staff apologize for playing it, EVER.  And we aren't about to start.

DJ Meatwad
Owner/Webmaster, Head Case Radio

There's room in my paradise for a bit of Zappa.

Frank wrote some great music, like this song.  As for his less "accessible" stuff...I dont care how complicated or hard it is to play, if it doesn't sound good then it aint good tunes!

Yes!!! Some Uncle Frank for breakfast!  Thanks!

And come on folks....it's fine if he's not your cup of tea but I'va always said:  one must have a sense of humor to get Mr. Zappa's tongue in cheek lyrics. 

 SparkyMarky wrote: 
Pearls before swine.

 unclelonghair wrote: 
Yeah...you're right up to a point. Some of his stuff isn't that accessible. And yet look at the doo wop stuff he did with the Mothers?  Completely the opposite. Also consider the times much of his stuff was written...it was music of its time, in that many people were being massively experimental and he was one of them, trying to push the boundaries. I don't like all FZ I admit. But I find melody and rhythm in a lot of his songs, I love some of the epic guitar solo compositions. And I realise many don't! As for his lyrics? Well he took the piss out of lots of people he considered phonies and posers. Ironic as I suspect that's what you think he is!
Take it easy - and nice to have considered chat, rather than the mud throwing that disagreeing comments often are (yes I'm guilty too!)

 SparkyMarky wrote: 
Well the 7 minute guitar solos are a good example of something in which there is surely some genius but it is not my cup of tea.  Maybe it is just music for musicians, and I can understand how some people would love it and others (including me) wouldn't "get" it.  It is surely interesting for anyone experimenting with cross-genre epic guitar or electronica solos.

What turns me off though is the antiseptic, art-for-art's-sake or weirdness-for-weirdness-sake character of so much of his music.  It never seems to be "about" anything, besides random satirical sound bites.  He's got, what, 60-70 albums, almost all self-produced, and most of it even his fans admit is unlistenable.  It's mostly an exercise in artistic masturbation.

Another internet radio station (Head Case Radio) plays a lot of Zappa, and the DJ's often apologize to the audience before AND after a spate of Zappa songs, because they know that that it's like some kind of weird, slimy food — disgusting to most people but essential to a small, hardcore minority.  I guess in this case I'm in the majority.

 unclelonghair wrote:Ok Uncle longhair and JohnJConn. I heistitate to give your comments validity by replying. But amongst the reasons Frank was a great was the orchestral scope of some of his rockband work, which brought together some really great guitar work into some monumental rock songs - especially so in his live work. Now, I accept that not every band is everyone's cup of tea, but to anyone who likes complex rock songs Frank could do that, the way he blended in a lot of percussion and voices with his driving guitar. Look at 'Willie the Pimp (with excellent Beefheart vocals), or Inca roads. His so-called 'silly lyrics'  were very often what we Brits call irony - something that large swathes of the USA seems to have long forgotten about 

 Papernapkin wrote: 
FWIW I agree.  For me Zappa is like the Grateful Dead.  Die hard fans who swear it's the greatest, but the music isn't really that good, and gets irritating after a while. Or you could say that it only sounds good if you're pretty stoned.

A lot of Zappa music comes dangerously close to a toddler playing with an electric piano with a tape deck running.  I have never really understood the appeal.  Without the weird stream of consciousness lyrics there would be no reason to listen.

 bluedot wrote: 
Bluedot - you are so on the money. I suspect papernapkin wouldn't know a 'cool guy' if he came up and bit him on the leg. Papernapkin, write out 'Frank was one of the most original musicians ever and I wish I didn't like boybands so much' 100 times

 Papernapkin wrote: 
Shurely you jest!

 Papernapkin wrote: 
Ahem. You are about as wrong as can be in your "judgement" about his musicianship. Not that your opinion is worth anything, right?

Frank played a mean guitar
Frank had a lousy voice
Frank wrote silly (sometimes stupid) lyrics
Frank wrote average music

Never could figure out why he was popular, probably the silly lyrics

Sang this classic Frank to myself and anyone who would listen countless times.

Yeah! Great Zappa song, one of the best from the man!

Camarillo mental hospital is now a California State University (CSU Channel Islands). Beautiful campus with some interesting architecture, and some of the buildings unused by the school can be a bit creepy. You can get tours of the place, though I think they're more thorough for people who are planning events than they are for students or whatnot. There are some trickles of ghost stories, but I've never heard one first hand. Just some Camarillo news for y'all!

 Papernapkin wrote: 
Haha, this comment is the most clueless that I've seen on any forum in a LONG time!     

For those of you who don't know, this song is about shock treatment at Camarillo State (mental) Hospital in Camarillo, California (near Ventura).

Finally some Zappa! It's been a long drought. More!

I love Zappa's stuff but this is my favorite

 Papernapkin wrote: 
You must be kidding or just tease?

Papernapkin wrote:
And you make asinine comments because you like to stir up shit and thinking of yourself as a non-conformist makes you feel cool! Pathetic!

 Papernapkin wrote: 

I can't believe you wrote that.

 horstman wrote: 
 

 Papernapkin wrote: 
I give Frank good reviews and high points because he is (was) a gifted musician. I give you poor marks because you are an idiot.