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Frank Zappa - Hot Rats Audio CD

A fair review of the Frank Zappa "Hot Rats" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Frank Zappa reviews here, or go back to the Frank Zappa tabs.

Frank Zappa Band: Frank Zappa
Title: Hot Rats
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-05-02
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Peaches en Regalia 2: Willie the Pimp 3: Son of Mr. Green Genes 4: Little Umbrellas 5: Gumbo Variations 6: It Must Be a Camel

My favorite Zappa album
The composing - both the underlying songs and the arrangements and layers and doublings that seem to have been created during overdubs - is amazing. Fabulous album, Zappa and Ian Underwood go overdub mad on tracks laid down live-in-studio by incredible rhythm sections, using one of the first 16 track recorders. Combines great musicianship, balls to the wall playing and just a tiny touch of the arch sense of humor Zappa is known for. A total classic. My only criticism is that I prefer the mix from the old LP version. The CD-era remix brings out the filligree of detail, which is nice, but lacks some of the warmth and grooviness of the LP. The perfect Zappa album for jazzers and people who find his lyrics (tailored, by his own account, for 13 year old boys) ultimately tiresome.


Frank Zappa's best
Most of the time he wasn't. Frank Zappa thought of himself as witty. He had a very pimply sense of humour. Very juvenile. You can forget about all his other albums. This is the only one worth while having. It's jazz-rock of the highest standard. Absolutely sublime.


Untouchable
I'd heard some Zappa before this, and always enjoyed it and appreciated him for his eccentricities. I got put onto this album by a mate who has quite differing musical tastes to me and was a little bit apprehensive to give it a go. This was the first Zappa album i'd listened to from start to finish and I was hooked from halfway through Peaches En Regalia. . . The drums on this track are amazing!
Zappa is one of those untouchable artists. He was so ahead of his time that he is still ahead of his time. Hot Rats (along with every album he has put out) is just so choc-full of discovery both through listening once every so often to listening incessantly over and over almost as if to unlock some secrets only available to chosen few. Zappa also did this, as it seemed, quite effortlessly and with an attitude that didn't take himself too seriously and did not give a single hoot if anyone didn't get it.
Any zappa album, even the ones that are pretty unlistenable, are 4-5 stars just for their originality, humour, wonder and the thought going through your head of "what the f*%@!"
I don't know if this album is a good starting place for Zappa newcomers, is there any? Maybe start with the greatest hits or something if you're into that.
Hot Rats is definitely worth the admission price for any music fan who loves their music full on, uncompromised and just a little nutty.


Great record
It's a must-have some anyone. A historic record from an amazing artist. The vinyl pressing was great, much better than most modern pressings.


Really great disc
Green Genes on Uncle Meat to get context on The son of Mr. Check out Mr. Green Genes. These are dynamite musicians really jamming in Zappa's jazz period. These guys can really play, this is when Zappa was starting to get picky about who he played with and from here on he generally got the best working musicians.


You can see a complete list of all Frank Zappa discography, or go back to the Frank Zappa tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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