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Frank Zappa - Guitar Audio CD

A fair review of the Frank Zappa "Guitar" 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: Guitar
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-05-02
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace 2: Which One Is It? 3: Republicans 4: Do Not Pass Go 5: Chalk Pie 6: In-A-Gadda-Stravinsky 7: That's Not Really Reggae 8: When No One Was No One 9: Once Again, Without the Net 10: Outside Now [Original Solo] 11: Jim & Tammy's Upper Room 12: Were We Ever Really Safe in San Antonio? 13: That Ol' G Minor Thing Again 14: Hotel Atlanta Incidentals 15: That's Not Really a Shuffle 16: Move It or Park It 17: Sunrise Redeemer 18: Variations on Sinister #3 19: Orrin Hatch on Skis 20: But Who Was Fulcanelli? 21: For Duane 22: Goa 23: Winos Do Not March 24: Swans? What Swans? 25: Too Ugly for Show Business 26: Systems of Edges 27: Do Not Try This at Home 28: Things That Look Like Meat 29: Watermelon in Easter Hay 30: Canadian Customs 31: Is That All There Is? 32: It Ain't Necessarily the Saint James Infirmary

for fans only
Zappa is on fire. some incredible drumming on these two cds. But one needs patience with this project and multiple listens for the record to be digested. For hard-core Zappafile only, me thinks.


Some good stuff, but mostly forgettable....
Many of the solos/songs don't really stand out at all. This is a good album, but it's not as great as the mammoth Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar set, and a lot of the material here all sounds the same. They all blend into one long messy solo. That isn't to say there's nothing worth listening to here.

The opener Sexual Harrassment in the Work Place is a very majestic song, with a great Zappa solo and beautiful backing track. Do Not Pass Go has a nice mellow tone to it. The song Variations on Sinister #3 is very good and intricate. Outside Now (Original Solo) is one of the better tracks, and only one of two from the 1979 band with Vinnie Colauita (the other is Systems of Edges, which is equally good). While Chad Wackerman is a good drummer, he just didn't have the same camaradirie with Frank that Vinnie did. The recording of Watermelon in Easter Hay, one of Zappa's greatest compositions, is very nice. While not as majestic as the Joe's Garage version, it's still wonderful and the crowd really responds to it, which helps immensely.

Do Not Try This at Home sounds exactly like the title track from Them or Us (with more improv). In-a-Gadda-Stravinsky sounds more interesting than it actually is. The bass line from In-a-Gadda-da-Vida is used while Zappa and the band improv over it. Good idea, mediocre execution, though.
The album, however, has some of the most interesting titles Zappa ever came up (Orrin Hatch on Skis, Chalk Pie, Swans? What Swans?), but none of those songs are particularly interesting musicially. There isn't much variation here in the material, as there was on the Shut Up set. If you're a Zappa completist, then by all means you should pick this one up. If you're not, stick with the Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar album.

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Winos do not march
I've never heard anyone play the guitar like that. Get it for Winos Do Not March. FZ's genius really shines on some of these tracks.


YES!!!
It's why I became one! My eyes get teary just thinking about it. This album contains the most stirring tribute to Republicans ever recorded. I LOVE THIS ALBUM!.


Only Frank knows......
Only Frank himself knows. First of all let me say I am a huge fan of FZ and Steve Vai, but could someone please tell me what a "stunt guitar" is/does? I don't understand why Frank brought along a young virtuoso named Steve Vai, billed him as a stunt guitarist,and then buried him in the mix of his band of idiot savants. . . . and he's not talking. Another two disc set of FZ solos is only for the most hardcore Zappa fan and this collection will not dissapoint. Perhaps as a counter point to "Shut Up 'N Play", Frank could have highlighted Mr. Vai's talents (as well as those of Ike Willis, Ray White and Denny Whalley)by trading leads with them. On the positive side this collection reinforces the notion that Frank is one of the most underated guitarists ever.


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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