The Zappa Thread

[Nihil-Morari]

I'm going to see them this september.

And in other news, did you all know that Dance Me This is coming? Zappa's 100th official release. His last official completed album that was left on the shelf (I read that somewhere, so don't hold me to it). Just synclavier work, is anyone looking forward to it?

https://barfkoswill.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?pc=ZPCD170

[Cyclopssss]

Not very, not too fond of his synclavier work.

[Ultimetalhead]

Listened to Overnite/Apostrophe/Roxy/One Size in the car yesterday. Brilliant stretch of albums there.

[Orbert]

Truly.  That band was the best.

[Mosh]

Not a huge fan of the synclavier stuff but will still be interesting to hear some of his last works.

[bout to crash]

That sounds like a kick-ass show, Jackie! There is another Zappa tribute band out there comprised of some ex-bandmembers. (I think Ike Willis is in there) called Banned From Utupia.

They're touring quite a bit as well.

Never heard of them! Sounds like their lineup changes from what I see on the website. Can't find any tour dates.

[KevShmev]

As much as I like a lot of Zappa's stuff, I've never quite gotten the fascination many have with Over-Nite Sensation and One Size Fits All.  I don't dislike either, but neither does a lot for me.

My go-to Zappa albums remain Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo, Apostrophe and Zoot Allures.  And Joe's Garage, if I have lots of time.

[Ultimetalhead]

I've really developed a new love for One Size lately. It's goofier than its predecessors but somehow more musically mature. Some of the rhythms (Andy especially) are really nutty.

[bout to crash]

Hey, what's new in Baltimore?

[ytserush]

Hey, what's new in Baltimore?

I see what you did there.

[Cyclopssss]

More Trouble Every Day, appearantly....

[Nihil-Morari]

Listened to Make A Jazz Noise Here today. What are your thought on that? My uncle (a big Zappa fan otherwise) thought it was good, but every solo was ruined by random noises. I sorta see what he means, but the band pieces are really well arranged, and the band is flawless.

King Kong, however, proves his point exactly. The intro (0:00-1:32) is awesome (so tight!) but the solo's (apart from the first one (1:32 - 4:00, or maybe even up unto 5:00), Brecker Brothers!) are, well, stuff...



(https://youtu.be/tdLZ0aVPTic) for those who don't own it.

[bout to crash]

Oh yeah, I've never heard that version before. It's aiight.

[Orbert]

I can see that point, or hear it, rather.  It seems to me that Frank, while obviously very serious about his music, always had a "goofy" or "silly" side which infused most of his work.  It's almost like he didn't want us to take it too seriously, or something.  The early Mothers stuff was so out-there that it's hard to say how seriously we're supposed to take any of it, the mid-late-70's stuff always had humor, but even on later instrumental albums, where the "serious composer" side of him was in full force, there was always a bit of wackiness.

It usually doesn't bother me, since, like most guys, I've never quite grown up.  I'm one of those, "yeah, but there's always room for one gross joke" kind of guys.  So goofing off and making weird noises during a solo or even during an ensemble section is usually overlooked.  I can see how it can be distracting, though.  It does get to be a bit much for even me sometimes.

[Phoenix87x]

Can someone recommend some more Zappa songs like Blue Napkins?


I'm absolutely in love with blue napkins 

[Nihil-Morari]

Watermelon in Easter Hay springs to mind, check that one out.

[sneakyblueberry]

watched a couple ZPZ vids on youtube.  great stuff. 

[Cyclopssss]

Can someone recommend some more Zappa songs like Blue Napkins?


I'm absolutely in love with blue napkins 

Not to be a dick, but don't you mean Black Napkins?

[darkshade]

Can someone recommend some more Zappa songs like Blue Napkins?


I'm absolutely in love with blue napkins 

Not to be a dick, but don't you mean Black Napkins?

Maybe he meant Pink Napkins.

[Nihil-Morari]

In other news: Dance me This has of course been delayed. And when I asked my local record store what the price would be, they said it would be around 40 euro's. For a single CD. For years those prices have been shooting up, with the old posthumous Zappa releases being around 25 euro's, all the way through a few years ago, when I bought Feeding the Monkies new for 27 euro's, and the Road Tapes for 33 (double disc), but now all of a sudden a single CD for 40?! I don't know if that is actually going to be the price, but I hope not.

Furthermore, about half  a year ago I bought Carnegie Hall, 4 disc box set, about 45 euro's, I believe. I figured that it would look nice, but it actually sort of is the cheapest way to pack 4 CD's. This afternoon I saw the vinyl box set of Wazoo in a record shop. Never saw that one before, I nearly jumped the gun and bought it right away. 95 euro's was a bit steep so I checked the set better. The set had a cheap feel all over it. For instance on the side of the records it said 'Wazoo - disc one - disc one' and 'Wazoo - disc two', the third record is Joe's Domage, but I guess (and that would really be bad) it autocorrected on the side of the sleeve to Joe's Damage. The back was called Joe's Domage.

Everything considered I don't like the way ZFT is making profit of Zappa's last official releases. These are the last real Zappa approved releases (either he once said he'd make a collection of certain songs, or he actually mixed it, ready for release), and they are pricey, I get that. But none of them actually deserve the amount of cash you get charged.

After release #100, Dance me This, things'll get different. Release #101 for instance, is a modern ensemble, playing 200 Motels. Sort of like a cover version. I guess the next step is that Dweezil will release his ZPZ albums as official Zappa releases.

That's it, thanks for reading. 

[Cyclopssss]

Wow that´s real shitty the way they overpriced that....

[Orbert]

If these final releases were priced high, but were high quality and clearly meant to honor the Zappa legacy, I'd be cool with that.  If they'd skimped a bit on the packaging, but the price was that of a comparable regular release, I guess that would be okay, too.  It's what's inside that counts, after all.

But this combination of cheepnis with the packaging (including typos and other shit) and higher-than-normal pricing is ridiculous and nothing less than a black mark on Frank's work.  I'm sure Frank himself doesn't care either way, but damn, you'd think his family would at least proofread what they're putting out there.  What the fuck, Gail?

[Nihil-Morari]

If these final releases were priced high, but were high quality and clearly meant to honor the Zappa legacy, I'd be cool with that.  If they'd skimped a bit on the packaging, but the price was that of a comparable regular release, I guess that would be okay, too.  It's what's inside that counts, after all.

But this combination of cheepnis with the packaging (including typos and other shit) and higher-than-normal pricing is ridiculous and nothing less than a black mark on Frank's work.  I'm sure Frank himself doesn't care either way, but damn, you'd think his family would at least proofread what they're putting out there.  What the fuck, Gail?

Well yes, that exactly. I'm getting comfort from reading the same things on Zappa forums as well, it's not that it's just annoying for a regular fan, but the die hard fans are fed up with it too.
Anyway, I guess that it stops with release #100, but I'd be happy to be proven otherwise.


(that's good news actually for the Zappa discography discussion thread  )

[sneakyblueberry]

Can someone recommend some more Zappa songs like Blue Napkins?


I'm absolutely in love with blue napkins 

Not to be a dick, but don't you mean Black Napkins?

Maybe he meant Pink Napkins.

Black Napkins on the album, the other colours are live Napkin jams.

[Nihil-Morari]

I've finally started my Frank Zappa discography thread. If any of you are interested in taking a closer look at all of Zappa's albums over the next year/years take part!

[Cyclopssss]

Will do! 

[Podaar]

I've been running into Facebook posts that say Gail Zappa died today...yet I can't find any official news. Can anyone confirm this?

[sneakyblueberry]

RIP Gail.  Now you can join Frank.  In... uh... the ground. 

[Mosh]

I've been running into Facebook posts that say Gail Zappa died today...yet I can't find any official news. Can anyone confirm this?

https://www.zappa.com/

RIP

[darkshade]

RIP - one of the most important non-musicians in the progressive music world.

[Cyclopssss]

Aw. Rest in Peace, Gail.

[Nihil-Morari]

She did a lot of great work, and was always very important to Frank. Rest in piece Gail.

[bout to crash]

RIP Gail. I read that she went peacefully at home, so hooray for hospice!

Here's a dumb little story I can only tell in this thread: I have been talking to a guy on OkCupid for a while whose initial message mentioned the fact that I had Zappa listed in my profile. We finally met last night after at least a month of on/off talking. I didn't think about this when I set the location, but the coffee shop we met at is near a shopping center that has some "art" walls with quotes on them. One of the quotes (which takes up three little walls) is from "Call Any Vegetable." So after we had coffee I told him I had a surprise and took him to the wall. He was like  and I scored major points, obviously.

After that we walked around a bit and eventually started making out outside of a library. At one of the breaks in our makeout session I said to him, in my best Sy Borg voice, "You are a funn person" followed by "I like you. I want to kiss you always."

I am a total dork, and it totally paid off. We have another date Monday 

[Nihil-Morari]

RIP Gail. I read that she went peacefully at home, so hooray for hospice!

Here's a dumb little story I can only tell in this thread: I have been talking to a guy on OkCupid for a while whose initial message mentioned the fact that I had Zappa listed in my profile. We finally met last night after at least a month of on/off talking. I didn't think about this when I set the location, but the coffee shop we met at is near a shopping center that has some "art" walls with quotes on them. One of the quotes (which takes up three little walls) is from "Call Any Vegetable." So after we had coffee I told him I had a surprise and took him to the wall. He was like  and I scored major points, obviously.

After that we walked around a bit and eventually started making out outside of a library. At one of the breaks in our makeout session I said to him, in my best Sy Borg voice, "You are a funn person" followed by "I like you. I want to kiss you always."

I am a total dork, and it totally paid off. We have another date Monday 

  that's awesome 


Bout To Crash, you should head over to the Zappa Discography Thread, people've been asking about your tattoos 

[Podaar]

 

He should have said, "You'll love it. It's a way of life."