tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post5782231043621476454..comments2023-11-05T03:42:44.300-06:00Comments on Audio Overflow: 29 in 2009 - Frank Zappa: "Over-Nite Sensation"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-68292633147546030192009-10-31T12:15:01.461-05:002009-10-31T12:15:01.461-05:00First, allow me to thank you for writing what is p...First, allow me to thank you for writing what is probably the most thoughtful comment I've ever received on this blog. You're clearly a person that knows your stuff, or at least your Zappa.<br /><br />Without responding in a similarly epic manner, I'll say that Frank Zappa is a guy who has always intrigued me, even without being fully introduced to his music. <br /><br />My biggest disappointment with this one, and you're right on this, might be the lack of coherency with the album. It seems to be all over the place at time, exploring different sounds and styles without warning. Still, Zappa is an amazing artist. There's no denying that. This is why I'm still interested in hearing more from him.<br /><br />I'll take your recommendation to heart and hopefully I can come out of it with a better appreciation of his music. This particular album, however, just didn't seem like a good place to start.Calehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984120879306794047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-80376145645902805692009-10-30T19:51:45.609-05:002009-10-30T19:51:45.609-05:00I'm personally a Zappa fan. But I'm also q...I'm personally a Zappa fan. But I'm also quite interested and intrigued by my own interest and have spent a fair bit of time considering the value that might be found in Zappa. <br /><br />Although I think when it comes down to it you're not going to enjoy Zappa unless you listen to it quite a lot and over a long period of time. The long period of time is a least relevant to my experience of getting into Zappa. The only other way is if you got lucky in finding the right album to suit you as the Zappa repertoire obviously is extremely diverse.<br /><br />I think In Zappa there are a number of key features that you might find and enjoy to different degrees. Theres the rock pop element (as abstract as it may be from most people's conceptions of pop-rock; I just mean simple short tunes with a catch basically), theres the jazz element, which in itself is allowed to get pretty messed up without Zappa's help, as your Bitches Brew review attests. There is also the 50's doo-wop and R'n'B element, a classical element, and finally, what can only be the Frank Zappa x-factor all on its own. <br /><br />This last factor might have the potential to tie all these dynamics together nicely and coherantly. Really though, such an endeavor is pretty unrealistic in its scope. You can put them all together, but you've got to give up at some point in trying to do it systematically to create a coherant whole that fits togther nicely. <br /><br />Of course Zappa probably came at it from the other angle, with the aim of pushing the rough, amalgam structure to its extreme. That doesnt take away from the final product and the fact that it actually is an extremely combinatins of style. <br /><br />All this is merely to say that you shuldn't give on Zappa. That "roughness" which comes under the Zappa factor in my conception, is something that tends to grow on the listener and only needs to be one of many different attractions that might be persued first. <br /><br />Having said that, it sounds from your reviews like you're partial to a nice coherent album, consistent on its own, which might make the task even more difficult. Zappa considers his entire body of work as a continuing kind of tapestry. There is a name for that style of making art, but I forget what it is. It basically means that he tends not to give a single bloc of songs that is meant to feel satisfactorally complete with beginning and end. <br /> I'd say have a look at the Dub room special for a nice round portrayal of his work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com