I began listening to Frank Zappa and his band in April 2023. Pink Floyd's Ummagumma was without any serious competition the worst album I had ever listened to for several years but Uncle Meat has officially taken that title. Despite the consistently negative reviews, I stand behind my positive review of Freak Out!.
The Mothers of Invention: Freak Out! (1966): B
The Mothers of Invention: Absolutely Free (1967): C-
The Mothers of Invention: We're Only in It for the Money (1968): C
The Mothers of Invention: Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (1968): C+
The Mothers of Invention: Uncle Meat (1969): D+
Frank Zappa: Hot Rats (1969): C
The Mothers of Invention: Freak Out! (1966):
Zappa and his band don't take anything seriously including themselves: the ridiculous doo-wop "Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder," entire songs of nonsense lyrics ("Help, I'm a Rock" is only one example), and entire songs of nonsense vocals ("Who Are the Brain Police?"). At this album's most experimental--like on the twelve minute closer--it's hard not to tune out. Meanwhile, when Zappa doesn't use his usual weapons of satire and the absurd, his earnest pleas for the end of police brutality on the only straightforward song ("Trouble Every Day") feel out of place. However, with the right balance of experiment and melody (which is most of this record), the Mothers of Invasion pull off a hilarious albeit long album of some of the weirdest music you'll ever hear. B
The Mothers of Invention: Absolutely Free (1967):
Herein lies the thin dividing line between good experimental music and a huge waste of wax. On their debut, the undeniably great moments validated their frequent voyages into the rock's most indulgent corners. Absolutely Free's worst moments aren't any more unlistenable than "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" but its best moments aren't much better. C-
The Mothers of Invention: We're Only in It for the Money (1968):
Sgt Pepper and the burgeoning psychedelic movement are directly responsible (in Sgt Pepper's case, however, not to be condemned) for inspiring much of the next ten years of indulgent and pretentious idiocy in pop music. So, although it's unfair to condemn Sgt Pepper as a cash grab, Zappa's dislike for the Beatles' masterstroke is easy to understand. What is hard to understand is Zappa's commitment to the joke. This parody album might have a funny gag or two but is Zappa simply oblivious to the fact that this is his fourth LP worth of the utterly indulgent nonsense he seems to hate the most? C
The Mothers of Invention: Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (1968):
This is a lot better produced than their previous works and the persistent doo-wop influence make this the band's best work since their debut. Well, most of their work is still unessential but "Deseri" is great. C+
The Mothers of Invention: Uncle Meat (1969):
Frank Zappa and his stupid band might think it's a lot of fun to record a double album this void of melody and this overflowing with blatant gibberish and appalling self-indulgence but know this: that they released this atrocity proves their sense of humor is repugnant and that they have no respect for record buyers. D+
Frank Zappa: Hot Rats (1969):
I for one would like to thank Frank for finally putting an end to his old band, releasing this final self-indulgence, and promptly quitting the music business for good. C
