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From the Vault...
10/23/2005
#965 |
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info
Frank Zappa
"You Are What You Is"
© Rykodisc Records
Rating:
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track listing
Teen-age Wind
Harder Than
Your Husband
Doreen
Goblin Girl
Themee From
The 3rd Movement
Of Sinister
Footwear
Society Pages
I'm A Beautiful Guy
Beauty Knows No Pain
Charlie's Enormous
Mouth
Any Downers?
Conehead
You Are What You Is
Mudd Club
The Meek Shall
Inherit Nothing
Dumb All Over
Heavenly
Bank Account
Suicide Chump
Jumbo Go Away
If Only She Woulda
Drafted Again
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Frank Zappa
"You Are What You Is"
Frank Zappa's musical career has been an interesting journey. Where most
of his music is hard to describe, his albums have covered practically in every
genre: Rock, Psychedlia, Jazz, and Classical. Zappa defined his own style
in each of these categories. His You Are What You Is displays his
off-humor, musically in Rock styles. The title track was the flip side of
his hit with his daughter, Moon Unit, "Valley Girl" (which by the way,
is NOT on this release, it was originally featured on Ship Arriving Too
Late to Save a Drowning Witch).
Teenage rebellion in Zappa's dry humor starts off "Teen-age Wind,"
where a countryish styled "You're Harder Than Your Husband" tells the
story of the end of a love affair. Zappa has a different form of Rock on
"Doreen," a song about one in love with a girl named Doreen.
"Goblin Girl" has a reggaeish sound, with Halloween lyrics, and is
typical Zappa humored lyrically and musically.
The instrumental "Theme From The 3rd Movement Of Sinister Footwear"
features Zappa's guitar work in an off-Jazz style, as heard from many of his
releases. "Society Pages" is more novelty, telling the story of an
ol' lady running a paper, and her son which would become the topic of the next
song, "I'm A Beautiful Guy," as it blends into "Beauty Knows No
Pain," as Zappa continues his own definition of Rock music. And each song
from "Society Pages" references the next available song, as "Beauty
Knows No Pain" merges into "Charlie's Enormous Mouth." So, we can
say that this could be a medley. "Any Downers?" continues Charlie's
story.
"Conehead" continues the Zappa humor, and the title track was one
of those songs that just grows on you, with repeated listens. "Mudd Club"
has demented voices, and its best to follow the lyric sheet on this one.
"The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" takes a look at religion, and once
again, its in the typical Zappa fashion, lyrically and musically. Continuing
with religion, dementia returns with "Dumb All Over." "Heavenly Bank
Account" has a different musical approach, almost having a 1950s sound,
maybe even gospel, it's Zappa in his own Rock nostalgic style. "Suicide
Chump" has a cool boogie style, "Jumbo Go Away" has an off-Soul
approach, yet it has some "crazy" Zappa guitar solos. "If Only She Coulda"
returns with Zappa's off-humor in his original rock style, as it merges into
"Drafted Again," continuing from his hit "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted."
You Are What You Is has its moments -- Zappa's off-humor in many of
his albums brings a chuckle to anyone, understanding his views and opinions.
His music was truly original. Where his unique guitar playing, and different
approaches in musical sound, Zappa was one who took his music in a way that no
other rock artist/band went before. Zappa's musical tastes would also be
reflected on the common sounds, such as Jazz and Classical, as he would place
his own sound to each. Yet it's the off-humor lyrics and his unique rock sound
that makes him a genius, music fans sometimes have to appreciate his music more
and more with repeated listens. Zappa made statements in his music, and hearing
it differently in lyric and in sound, it still made Zappa stand out as one of
the best musicians Rock has even known.
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