Classical Music Forums - Talk Classical  

Go Back   Classical Music Forums - Talk Classical > Music and Repertoire > Non-Classical Music



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1 (permalink)  
Old Dec-27-2009, 21:16
Argus's Avatar
Argus Offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Oldham, UK
Posts: 389
Default Frank Zappa

I got into Zappa and a few years ago and bought Hot Rats and Roxy and Elsewhere and really dug them. After not listening to him for a while and getting deeper into jazz and classical I thought my tastes might have changed and I wouldn't be able to get back into his stuff. I was surprised then that Hot Rats sounds just as good now as when I first listened to it. I like more of his instrumental or serious work as opposed to his funny/novelty records like 'Bobby Brown goes down' but overall, it's good he was eclectic and most supremely prolific. What do people think of his classical side? I've read his biography and know he was really influenced by Varese, but is it apparent in his work.

Not only was he a good composer but I think he was a great guitarist. People always say he could only improvise over a couple of chord changes or he wrote parts too difficult for him to play live but he had a really unique voice in his solos and wasn't afraid to take chances and sound bad occasionally. Any musician who's played any of his songs will know how hard they are with constant time changes and fast unison runs between instruments.

So is anyone else on here fans of the Zappa? What records of his should I get next?

I am thinking of maybe the Grand Wazoo or Apostrophe or maybe one of the compilation CD's like You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore. His Shut Up N' Play Yer Guitar box set looks good but I can't find it anywhere. Also' why are most of his CD's so expensive. I'd buy more, but if every CD is over £10 it seems like a rip off. Same with Brian Eno.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old Dec-27-2009, 22:06
Mark Harwood's Avatar
Mark Harwood Offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Posts: 344
Default

Apostrophe' is entertaining, and I think it's available c/w the terrific Overnite Sensation.
If you desire a challenge, try to get your head round Jazz From Hell.
As for Eno, I downloaded the Neroli album for the price of one track from Amazon.

Last edited by Mark Harwood; Dec-27-2009 at 22:08. Reason: Afterthought.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old Feb-16-2010, 06:22
somerandomdude's Avatar
somerandomdude Offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: in a terrible place that i would love to escape at some point in time.
Posts: 44
Default

ive never really gotten into zappa, but when i do listen to his stuff i dig it.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old Feb-17-2010, 05:27
Weston's Avatar
Weston Offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,041
Default

I didn't even know this thread was here.

Argus - check out his earlier stuff too. Uncle Meat is a double album (when it was vinyl) and contained an earlier slower version of "Son of Mr. Green Genes" that features beautiful, if quirky, vocals. It's really hard to find though.

My favorite Zappa album is One Size fits All. It's loaded with a lot of the silliness you expect from Zappa - but in all seriousness it;s one of the best progressive rock albums I've ever heard. (He would probably have hated me calling it that.) There are two versions of a piece called "Sofa" that features one of the more lyrical melodies anyone has ever written. "Sofa No.2" is the same melody with comic German vocals done in unbelievably epic harmonies. The rest of the album is chock full of impossible rhythms and amazing musical acrobatics.

I do not recommend Shut Up N' Play Yer Guitar. It is guitar solos only. To me they don't work as well out of context. For the completist only.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Frank Martin Andre Composer Guestbooks 33 Jul-23-2009 03:54
Battle or War Pieces?? Mahler Maniac Classical Music Discussion 45 Jun-27-2009 00:00
Frank Bridge Mirror Image Composer Guestbooks 6 Jun-15-2009 08:24
Frank Martin deserves more Attention! glezzery Orchestral Music 5 Feb-20-2007 09:11
Not-strictly-classical Composers IAmKing Classical Music Discussion 15 Dec-28-2006 23:53


All times are GMT +2. The current date and time is Mar-22-2010 15:48.

Visit also: Classical Music Downloads | Magle - Contemporary Classical Composer, Organist and Pianist | Music Fan Page on Facebook


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0 ©2009, Crawlability, Inc.
Site design by James Lee.
Magle International Music ApS © copyright 2006-2009 All Rights Reserved.
Page generated in 0.05673 seconds with 12 queries