SHEIK YERBOUTI

heik Yerbouti is an album by Zappa that's main instrument is humor, rather than strange guitar notes or extended jams. There's still a good deal of prog to be found on the album, and most prog fans should eat it up.

The songs on Sheik Yerbouti seem a bit more listenable than most earlier Zappa stuff, since they tend to be shorter and more concise. For example, the first five tracks are all pretty basic songs with little in terms of technicality, though some have some. After that, there's a couple weird noise collages, instrumental jams, and more standard (though humorous pop songs).

Some of the more humorous songs include "I have been in You", detailing the more sexual humor, or "Flakes" bashing Californians (including a hilarious Bob Dylan impression and a killer keyboard solo). Nobody can miss "Bobby Brown Goes Down", one of Zappa's more famous tracks, with possibly his funniest lyrics on the album. And of course there is the kazoo- laden "Jewish Princess" about Frank's longing desire for a woman who 'squeaks when she comes'.

Zappa's more prog and avant-garde loving fans will find themselves a bit dissapointed for the less music in that genre. However, there are moments sprinkled over the album so that fans will recognize that it isn't a bad album, just less to their liking. For example, there is the guitar jam "Rat Tomago" which is an excellent improv. Also are the unusual "Rubber Shirt" and "Sheik Yerbouti Tango", the former of which focuses on a bass improv, while the latter may seem like just weird keyboard noise on a Tango rhythm. Also a good energetic song is "City of Tiny Lites" with a great guitar solo. But fans will ultimately adore "Yo' Mama", which starts off standard enough, but evolves into a killer extended instrumental jam, with some awesome keyboard sounds all through it.

In summation, Sheik Yerbouti is great as a humor album, great as a prog album, and excellent as a more mainstream album, with enjoyable parts all over.