THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: ABSOLUTELY FREE

While Zappa's debut album sounded somewhat choppy and unrefined, his second one sounds much more cohesive and mature. As others have said, this is a concept album of sorts. However, the lyrical themes from the previous album are still here. Zappa continues to lampoon politics and pop culture of the 60s. But the music has a much more pleasing quality to my ears. Some of the jams on here get really intense and exciting, but without a loss of control or wandering off aimlessly. Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin is especially really interesting. I love the way the sax dances among all the other instruments. And some of the weird vocal effects and lines really make me chuckle when I hear them. Absolutely Free is very much in the same vein of its predecessor, in that it's full of excellent 50s/60s pop and R&B, but it also serves as a bridge to some of Zappa's psychedelic experimentation he would move on later in the 60s, especially with the superb We're Only in It for the Money.

I'm really torn with this album, because I could justify giving it 3, 4, or even 5 stars. I'm not sure if this is prog or not, but it's excellent music regardless and a step up from Zappa's debut. Absolutely Free really deserves a 4 star rating from me. Even though this is a really good album, the best is yet to come.

Share this FRANK ZAPPA review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to horsewithteeth11
• Report this review (#224372)
• Buy FRANK ZAPPA music online with PA partners
• Show all FRANK ZAPPA MP3/Stream
• Go to FRANK ZAPPA page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to The Mothers Of Invention: Absolutely Free page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for FRANK ZAPPA related discussions