zappa. a genius or just a comedian?

greenback wrote: oh, and IMO he has been stupid at least once in his lifetime, as reveals the many lame parts on the weasels ripped my flesh album.

He has been stupid many many times. I can't think of a single album of his that is wall-to-wall genius.

Anyone who dismisses Zappa as a comedian is listening to the wrong albums. Listen to Hot Rats and the Grand Wazoo and START AGAIN.

FuzzyDude wrote: He wasn't a comedian, he was a satirist! Learn the difference!! Oh yeah, and a musical genius too.

 Now that joke did make me laugh!

Syzygy wrote: The key albums identified on this site show him at his best.

I would recommend Roxy & Elsewhere to start with, because it is very tight, sound quality is awesome, and it also features great humour. If I had to choose ONE Zappa album, I'd choose this one. But I hope that I will never have to make such a decision

frippertronik wrote: is a good comedian, but his music...

He IS a musical genius. The problem is that he released so much stuff, that it takes a lot of time to listen through it and to find something that appeals to your taste. But if you like experimental music in general, you'll find plenty of stuff that makes his geniality obvious.

JrKASperov wrote: BaldJean wrote: JrKASperov wrote: Genius. His band can play stuff hardly any other band can. That tells you something, that requires skill, and love for music, diehard love for music at that. When you put all of Zappa's stuff together, look at what he did, all you can do is be awed. I think he might be the person to have done the most musically of all times. Now that would still be Johann Sebastian Bach.  The BWV (Bach Werke Verzeichnis, "Register of Bach's Works") lists 1126 entries. Yes but was Bach as diverse? I don't think so

At the time, yes - Bach was as diverse, if somewhat less satirical

But being able to play stuff that few others can is not an indication of anything apart from the ability to write or play complicated music - it doesn't say anything else. Yes, it is a skill, but it is not the be all and end all skill in music-making, it is just one skill. I personally do not find Bach's keyboard music particularly difficult to play - in fact, I tend to find his music very intuitive.

I think that Mozart was probably the most diverse composer ever - and for his time alive, had the greatest output of any single human being. He's the only composer I know of who, aged 14, went to the Sistine Chapel, heard a piece that had never been written down but passed on by memory only and, having heard it just one, wrote it down.

And his music can be very difficult to play for a variety of reasons.

Back on topic... Zappa was not far behind. 

Both. He blends comedy and fantastic music perfectly, and although some of his work can get a little questionable, Over-Nite Sensation and Hot Rats are both masterpieces.

BaldJean wrote: JrKASperov wrote: Genius. His band can play stuff hardly any other band can. That tells you something, that requires skill, and love for music, diehard love for music at that. When you put all of Zappa's stuff together, look at what he did, all you can do is be awed. I think he might be the person to have done the most musically of all times. Now that would still be Johann Sebastian Bach.  The BWV (Bach Werke Verzeichnis, "Register of Bach's Works") lists 1126 entries.

Yes but was Bach as diverse? I don't think so

Even when Zappa was at his most puerile, the musical backing was often extraordinarily sophisticated, and sometimes his humour and musical sophistication worked together well, especially on albums like Absolutely Free and We're Only In It for the Money. The word genius is over used, but when you take into account Zappa's talents as a composer, guitarist, arranger, improviser, social commentator and satirist I think it's appropriate for FZ. Unfortunately, his best known work is all too often his weakest (with the exception of the mighty Hot Rats). The key albums identified on this site show him at his best.

BaldJean wrote: JrKASperov wrote: Genius. His band can play stuff hardly any other band can. That tells you something, that requires skill, and love for music, diehard love for music at that. When you put all of Zappa's stuff together, look at what he did, all you can do is be awed. I think he might be the person to have done the most musically of all times. Now that would still be Johann Sebastian Bach.

I support that!