GUITAR

Frank Zappa

RIO/Avant-Prog

3.32 | 148 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Unashamedly, I admit to be a Zappa admirer, well at least for the bulk of his works with a few exceptions. Often he plays fantastic solos that lift and fit the compositions well.

The solos alone here without the framework feel somewhat sterile, requiring much attention with little entertainment value on the side. The rhythm section are left to provide little more than just that, rhythm, or more like filling the background with very little to hold onto in musical terms. I'd say, rather boring, albeit performed with skill this remains just a routine work for them with little affection on display. They could have been watching TV while doing what they were paid for and doing it with remarkable precision. Nothing like collective improvisations like on Hot Rats, but then again, its called Guitar.

There are some gems amongst Zappa's solos, perhaps a bit of improvement on his previous releases in a similar vein, but it's a daunting task to listen to the entire recording without losing focus and interest. "Less would have been more" springs to mind. The album may represent much interest to practicing musicians wanting to dysect Zappa's talent, for a casual listener it remains boring if not irritating after a few tracks.

To me it remains a soul-less and sterile release with a few highlights only.

S Lang | 3/5 | 2007-2-1

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