HOT RATS

Frank Zappa is, in a word, strange. This, however, is one of his more accessible albums. You won't find anything as dirty as Dina Moe Humm or Bobby Brown (Goes Down) on this one, nor is there anything as silly as Joe's Garage. Most of the album is performed in a style of instrumental jazz fusion, the music technical yet fun at the same time.

The album starts off with the tremendously catchy Peaches en Regalia, but the catchiness is deceiving. The various melody lines weave in and out of each other, creating a complex but simultaneously very enjoyable little song. Next is the only vocal track on the album, Willie the Pimp. The lyrics about being a pimp, sung by Captain Beefheart, are more goofy than offensive, and most of the song's time is spent in a very impressive guitar solo from Zappa. Son of Mr. Green Genes is a long instrumental track with some more great soloing from Zappa, and Little Umbrellas is a short instrumental, but more relaxed than Peaches en Regalia. Next is the 16-minute Gumbo Variations, an amazing jam session between Harris, Zappa, and Underwood. The album ends on another shorter instrumental, It Must be a Camel.

While I don't own anywhere near all of Frank Zappa's extensive catalog, this is probably my favorite album out of what I have. Anyone who wants to hear him play some semi-serious music should check this out, and anyone who is new to Zappa would probably do well to start here, unless they're seeking Zappa out for his more humorous and sexual side.