ZOOT ALLURES

This down-and-dirty Zappa album features Frank playing striped-down, bottom heavy, and "conventional" tunes. While I think it's safe to say that everytime Frank sneezed something creative came out of him... this album shows that it wasn't necessarily a good thing.

For every cool moment in Zoot Allures there are just as many that made me roll my eyes. "Wind Up Workin'..." is fun but trite, "Black Napkins" is an awesome solo and nothing else, "Torture Never Stops" never stops (and only barely begins), etc. While I found something amusing about all the songs (except "Find Her Finer", which is terrible), I found nothing to like, which to me says that Zoot Allures is an experiment that misfired. Gone is the dense complexity and playful instrumentals, being replaced with a crass directness. I understand that some of this album is satire, but that doesn't excuse poorly conceived songwriting.

While more "approachable" than other Zappa records because of Frank's heavy guitar sound, this one certainly isn't on par with his greats.

Songwriting: 2 Instrumental Performances: 4 Lyrics/Vocals: 2 Style/Emotion/Replay: 2