Battle of the Prog Bands R2D9: Zappa vs. UZ

beebs wrote: Anthony H. wrote: If Zappa doesn't win this, my faith in the human race will be shaken.   Absolutely. HOW can albums like "Weasels Ripped My Flesh", "The Grand Wazoo", "Overnight Sensation", "Apostrophe", and (my personal favorite) "One Size Fits All" be topped by a newcomer like UZ?  Sorry. In cross-section of listeners who were weaned on the above albums by Zappa and the Mothers, it's gonna be FZ hands-down.

Since when is Univers Zero considered a "newcomer" band?  They formed in 1973 and started releasing albums in 1977.  Pretty great ones, too. 

You forgot one of Zappa's best in your list there - Roxy & Elsewhere.  Same with Burnt Weeny Sandwich (and the music portions of Uncle Meat). 

I love what UZ I've heard, and I love all the Zappa I've heard (except We're Only In it for the Money, which I don't like much at all).  I've heard more Zappa I love than UZ I love, purely because Zappa's released such an ungodly amount of albums.  Out of curiosity, have you listened to any Univers Zero?  If not, I'm especially disappointed in your immediate dismissal of their ability to compete against Frank. 

As a fan of both artists, it's kind of tough for me.  I think, though, that I enjoy Roxy & Elsewhere more than I enjoy my favorite Univers Zero album (their debut), but the two are really neck and neck for me. 

I think it's kind of funny how several posters in here have such a little ability to deal with people having an opinion different than their own ()...if Zappa wins, GOOD.  If Univers Zero wins, GOOD.  If there's a tie...GOOD.  It's all good, people.  What would Zappa have wanted, and what would Univers Zero want if they saw this poll?  They definitely wouldn't want you to put someone else down for preferring one band over another, they'd want you to enjoy the music.  Plus, I'm absolutely certain that Zappa would want you to actually, you know, listen to both choices enough to be familiar with the opposition before voting. 

Thanks!  I'll vote later once I've given it some more thought.

That dog right above does have style 

Good post, Jon.  For a moment I thought Beebs, due to his newcomer comment, may be one of those people who doesn't consider any artsist/ band born past the 60's worthy of high praise, but then I looked at his reviews list and he focuses on much more modern ones than Univers Zero. I don't know if it was a comment made out of ignorance (I had strange flash that he was mixing up Univers Zero with Thinking Plague but I don't really think that means anything) or maybe he really does think it's a newcomer since UNiver Zero's debut album wasn't until 1977. Maybe for someone weaned on Zappa (and who experienced the classic days of Prog as a teen or adult), a band like Univers Zero is a newcomer. But, again, you've chosen to focus on much later bands in reviews (none in the RIO camp that I can see), so it's not like you're stuck in the early days of progressive rock.  I get the feeling you're more into the melodic rock side of music rather than chamber rock (AORish music), anyway, from looking at your reviews.

b4usleep wrote: UndercoverBoy wrote: Also, I like my music to be more serious than comical, and UZ is just that. I am sorry for writing this bu considering Frank Zappa as a comic musician is a bit, how do i say, strange. He is, may be the most serious man in the entire music history.

I've yet to hear enough UZ, so no vote.

lol

Sorry UZ, Zappa is my hero.
I'm surprised he's not winning

Samla Mammas Manna could play some pretty complex/adventurous pieces with humor. 

Well now you can remember. 

Humour is serious stuff!