FRANK ZAPPA MEETS THE MOTHERS OF PREVENTION

This album is spilt into synclavier tracks, actual instrument tracks with some sort of a poppish leaning, and instrumentals, with the emphasis on the synclavier (in both terms of quanity and quality). For that fact, I would give this album a boost in rating, being that I've always enjoyed his synclavier pieces, and that they provide some sort of reprieve from the poppier songs. Not to mention that using the synclavier would also increase the progressiveness of this record, being that this is surely different and boundary pushing, at least to some degree. However, that 80s sound does tend to creep into the picture a few times throughout, but its presence is limited and short lived (and for that I say thank God). Each synclavier track is an interesting view on the instrument in its own right, and shows that quite agreeable pieces can be coerced from the thing.

The quote unquote magnum opus of this CD is Porn Wars, which includes actual dialogue from the famous (or infamous) Senate hearings about censorship on music. The song is primarily synclavier based, but the conversations are interweaved quite well, including adding that typical Zappa humor along the way. To some degree this song is worth the price of admission along (espeically since this CD seems to be available for fairly cheap). But never fear, there is more to hear. Aside from the aforementioned Synclavier tracks, three tracks are of interest to me. What's New In Baltimore? is a fun instrumental with nice xylophone work that eventually morphs into a cool little guitar solo. Alien Orifice is similar albeit somewhat simplier. Of the three remaining tracks (I Don't Even Care, We're Turning Again, and Yo Cats), We're Turning Again provides the most amount of enjoyment IMO, though all three are fairly straight forward and are easily the low points of this disc.

All in all, this disc is a bit mixed. It has its highs (Porn Wars, One Man, One Vote, Little Beige Sambo, What's New In Baltimore?) and its lows (Yo Cats, I Don't Even Care). For me, the highs are stronger than the lows are weaker. However, one would have to be acustomed to the synclavier and Zappa's general avant-garde style to enjoy this disc to the fullest (though I would say Meets The Mothers Of Pervention would make a good introduction to Zappa's Synclavier work). Thus, this one is not for beginners. 3 stars for this one. Recommended to a degree.

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