Guitar

Frank Zappa - Guitar

Guitar
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CD Details

Artist: Frank Zappa
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1995-05-02
Music Label: Zappa Records
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. Sexual Harassment In The Workplace
  2. Which One Is It?
  3. Republicans
  4. Do Not Pass Go
  5. Chalk Pie
  6. In-A-Gadda-Stravinsky
  7. That's Not Really Reggae
  8. When No One Was No One
  9. Once Again, Without The Net
  10. Outside Now (Original Solo)
  11. Jim & Tammy's Upper Room
  12. Were We Ever Really Safe In San Antonio?
  13. That OL' G Minor Thing Again
  14. Hotel Atlanta Incidentals
  15. That's Not Really A Shuffle
  16. Move It Or Park It
  17. Surise Redeemer
Music CD 2
  1. Variations On Sinister #3
  2. Orrin Hatch On Skis
  3. But Who Was Fulcanelli?
  4. For Duane
  5. GOA
  6. Winos Do Not march
  7. Swans? What Swans?
  8. Too Ugly To Show Business
  9. Systems Of Edges
  10. Do Not Try This At Home
  11. Things That Look Like Meat
  12. Watermelon In Easter Hay
  13. Canadian Customs
  14. Is That All There Is?
  15. It Ain't Necessarily The Saint James Infirmary

Music reviews of Guitar

Music Review: If you're up for a challenge...
Rating: 5 Stars

An album like this will challenge your ears in several ways. Like most of Zappa's output, this CD isn't for everyone. Those who criticize Frank's guitar playing from a technical standpoint, however, are completely missing the point. Steve Vai et al. are certainly better technically on the guitar, but I think Vai would be the first person to admit that he couldn't improvise in a live setting on this level. Zappa was trying to create spontaneous compositions as he played, and he was unafraid of trying absolutely anything in his quest to do so.

If you hear on this set a lot of repetition, a lot of exploration of similar melodic/rhythmic themes, this is mainly due to the fact that a lot of the solos were recorded around the same time (even at the same shows) so that was what was in his head. I think of them as variations, not perhaps in the classical sense of a "theme and variations" but multiple explorations of the same material.

On the other hand, I think if you listen closely it's amazing from a compositional standpoint. There is an inner logic and coherence to the solos, whether self-proclaimed "expert guitar players" choose to acknowledge this or not. Frank's guitar technique was highly unorthodox and it might not be what you would like to hear from a guitar player, but he wasn't interested in playing clean, perfect lines. He was interested in doing something different every single time he got out there to play a solo, and this is a document of his attempts to do just that. It is a record of experiments with an audience.

The other major complaint about this CD is the sound, particularly the sound of the band playing behind Frank. As an experimenter, Frank Zappa was bound to be drawn to the new synthesizers and other gadgets that came out at this time, just as many, many other bands and musicians were in the 80's. However, when I listen to this album I am always struck by how natural-sounding it actually is versus a lot of other material from the 80's. I mean we are talking about the decade of Duran Duran, Devo, Joy Division, Culture Club, Madonna and a ton of other bands that sounded far more "plastic" than Zappa's band ever managed, even during the much-maligned 1984 tour (the one with all the fake handclaps and electronic drums).

Any modern music listener who isn't able to have an appreciation for electronic sounds is pretty much lost at sea as far as I am concerned. Compare this album with the Postal Service or the Prodigy and you tell me who sounds more machine-like. To my mind there's nothing cold or unexpressive about machine-made music at all. I think the real issue is that the sounds on this album serve to underscore the emotional coldness of Frank Zappa himself, something with which a lot of his fans are uncomfortable.

I don't see a huge gulf between Frank's playing or his tone in 1979 versus 1984. It's different, yes, but it's clearly the same guy playing and I don't immediately prefer one to the other. I agree that Vinnie Colaiuta is more attuned with what Frank was doing than Chad Wackerman is. However, Wackerman is more than competent and he does have his moments if you're willing to listen without prejudice. Also, critics of Scott Thunes' playing on bass have no idea what they're talking about. Just listen (with a really good pair of headphones or a great stereo) to the first track, "Sexual Harassment.." and you realize that Scott is playing his ass off while still completely supporting Frank.

I think Guitar deserves to be listened to very carefully by anyone who enjoys experimental music and wants to hear someone who is reaching for something rather than trying to stay inside a musical box or do what is expected. And I actually enjoy the hell out of this album. I get a lot of pure pleasure listening to Frank and the musicians he was playing with on these recordings. So there are those of us out there who truly enjoy listening to Guitar in its entirety.
More Guitar free music reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Description of Guitar

Japanese reissue of 1988 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Ryko. 2002.
The sequel to Shut Up and Play Your Guitar, Guitar is a two-part collection of improvisations by Frank Zappa, assembled from live recordings between 1979 and 1984. Zappa's bands from this period provides a solid foundation for what is essentially a one-man show, as Zappa carves his "air sculptures" from fluid, lyrical guitar notes. The backdrops vary from rock to blues to free-form embellishments to Zappa-defined reggae all the while giving the soloist plenty of room to explore his instrument. While it lacks the interplay between Zappa and drummer Vinnie Colliuta (he appears on only one track of this set) that made its predecessor so remarkable, Guitar contains more than enough of Zappa's musicianship to carry the day, making this an essential part of any Zappa or guitar fan's collection. --Andrew Boscardin

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