Frank Zappa - Tinseltown Rebellion

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Music reviews of Tinseltown Rebellion

Music Review: A solid album
Rating: 4 Stars

The album, somewhat awkwardly, begins with a studio track, FINE GIRL -- a rather harmless, catchy piece of misogyny. The rest of the album is live -- starting with a rousing, full performance of EASY MEAT. Some run throughs of songs from Zappa's early catalogue are pretty wasteful. There's really nothing extraordinary about them, save maybe a cute new edition of TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, and the first release of the Leather song FOR THE YOUNG SOPHISTICATE, which is a bluesy little ditty not without merit. NOW YOU SEE IT - NOW YOU DON'T is a reggae-backed grinder of a solo by FZ that meanders a bit, but comes off nicely, comparable to the lesser tracks on Shut Up. There's two tracks of stage theatrics which are funny, but a lot less musically charged than the stunts pulled by the Roxy Band (Be-Bop Tango) or even, dare I say it, the Flo'n'Eddie lineup.

The second half of this album is what makes it for me. Most of the material is original, and the two oldies are both worthwhile. THE BLUE LIGHT is one of my favorite FZ songs -- a funky monster of a track that contains some rather esoteric lyrics. TINSLETOWN REBELLION, the title track, is a venemous shot at the Punk movement with a ton of hooks that ape musical style. PICK ME, I'M CLEAN (like EASY MEAT, I think this was also, curiously, a Flo'n'Eddie number) is a lively song with a great solo. The punch-gut blues of BAMBOOZLED BY LOVE is a charm, if you can look past the rather morbid lyrics. BROWN SHOES DON'T MAKE IT and PEACHES III (Peaches En Regalia) are great closers. Two of the best songs from FZ's early career, in my opinion. This is actually my preferred version of Brown Shoes, and Peaches is always magnificient.

A pretty good album that maybe runs a little too long. Not essential, except maybe for the presence of Colaiuta, but a good one for fans of FZ and this period.

Description of Tinseltown Rebellion

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