Dan's Pick of the Week 03/22/05

[Violent Unrest in Allentown]

Black By Popular Demand!

I love Frank Zappa with all my heart. It absolutely saddens me that I never got to see him live. Luckily, he recorded a lot of live audio for fans like me to drool over. The particular song I picked came from the first Zappa album I ever owned. Technically it's a not a real Zappa album; it's from the favorites compilation made by Larry LeLonde of Primus.

Village of the Sun - Frank Zappa

The first part of the recording is Frank Zappa talking, which is one of the greatest things that can go into your ear.  The intro is a simple bass drum count-in. Throughout the song, you hear: drums, vocals, bass, guitar, xylophone (melophone?), horns (I think I hear a trombone and a french horn), and jazz organ.

This song is a great example of how Zappa used lyrics. Instead of throwing words on top of a song because he felt he needed to, he uses ths vocals as any other instrument in his Zappa-esque note runs.

Touching on the rythm again, I love how much the song plays with upbeats. Mmmm, upbeats.

[الله أكبر]

The xylophone-like instrument you hear is called a marimba, or more colloquially, vibes. Vibes are for drummers who think they have a sense of melody.

This is such a great example of Zappa's jazz rock stylings (though he does defy genres sometimes).

[Rhino......................]

Sh'ain't workin'! Shoosh!

[Violent Unrest in Allentown]

Fixed it.

[FAGGOT WATCHIN TRON]

Downloaded and listened.  I enjoyed it quite a bit.  My experience with Zappa has been very limited, but I think it's something I'd like were I to listen to more of it.

[Violent Unrest in Allentown]

I know, many here will agree that "You Are What You Is" is a great starter album. I'll zip it and upload it if anyone is interested.

[Cowboyninja]

I have yet to hear a Zappa song I didn't like and though most of my friend circle has been into him for a long while I still can't convince myself to go buy an album of his and I don't know why. I had never heard this song before until now and I must say I like this one too, I guess it's about time I go buy one of his albums.

[Rhino......................]

I'll zip it and upload it if anyone is interested.

I'm game if you are, pappy.