Weasels Ripped my flesh
Weasels Ripped My Flesh_ is a Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention disc that combines both live and studio material recorded between 1967-1969. This material I believe is not found on their studio albums that came before this one. The combination of loose jazz improvisation, relentless experimentation and musical adventurousness will irritate and baffle many listeners who are accustomed to easy pop/rock or the like. However, amongst all the chaos, there are a few tracks that can be considered accessible. These tracks would be:
"Directly From My Heart To You"--A bluesy cover of a Little Richard track.
"Get A Little"--A melodic and tasteful instrumental featuring Frank Zappa soloing on a wah-wah (or what I call a 'wow-wow') pedal.
"My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama"--Zappa's only lead vocal on the disc. A steady rhythm with nice musicianship. Frank does some impressive guitar work on here. Love the backward section on here as well.
The rest of the disc is experimental, challenging, adventurous meat. "Didja Get Any Onya?," starts out in a big band-like jazz explosion. It goes through several motifs - featuring vocal experimentation, classical-like dissonance (in the middle section) and some loose and seemingly unstructured sax playing (which many may accuse of sounding like 'noise.') Lowell George does a vocal 'improv' which mimics what sounds like the trumpet a few times on this track. This has me laughing like a maniac. "Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Sexually Aroused Gas Mask" features an odd-timed rhythm, similar to the one found on "Didja." However, the rest of the track is given to vocal experimentation. If you don't have a sense of humor, this track will annoy the hell out of you. There's lots of hysterical laughter, yelling and roaring. Personally, this has me laughing hysterically. "Toad Of The Short Forest" starts out with some tasteful jazz instrumentation. Frank's guitar playing in particular gets the spotlight. Unexpectedly, the second half roars with blasts of free jazz improvisation. This becomes very challenging, as there are tempos/rhythms layered upon one another. Frank himself takes a moment during the track to tell the audience what time signatures various instrumentalists are using. He says Drummer A is playing in 7/8, Drummer B, Tambourine player & Bassist are all playing in 3/4 and the Organ player is playing in 5/8 - all at the same time. Definitely something for the cerebral who loves a challenge to tickle the brain. "Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" is a meandering instrumental that I'm not too fond of. This is my least favorite on here. However, most of it has an ominous tone to it. "Dwarf Nebula Processional & Dwarf Nebula" seems like two different song titles. This would make a bit of sense because the track sounds as if it's divided into two different tracks. The first half is a quirky, pseudo-country/rock experiment that I wish would have gone on longer. The second seems like a backward recording of guitar solos and god knows what else. I really like this. "Oh No" sounds like a typical '60's r&b/rock tune. The vocals are unconventional, albeit melodic. This track is fairly accessible. "The Orange County Lumber Truck" is very strong on melody - something that many may be surprised to find here. A tasteful, Hendrix-like hard rock track with great guitar playing from Frank. "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" is nothing but jarring, chaotic, ominous, cacophonous distortion and feedback. The disturbing thing that I find is that these last 2 minutes can be addictive in a psychotic way - in that I personally wish that it would have gone on for another few minutes. If you slip into the designated mood, you may feel the same way. Anyway, it's moments like these that leave you wondering if there's really a discernible difference between music and 'noise.' Music and any other kind of appreciation is subjective and are nothing but personal opinions, right? If it wasn't, then EVERYONE would think, feel, observe similarly on EVERYTHING - no chance.
This album is not for purist, close-minded or faint-hearted listeners. However, if you're a fan of jazz-fusion and/or challenging, experimental, cerebral and adventurous music, take a risk and pick up this album. You may just find a new favorite artist, and/or appreciate music in a whole new way.
"Directly From My Heart To You"--A bluesy cover of a Little Richard track.
"Get A Little"--A melodic and tasteful instrumental featuring Frank Zappa soloing on a wah-wah (or what I call a 'wow-wow') pedal.
"My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama"--Zappa's only lead vocal on the disc. A steady rhythm with nice musicianship. Frank does some impressive guitar work on here. Love the backward section on here as well.
The rest of the disc is experimental, challenging, adventurous meat. "Didja Get Any Onya?," starts out in a big band-like jazz explosion. It goes through several motifs - featuring vocal experimentation, classical-like dissonance (in the middle section) and some loose and seemingly unstructured sax playing (which many may accuse of sounding like 'noise.') Lowell George does a vocal 'improv' which mimics what sounds like the trumpet a few times on this track. This has me laughing like a maniac. "Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Sexually Aroused Gas Mask" features an odd-timed rhythm, similar to the one found on "Didja." However, the rest of the track is given to vocal experimentation. If you don't have a sense of humor, this track will annoy the hell out of you. There's lots of hysterical laughter, yelling and roaring. Personally, this has me laughing hysterically. "Toad Of The Short Forest" starts out with some tasteful jazz instrumentation. Frank's guitar playing in particular gets the spotlight. Unexpectedly, the second half roars with blasts of free jazz improvisation. This becomes very challenging, as there are tempos/rhythms layered upon one another. Frank himself takes a moment during the track to tell the audience what time signatures various instrumentalists are using. He says Drummer A is playing in 7/8, Drummer B, Tambourine player & Bassist are all playing in 3/4 and the Organ player is playing in 5/8 - all at the same time. Definitely something for the cerebral who loves a challenge to tickle the brain. "Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" is a meandering instrumental that I'm not too fond of. This is my least favorite on here. However, most of it has an ominous tone to it. "Dwarf Nebula Processional & Dwarf Nebula" seems like two different song titles. This would make a bit of sense because the track sounds as if it's divided into two different tracks. The first half is a quirky, pseudo-country/rock experiment that I wish would have gone on longer. The second seems like a backward recording of guitar solos and god knows what else. I really like this. "Oh No" sounds like a typical '60's r&b/rock tune. The vocals are unconventional, albeit melodic. This track is fairly accessible. "The Orange County Lumber Truck" is very strong on melody - something that many may be surprised to find here. A tasteful, Hendrix-like hard rock track with great guitar playing from Frank. "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" is nothing but jarring, chaotic, ominous, cacophonous distortion and feedback. The disturbing thing that I find is that these last 2 minutes can be addictive in a psychotic way - in that I personally wish that it would have gone on for another few minutes. If you slip into the designated mood, you may feel the same way. Anyway, it's moments like these that leave you wondering if there's really a discernible difference between music and 'noise.' Music and any other kind of appreciation is subjective and are nothing but personal opinions, right? If it wasn't, then EVERYONE would think, feel, observe similarly on EVERYTHING - no chance.
This album is not for purist, close-minded or faint-hearted listeners. However, if you're a fan of jazz-fusion and/or challenging, experimental, cerebral and adventurous music, take a risk and pick up this album. You may just find a new favorite artist, and/or appreciate music in a whole new way.
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