Frank Zappa

Having proven his stellar musicianship on a series of instrumental-based solo albums, Frank
Zappa is now returning to the musical satire on which his formidable reputation was built.
Apostrophe turns out to be so brilliantly successful, though, that it seems as though he's
never left this field. Songs like "Stinkfoot" and "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast" again attest
to Zappa's abilities at contorting song forms to serve his distorted purposes: The... More >

Disillusioned acolytes are complaining that he's retreated, which means he's finally made top ten, but that's just his reward for professional persistence. If anything, the satire's improved a little, and the title piece--an improvisation with Jack Bruce, Jim Gordon, and rhythm guitarist Tony Duran--forays into quartet-style jazz-rock. Given Frank's distaste for "Cosmik Debris" you'd think maybe he's come up with something earthier than Mahavishnu, but given his distaste for sex you can be sure it's more cerebral instead. (Grade: B-)