As a result, the sixteen tracks on this set pretty much blend together about five cuts into the disc. I've played Trance-Fusion several times in the car driving to work in the past week. Each time I found myself listening fairly intently to "Revenge," "Bowling on Charen" (which has lines that sound like they could've come from Burnt Weeny Sandwich, though apparently it's from a 1977 performance of "Wild Love") and "Good Lobna" (Zappa-phile Matt Groening must've been tickled by the Simpsons ref here) – than needing to be goosed back into full attention by a good rhythm shift (as with the snippy "Soul Polka") or a dose of bluesy familiarity ("After Dinner Smoker.") In most cases, the titles don't particularly help: you'd expect, for instance, a song called "Gorgo" to be a full-blown tromper much like "Chunga's Revenge," but you'd be wrong.
To be sure, listening to the man's assured fingering can provide slivers of pleasure – even to a musical dunderhead like myself. For years, I've used earlier Zappa guitar collections for background music while writing, and I suspect I'll be pulling out T-F in the future for the same. (As a sonic experience, it's certainly much less intrusive than, f'rinstance, the frequently annoying Sheik Yerbuti.) But when I want to actively listen to the man and his music, I'm still most likely gonna slip on something from the '60s or early '70s. That pumpkin dance track on Free may not "go anywhere." But it's surrounded by the front and back of the original "Call Any Vegetable," which definitely does.
Article comments
1 - Pico
While I like to try and wrap my mind around Zappa's increasingly more complex later stuff, his music from the late 60's-early 70's remain my favorite part of his work. So this FZ review for "the rest of us" is a welcome change from the ones I usually find. I'm likely to enjoy this record the same way you do, i.e., without much listening involvement. Thanks!
-P
2 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites.
3 - Suzy Creamcheez
Fair assessment of this music. Although I would add that this album does not in any way purport to be a linear album of "songs". Like the "Shut Up and Play Your Guitar" series and the "Guitar" album it is simply a collection of guitar solo's intended for those that are interested in that sort of thing.
That being said it successfully accomplishes what it set out to do. It contains material at least as good as the afore mentioned records. If you like "Shut Up" and "Guitar" you should enjoy this fresh sampling of high quality guitar solos.
4 - Louis
Zappa is unmatchable. I have always been astounded that his 1981 album "You Are What You Is" is rarely mentioned. Many great songs on this album should delight any "poor pop nerd who prefers his tunes with a beginning, middle and end." (big grin)
5 - Bill Sherman
To my ears, You Are What You Is is the most enjoyable of the later Zappa sets (with Them or Us following as a close second). My Mothers-lovin' heart still favors the early stuff, but Is is a lotta fun . . .
6 - Louis
Bill, do you like "Broadway the Hard Way?"