Next to
Overnite Sensation,
Apostrophe (') is an audience favorite and apparently his best-selling ever (wikipedia). Coincidentally, it is also the album that contains lyrics and subject matter often referred to as childish, child-like, and generally immature. Consider, for example, "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow's" doggy wee wee humor and the masturbation jokes on "Nanook Rubs It".
Today, Zappa is remembered for other things and one gets the impression that this was (at least a little) commercially motivated. Why mention this? Because penis jokes are the least interesting thing about the album in the first place. Commercially motivated, it never seems merely "sellout" or even remotely compromising (all things considered). The musicianship, an extension of the
Hot Rats era lineup and nearly identical to the aforementioned
Overnite Sensation, is astounding. Zappa's guitar work is among his best (especially the fills on "Snow" and the intro to the title track); a good source of musical humor (and mood) is Ruth Underwood's percussion; and the R'n'B influenced rock and roll is in the best hands possible. Speaking of which, the band are more of a groove oriented band now (not like when they were "freaking out" as the original Mothers. And alongside all the silliness and fancy, there's "Uncle Remus", one of Zappa's anti-racism songs (possibly a reflection of his group at the time which featured white and Black performers alike).
Aside from a greatest hits type compilation, the first choice for newcomers to Zappa in my opinion (
Sheik Yerbouti considered) even though some of the humor and content is out of date to today's political ideals ("Nanook").
Rating: 5/5
Songlist:
1) Don't Eat the Yellow Snow
2) Nanook Rubs It
3) St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast
4) Father O'Blivion
5) Cosmik Debris
6) Exintrifugal Forz
7) Apostrophe (')
8) Uncle Remus
9) Stink Foot
Quotes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostr...#Track_listing