I hate to say it, but OccultHawk is just coming off as an elitist. I mean, I'm sure if their music sounded exactly the same, and Beefheart was the one who broke out, and Zappa was the one to become a cult hero then he'd be switching the names. With that said, Zappa funded Trout Mask Replica out of his own wallet, and obviously as a personal choice not a business decision. Cause really, I doubt he was reeling in the dough over it.

If you like Beefheart better as a musician, there's reasons why. Maybe his subtlety, maybe his focus on creating an original product rather than pisstaking popular music, an incessant doo-wop parodies. Doesn't matter. Zappa I think deserves a slight nod of respect for basically being the one to support Beefheart when the industry and nobody else in it really gave a ****.

That said, I forgive him since he admitted Sun Ra's absolute dominance.

wow! Freak Out!! is really good

I personally don't care for it as much. I felt 'Absolutely Free' was a million times better.



/\ utterly ingenious utterly offensive masterpiece

Frank Zappa for this.

That's how I got into Zappa & The Mothers. Heard Freak Out, said "wow, this is really good!" and then started listening to more Mothers albums.
Before I knew it, I was hooked!
I've been happily addicted to that music for years with no noticeable side effects. :)

I've used My Head is My Only House Unless it Rains to help me make it through life. There have been times where I've listened to that song over and over again for hours and hours.

^ While a lot of this is true, imo Zappa`s personality isn`t always hilarious or charming. For me a lot of his albums are spoiled by attempts at humour that are only funny first time around. Elsewhere, Zappa`s comments, musical whimsey, even his tone of voice often come across as superior and patronising. We get it, Frank, you`re an inventive musician and you`ve heard of Stravinski, but why do we have suffer for that ?

Hot Rats , though, is a fabulous album, where for once Zappa`s not playing games or trying to shock us with his sexually explicit lyrics. Chronologically and stylistically, Burnt Weeny Sandwich comes pretty close, but even so, it`s still marred by the musical pranks that Zappa somehow can`t resist.

At the other extreme of sincerity, Beefheart has a passionate delivery that sounds like he`s trying to placate some inner demons by wailing out about his crazy vision of the world. Despite that, what Skaligojura says is true too :-

So, two musicians, both brilliant, both flawed, but for me Beefheart wins, if only because he has so many good albums that I can`t choose a favourite: one day it`s Strictly Personal, then it`s TMR, and then I go for Spotlight Kid.

^ No, what`s really embarrassing is that I`m voting the same way that this guy did !

i've just got most of the Mothers' stuff and I've had We're Only In It For the Money and Hot Rats for some time

i would say that the attacks on love songs on Freak Out! are spot-on and voices my own dissent towards this kind of stuff, but on Money, the only bits that grabbed me were the musique concrete pieces and the two What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?

Hot Rats is ace, though, and Wiilie the Pimp rawks

I don't feel the same way as I never felt the target of his ridicule or boasts. Rather, it was always something I enjoyed from him. I can certainly imagine why someone might be bothered by it though. It's obvious that the guy had high thoughts about himself!

Hot Rats is indeed brilliant and Willie the Pimp should appeal to both camps in this thread as it's got Beefheart on vocals. :p:

I feel like Beefheart may be the more interesting avant-gardist of the two, but that Zappa is the more interesting person, rock musician, jazz musician, comedian, producer and more. Overall, I have more love for Zappa.

I actually have a habit of doing the same exact thing when I am getting into a particular artist or band. :laughing:

I usually go over and over certain songs I like on my favorite albums, until I memorize all the lyrics and I'm able to anticipate all the different chord structure/changes and riffs (by heart). :)