Up Review

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(More customer reviews)Peter Gabriel has never been happy to rest on his laurels and produce mediocre material, something that few of his contemporaries could boast. Again he returns with a powerful, challenging, emotional album of songs that will be welcomed for their depth and power.
There is much here that will be familiar to his fans. The big drum tracks, fluid bass playing and emotive asmopherics. And of course there is Gabriel's voice which can range from cunning cynicism to frail vulnerability and everything between and beyond these extremes. But it is hardly a safe album. In feel many of the tracks hark back to his earliest solo work, before he entered the world of hit singles and million sellers. There are also many unexpected twists to the music that make for fascinating listening. An example is the upbeat switch in "I Grieve". In no way does he pander to the commercial considerations that hamstring so many successful artists.
The album is a solid reminder of why Peter Gabriel deserves his every success, something which it will no doubt guarantee him.
A triumph!!

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Import only Hybrid/SACD pressing of this 2002 album from the musical maverick and former leader of Genesis. 10 tracks including 'Darkness', 'Now Way Out' and 'Growing Up'. EMI.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Wazoo Review

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(More customer reviews)It's about time this CD became available on Amazon! Not all of the posthumous Zappa releases have necessarily been all that great, but this one is both excellent and crucial. Like Imaginary Diseases, this one fills in a gap in Zappa's discography. In 1972 FZ did a limited 12 concert tour with the big band, comprised of some of the top LA area jazz musicians, that recorded "Waka Jawaka" and "Grand Wazoo". This is as close as Zappa got to jazz.
2006's "Imaginary Diseases" (also highly recommended!) was a recording of the "Petit Wazoo" tour, which had a smaller brass & wind section. The full "Grand Wazoo" band only did 12 shows. This is a recording of the final concert in Boston.
Disc 1 inlcudes "Grand Wazoo" and "Big Swifty", the long songs from each of the two albums, plus "Aproximate", another long-format tune, which is more in the avant-guarde style. The band sections and solos are all excellent, and really give the peces a very different character than the originals. I consider the version of "Big Swifty" superior to the studio version.
Disc 2 includes a lengthy instrumental version of "Greggery Peccary", minus the narration. Though I love the narration on the studio version, it does overpower the music. This version allows you to focus on the instrumental music in a new light. It is stretched out to 32 minutes and, though there is a slow spot or two, is generally excellent. A very interesting cello solo is a highlight. It also includes an instrumental version of "Penis Dimension" from "200 Motels (!).
This is a very enjoyable album. I think this is the best new release since "Lather". Any fan of Zappa's instrumental music will want to get this one. If you like The Grand Wazoo" and Roxy & Elsewhere, you need this!


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The last of a series of eight stunning live concerts of the 20-piece Mothers Of Invention/Hot Rats/Grand Wazoo under the baton of Frank Zappa and thoroughly described by him in the attendant booklet wherein he includes in the description, "A Grown Man Battles Natural Forces to Get the Right Tones from an E-Flat Contrabass Sarrusophone." Call one today.

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Make a Jazz Noise Here Review

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(More customer reviews)That's the noises jazz guys make when they are improvising or blowing their wad as some like to call it. Well, Zappa used to poke fun at these people and there is no exception on this outing. But let the truth be known - for the musician's on the stage for this particular incarnation of Zappa music are all amazing jazz musicians and all have prodigious chops to show off all that talent (and therefore have the right to poke fun at themeselves). This group of twelve of the best musicians on the planet (in any genre of music) play like I've never heard any before them. There are so many amazing moments on these two discs that I could write an entire book on this one album. But a few highlights (especially for the jazz cats) - the guitar solo by Frank on the tune "Cruisin' For Burgers" might as well be the greatest guitar solo you'll ever hear in this lifetime. Another amazing moment is the middle section of "Alien Orifice" where guitarist Mike Keneally realizes Zappa's impossibly difficult scored melody (and if that wasn't enough - listen to this same passage how it is doubled on marimba, alto, tenor, bari, trumpet, trombone, and keyboards). This music is mindblowing on all accounts, and lover's of great progressive rock (Crimson, Genesis, Yes, and others) who obviously respect talented musicians owe it to yourself to check out this disc -it will leave you speechless. Another amazing Zappa record in his MAMMOTH catalog. Full of jazz noises too, in all the right places...

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No Description Available.Genre: Popular MusicMedia Format: Compact DiskRating: Release Date: 2-MAY-1995

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Rastaman Vibration Review

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(More customer reviews)This cd was released in 1976, and was the first studio cd I heard by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Strangely enough, none of the tracks here appear on the greatest hits cd, Legend, although many are worthy. This cd has never left my 5 disc cd changer since I've owned it. This album also marks the first time Bob Marley and the Wailers made the charts in America. The band features 2 new guitarists (Donald Kinsey from Peter Tosh's Band, and Earl "Chinna" Smith a legendary Jamaican guitarist) and the guitar work is fantastic. This cd explores some new ground for reggae, and it is very good. From the opening notes of Positive Vibration, to the Speech by H.I.M transcribed to music in the song War, I was hooked as a Wailers addict for life. If you Want More Rastaman Vibrations, check out Live at the Roxy. Live the band gives off a huge vibe that is unmatched by anyone today and many of the songs on Live at the Roxy are Rastaman Vibration tracks. This cd is essential in any music collection.

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