The Words and Music of Frank ZappaThe Words and Music of Frank Zappa moves beyond the details of Frank Zappa?s life (1940?93) toward a focused treatment of the rock and pop songs of this great American composer. Today Zappa?s music can be appreciated as a whole, emerging as a coherent, thoughtful, and innovative?if somewhat daunting?body of work. Author Kelly Fisher Lowe has left no aspect of that work unexamined, from Zappa?s role as a satirist of the highest order to his place in the genre of ?progressive rock? and his importance as an influential critic of American culture and society. ø The volume begins with discussions of Zappa's role as a satirist and his musical style, then proceeds to an in-depth examination of his albums. Through this extended engagement with Zappa?s music, a surprisingly clear perspective on his personal views emerges, shedding light on his treatment of such topics as the falsified notion of love in popular culture, the compromising influence of money on popular music, and the concept of freedom in a systematized society. The book includes an official discography and an up-to-date bibliographic essay. |
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American artistic audience available as Rykodisc band members Barry Miles Billboard chart position blues concert Courrier critics critique culture Currently available Dangerous Kitchen disco doo-wop eighties especially fans film Flo & Eddie Francois Couture Frank Zappa Frank Zappa Book Freak Girl Grand Wazoo groupies guitar solo Highest Billboard chart hilarious hippies Hot Rats http://www.allmusic.com idea Ike Willis instrumental interesting jazz Joe's Garage kind Liner Notes listener Lumpy Gravy melody Mothers of Invention Music Guide Music of Frank musicians Negative Dialectics orchestral Originally released play political progressive rock Reagan Real Frank Zappa record companies Review Rolling Stone Album Rykodisc RCD satire segues sexual singing sixties sort Stage Anymore Stone Album Guide story studio teenage Terry Bozzio theme Thing-Fish things Tinsel Town Rebellion tour Uncle Meat vocals Watson women York Zappa argues Zappa seems Zappa writes Zappa's music Zappa's songs Zoot Allures