Search - Frank Zappa :: Lumpy Gravy

Lauri Jean C. from PINCKNEY, MI
Reviewed on 8/8/2006...

It's Zappa - what else is there to say?

Not for Every Zappa Fan

AJ.Lockwood | Hancock, NH | 03/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For older Zappa fans the Apostrophe album is a bright line dividing early Zappa from his middle and later work. Lumpy Gravy is definitely from the early Zappa playlist, although it is not another Freak Out. Lumpy Gravy is more akin to the jumpy Absolutely Free than anything from Apostrophe on, and you can hear some of musical themes from Burnt Weenie Sandwich even Waka Jawaka under rumination. A running theme, especially percussion, will remind you of the send-ups of 50-ish Rock 'n Roll pieces all over Chunga's Revenge or Cruising with Reuben & The Jets, but it should not be equated to that album. The closet complement to Lumpy Gravy is We're Only in It for the Money. You'll find Lumpy Gravy somewhat less frenetic (a relative statement if ever one uttered), but cut from the same mold and its social commentary as biting. With that said, Lumpy Gravy is not for every Zappa fan. But if your Zappa "golden era" is pre-Apostrophe, then Lumpy Gravy belongs in your collection."

A curiously inconsistent piece which started out to be a bal

Grigory's Girl | NYC | 08/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of Zappa's most unique recordings, and that's saying something. It's a sound collage mixed with an orchestra and rock band. It has some beautiful, borderline pop music passages, mixed in with strange noises, strange narration and vocals, and lots of surreal music.



The whole album is reminiscent of sound collages/experiments similar to that of Edgard Varese (one of Zappa's idols) and Luigi Nono, an avant garde Italian composer. Zappa really never attempted anything like this again until the sequel (and his final album released during his life) Civilization Phaze III (I think Phaze III is better). This album, like Zappa's other adventurous works (like Weasels Ripped My Flesh), become more interesting and fascinating with repeated listenings. This is not an album for Zappa novices, but it is essential to any Zappa fan and is one of his most unique and fascinating recordings."