FRANK ZAPPA — Lumpy Gravy (review)

FRANK ZAPPA — Lumpy Gravy album cover Album · 1968 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Miler72
Artists often record albums that polarize many of their fans. Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music is a rather extreme example, about 99% of the listeners absolutely hate that album, then there's that 1% who call it the greatest album ever made (rock critic Lester Bangs was one of them). Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica does not exactly have a lot of middle ground. Neither Tangerine Dream's Zeit. Or the second (studio) disc of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma. Lumpy Gravy is a rather experimental Zappa album that leans much more towards 20th century classical and avant garde than the usual quirky rock he's most known for. It's more like a collage, ranging from orchestral passages to spoken dialog, including one how one's girlfriend tore the seats right out of his car. You'll hear versions of "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" and "Oh No", these being instrumental. Rock influences does occasionally show, particularly when Zappa plays his guitar, there's a bit of surf music and blues showing up. Some spoken dialog, about the pigs and ponies, and about making your water so dark. This album is really all over the place, and he doesn't stick to one thing for long. Not everyone will enjoy this album, but I do.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
tupan wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Ha, it's funny: in the liner notes of my CD copy of We're Only in It for The Money, it's written that Zappa considered this album as one of his masterpieces!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

6 Eclectic Fusion
KROKOFANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
Spring In Stockholm Live At Konserthuset, 1959 Cool Jazz
GERRY MULLIGAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed