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

Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sean Khan Presents The Modern Folk & Jazz Ensemble Nu Jazz
SEAN KHAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Yass Big Band : imMATHEMATICS Eclectic Fusion
TYMAŃSKI YASS ENSEMBLE / YASS BIG BAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
From the Mars Hotel : The Angel’s Share Jazz Related Rock
GRATEFUL DEAD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Maria Grand & Marta Sanchez : Anohin 21st Century Modern
MARIA GRAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 21 hours ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 1 day ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 1 day ago
Karrin Allyson EPK for NEW Album "A Kiss For Brazil" Available May 17, 2024 ©Origin Records
KARRIN ALLYSON
js· 1 day ago
Bill Laurance & The Untold Orchestra - Bloom (Official Music Video)
BILL LAURANCE
js· 2 days 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