Member:
DrAlan
Date:
9/6/2003
Sheik Yerbouti is one the more accessible recordings in Frank Zappa's extensive catalog. It runs the gamut of musical styles over the course of its 70+ minute running time. Songs like "Bobby Brown" and "Jewish Princess" are a real hoot. Its amazing the mixture of sharp-witted lyrics and musical virtuosity. Zappa's guitar playing veers on chaotic and destructive, while still sounding fresh and musical.
A good intro to Frank's music from the late 70's-early 80's period. Not intended for children!!!!!!!!
4 out of 5 stars
Member:
Sean
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by Sean)
Date:
10/8/2003
Format:
CD (Album)
Not the finest Zappa here, but still a pretty fun listen. This album is was actually recorded live and then overdubbed in the studio. It is notable to prog fans for having King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew on it. He was with Zappa before he became a Crim, though his time was pretty brief. This is the only Zappa cd that features Adrian. He does a dead on Bob Dylan impersonation on "Flakes", funny stuff. He sings lead on one of my fave tunes from Sheik, "City Of Tiny Lights", a funky jam of a tune.
This one dosen't hold up compared to Frank's early 70s catalog (the arrangements are much simpler with an emphasis on guitar solos), but is still pretty fun, if you can laugh at some of the humor here- which seems to have a bitter tinge to it, compared to his earlier music, which had a lighthearted vibe. I believe he went through years of wrangling with his label, and some of the lyrical venom on this album is the result of that. Don't start a flirtation with Zappa here, work your way up to this one and grab it once you get there chronologically.
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