THING-FISH

This album is an aquired taste but once you get what it is - Frank Zappa's take on Broadway - then it's easier to appreciate. I don't get the low rating this album has here although I will admit that upon first listens I was not impressed. On later listens though I started to get it, what in the end got through was Zappa's twisted but very clever sense of humour and this album is packed to the brim with it. Musically it is not great however as a ride through Frank Zappa's mind, that is more than a little twisted here, it is a worthwhile and entertaining trip. This is Zappa holding up extended middle fingers of both hands up to the music critics of the world and in this, boy does he get it right. I can't give this more than three stars however I will say that when I want to sit with a somewhat twisted grin on my face for an hour and a half or so then this is something that I will revert to quite often. It does nothing to further the art of music at all but it is a statement and it is damnedly, twistedly, funny at the same time - it also makes a serious statement at the same time underlying all of the somewhat jaw dropping, out there, humour. I challenge anyone to listen to "Briefcase Boogie" for the first time and not have his jaw drop in wonder at this artist's wicked sense of humour although I will say that it's strictly adults only stuff - I wouldn't recommend that anyone plays it to their family and kids - well maybe to dear old Granny to get a reaction, or to the prim and proper mother-in-law to get on her even more disliked list.