SHEIK YERBOUTI

The double-lp ''Sheik Yerbouti'' was the turning point for Frank Zappa. Let us alltogether welcome the 80's. Unlike most bands, he does not fail in making his music more accessible and also interesting. The quality here is constant throughout the album - there are nearly no spectacular movements nor total failure. To keep this for about 70 minutes deserves some respect. But this is obviously not what he was looking for.

The musical variability on this is extremly high, slow and soft tracks, rock and roll, jazz and so on. He also uses much more vocals as usual. The tracks here are more or less linked with small interludes. Those interludes however are mostly disturbing, unless you like 30 to 50 seconds of laughing and some random instrumental playing. However, they strengthen the impression that Zappa had much fun recording this. So he had writing the lyrics. They are crazy as usual, but more sexual offensive (you could have guessed it from the title), with ''Jewish Princess'' breaking the boarders of good taste. I had trouble listening this record, as sometimes I asked myself if I really was lucky to understand what Zappa is singing about, because the music is really good. The songs have simple melodies and stay interesting. The rhythm section is solid, and you feel the ability and fun of the musicians. The best to prove might be the last track, ''Yo' Mama'', which besides some happy singing consists of a long instrumental section. Here, everyone can show what they are capable of. Like it or not, it is Zappa-staple. Most of the other tracks have a hit-potential in the positive way. You immediately like the songs and can remember them (best here are ''Bobby Brown Goes Down'', becoming a hit at last, ''Baby Snakes'' and ''Tryin' to Grow a Chin'').

Although the lyrics sometimes turn me off heavily, the music convinces me to give this album four stars. It stands out from other albums, as the melodies are so exceptional and rememberable as not much music of this complexity can deliver. When you can close the lyrics out of the rest for a while, you have more than solid music. So, if the common craziness of Zappa is not to much for you, ''Sheik Yerbouti'' should be included in your collection. It is not the best of Zappa's work. It might not be for everyone. But it is worth it!