THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH

Apart from the wonderful double-set, "Uncle Meat", this was the most difficult listening album ever released by the Mothers of Invention. This is basically an compilation, with the majority being recorded live, of various Mothers performances from 67 to 69 which ended up being titled "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" and was actually the last release before the first era of the group disbanded. The music is probably very representative of the weird stage acrobatics the band was known for and the album ranges from free-jazz, chamber rock, tape-collages, blues to pure noise (like the title track, go figure!), a real mixed bag overall. Apart from it's inaccessibility the material here is constantly very strong and even entertaining at times but I can't really recommend this to other than fans of experimental music or fans of this era of the band, save a couple of more "normal" songs that is featured here. Interested anyway? Give it a go. And if the music doesn't fit your taste you always have the hilarious album cover look at!

Highlights here include the beautiful "Oh No" (from the "Lumpy Gravy" days) with great vocals from Ray Collins, "My Guitar Want's to Kill Your Mama" which is one of Zappa's best songs from his early years, and the frantic opening free-jazz exercise "Didja Get Any Onja?" which sets the tone perfectly for what to come. The rest of it is wonderful weirdness in my opinion, and essential experimental music. 4.5/5