APOSTROPHE (')

Apostrophe is the follow up to the brilliant Overnight Sensation, and it's almost as great. As usual Zappa has some of the finest musicians in the land to help fulfill his bizarre vision. The centerpiece of the album is without question the Nanook suite. The first four songs of the album comprise a mini opera detailing a dream where the narrator is an eskimo. The song starts simply enough until the line "Don't you eat that yellow snow" comes then the suite devolves into classic Zappa debauchery and filth. I can't outline too much about the suite because children may visit this site. The drumming on this song is superb and the lyrics will leave you howling, while parts like St. Alfonzo have catchy riffs.

Cosmik Debris is a sort of avant-garde blues with Frank using his deeper voice (the one found on his vox on Overnight Sensation) and a tasteful use of background vocals and sax. The lyrics viciously tear into the failure of the hippie youth and are some of his best satire.

Excentrifugal Forz is a short instrumental that's rather hard edged. My complaint is that it's over too soon.

Apostrophe' features Cream's bass legend Jack Bruce on a near 6 minute instrumental that highlights his distorted bass more than any Cream track ever did. Jack's presence gives this a very bluesy feel and it's certainly his greatest performances and it's one of the finest bass performances in rock.

Uncle Remus is one of the most serious songs Zappa has ever written (don't expect it to be somber though). It details the struggles of black men during the late 60s-early 70s.

Stink Foot ensures the album doesn't get any more serious with its ode to...well, it's pretty obvious. This song is a fine way to close the album, and it's very melodic.

Apostrophe doesn't quite measure up to its predeccessor, but it's still one of Zappa's finest works and it's a good place to start along with Freak Out, We're Only In It For The Money, and Overnight Sensation