Artist: The Mothers of Invention
Album: Freak Out!
Year: 1966
The Mothers of Invention were led by the inimitable Frank Zappa, one of rock's most idiosyncratic figures. Along with one-off acts like The Monks, this is where rock started to get more than a little weird.
The first dozen or so songs on Freak Out! play as awesome satire on the prevailing styles of the time. There are hilarious send-ups of the usual love songs of the day, Bob Dylan-esque "socially conscious" folk, even sunshine pop, doo-wop, and soul. Even though the songs are satirical, openly mocking their targets, they are still played fairly faithfully according to genre conventions. I guess Zappa might have been kind of the Weird Al of the sixties.
The last few songs on this album delve into more experimental material. The last track, "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet," plays as some kind of fever dream, to call it "avant garde" is not giving it enough credit. It's just bizarre. Worth listening to? I guess you make the call...
I guess this album might rightly be considered the jumping off point for "alternative" music. The defying of standard conventions, the blatant attempt to alienate mainstream listeners, the self-awareness, it's all there. It's a fantastic album and I look forward to hearing more Zappa as the 1001 albums roll along.
Rating: Worth repeated listens
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