Shattering conventions–musical, social, political–was the life’s work of Frank Zappa, the iconoclastic musical genius, rock legend and intellectual firebrand of the late twentieth century whose work is equally revered by hardcore rockers and serious musical scholars.
Originally released in 1979 and later reissued as triple album set in 1987 featuring three Acts, the conceptual rock-opera Joe’s Garage finds Zappa in his satirical wheelhouse and as imaginative as ever telling a twisted tale of the government outlawing music to regulate the population. Attacking political institutions, social constructs and censorship while effortlessly blending musical styles galore is the Zappa trademark and he does it all here with a wild grace and some ’70s closure.
And the sprawling affair is chock full of FZ catalog gems like “Joe’s Garage,” “Catholic Girls” “Crew Slut” “Keep it Greasey,” and “Watermleon in Easter Hay” which certainly doesn’t hurt matters either.
