The Frank Zappa Review Page

Tinseltown Rebellion (1982)
 

Another Zappa album that I have mixed feelings for.It is overall rather average. I can’t help but draw comparisons between this albumand Sheik Yerbouti, it is largely dis-jointed and seems not to flow freely. There is quite a mix of music here. It does contain good songs but has too much average material. It starts well with ‘Fine Girl’ a chirpy number with a bouncy reggae beat.‘Easy Meat’ is too long at nine minutes and not worth the space it takes up. ‘Love of
My Life’ is a good Zappa love song and the speedied up version of ‘Ain’t Got No Heart’ works well, but it is not a patch on the original form Freakout! ‘Tell Me You Love Me’ seems like a good tune for the first two plays. ‘Pick Me I’m Clean’ is one of my favourite tracks on the album, with smooth vocals from Ike Willis. There is a version of ‘Peaches En Regalia’ which works well enough but is hardly original and light years behind the original on Hot Rats. The downside of this album is ‘The Panty Rap’ and the ‘Dance Contest’, ‘The Blue Light’ and ‘Bamboozled By Love’, all of which I deem to be filler material of the lowest order. All in all not one of Zappa’s better efforts and if you never hear this album you won’t be missing much. Nearly all the best songs on the album are poorer versions of classic originals, don’t buy it unless you are Zappa crazy!

Rating – 47%