Dweezil Zappa Albums (6)
'Zappa Plays Zappa'
Release Date 4/29/2008
Tracks 12
Label Razor & Tie
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Since 2005, Dweezil Zappa has led an extended and industrious rockin' teenage combo dedicated to re-acquainting the world with the sights and sounds of his father, Frank. They revive Frank's music in a fresh context that is -- above all else -- true to the elder Zappa's unique and impeccable sonic heritage. This dozen-song single-CD is an audio-only distillation of the Zappa Plays Zappa (2008) double-DVD package. The contents were taken from a pair of concerts -- Portland, OR on December 21, 2006 at the Roseland Theater and on the 22nd at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, WA. The junior Zappa's guitar craft is at once like his father's, and yet he's mature enough to have already developed his own signature touch. Like the various Mothers of Invention configurations , ZPZ travels with a fairly substantial ensemble. Joining Dweezil are core constituents Joe Travers, Pete Griffin, Jamie Kime, Aaron Arntz, Scheila Gonzalez, and Billy Hulting. Another of Dweezil's primary tethers to his father's legacy are the artists who at one time or another passed through the '60s, '70s, or '80s bands that Frank fronted. These specific gigs were star-studded affairs with a trio of legendary former Mothers and others who spent time working with Frank. Included are the talents of Napoleon Murphy Brock -- who toured with ZPZ -- as well as one-off guest appearances by mid- to late-'70s percussive psychopath Terry Bozzio and early-'80s six-string slinger Steve Vai. As mentioned, the 12 selections provide a mere sampling of the aggregate's remarkable interplay. Their collective skills are evident from the opening strains of the Flo & Eddie era skull-crusher "Tell Me You Love Me" to Brock's note-perfect revival of the One Size Fits All (1974) classic "Florentine Pogen." There is also an apparent propensity for early- to mid-'70s material; the primary exception being the "Black Page #2," which was derived from a drum solo that Zappa wrote specifically for Terry Bozzio. Steve Vai is heard on "Peaches en Regalia" and Brock's well-preserved pipes and woodwind skills bring an additional authenticity to "Cheepnis," "Cosmik Debris," the medley of "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow," "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast," and "Father O'Blivion." While it is unfortunate that the complete two-plus hours of the Zappa Plays Zappa DVD were not offered, no devotee of Zappa -- junior or senior -- can go wrong with the heartfelt revival of the latter's work by ZPZ as presented here. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
While praying at the feet of his label boss, Steve Vai, Frank's son has put together a collection of catchy and entertaining guitar-driven compositions and covers. From the Buckethead-ed space ride of "Therapy" to the Rush-y (but not rushed) "Purple Guitar," Dweezil offers a wide array of musical colors. His choices of covers extend the album even further. From a sample-less rendition of Morton Stevens' "Hawaii Five-0" and an impressive calliope turn through Bizet's "Habanera" and "Los Toreadors" to brother Ahmet's authentic reading of "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch," Dweezil stretches his repertoire nearly as far as his fingers on an assortment of guitars. Though some selections are a bit high-school band stiff, Dweezil does not put the album in cruise control, despite its title. ~ Matthew Robinson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Talent: what would it be without motivation to back it up? Along with the ancient proverb about creativity being one-percent inspiration and 99-percent perspiration, that concept describes the crux facing so many rock star kids, who, even if they actually have talents of their own, rarely possess the ambition and determination of spirit (read: empty bank account, desperate need to find a girlfriend, etc.) to replicate their famous parents' success. This is the dilemma lived by gifted guitar player Dweezil Zappa, who, as the son of one of rock's most prolific and eclectic geniuses, could have been the reincarnation of Mozart himself, and still probably never get the respect due him for his own merits. Then again, the younger Zappa hasn't made much of a case with his sporadic recordings over the years, and, as 1991's inevitably disappointing Confessions proves, besides his genes and unquestionable virtuosity on guitar, a sense of scattered chaos may be the only other shared trait between Dweezil and papa Frank. As good a case in point as any of his releases, really, Confessions finds "da Dweez" and his many cronies (including guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Scott Thunes, drummer Josh Freese, irrepressible brother Ahmet, and numerous others) skateboarding wildly between bland '80s pop ("The Kiss," "Maybe Tonight"), dreadful cover versions (the Beatles' "Anytime at All," the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive"), post-Satriani and Vai instrumentals ("Shoogagoogagunga," "Obviously Influenced by the Devil," and other smaller snippets), and, of course, bad west coast hard rock and metal...lot's of bad hard rock and metal, actually. "Earth" and "Bad Girl" are prime, truly atrocious examples, not certain if they want to be intelligent and socially conscious like U2 or decadent and depraved like Mötley Crüe, their widely divergent lyrical messages coming off half-baked and unconvincing in both directions, and their seemingly interminable, mid-paced plods barely serving to support Dweezil's mercurial solos. Marginally more interesting are the vocally improved "F.W.A.K." and "Helpless," the Van Halen homage "Gotta Get to You," and funk-a-fied "Pain of Love," a mildly amusing and certainly energetic title track, and the really quite funny (in an over-the-top, 80s kind of way) "Vanity," where Dweezil and co. at last manage to spontaneously combust in an entertaining and wild but cohesive fashion. And, as he shuts down shop with a comedy-laced noise-collage named "Return of the Son of Shoogagoogagunga," it's at least obvious that Dweezil himself is all too aware of his inescapable destiny to stand in his father's shadow -- for better and for worse. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
'My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama'
Release Date 1/1/1988
Tracks 11
Label Chrysalis
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'Havin' a Bad Day'
Release Date 1/1/1986
Tracks 9
Label Barking Pumpkin
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