Freak Out! (studio album) by The Mothers Of Invention

From Boltzmann 04/01/2020 17:52

At a second thought, having listened a bit more bands from around that time more thoroughly, like The Byrds, Cream and Grateful Dead, these guys don't really do anything very strange for its time. Just to a further and more annoying extent... and with awful vocals. I should've listened to my gut earlier; when they start to sound better, they sound like your average garage band from the '60s, and then ruin everything by rhythmless intermezzos with annoyingly sarcastic voices. Not vocals, voices... their putting up voices. It sometimes honestly feels more like theatre I'm listening.

From Droophus 03/26/2020 18:49

Gotta give Zappa and the Mothers credit for taking music “there”. Somebody has to push art to its boundaries, but very few have the rare combination of genius and chutzpah to do it.

This album's just too silly for me. I love a good joke in a song but a lot Freak Out! sounds goofy. There are really good instrumentals and the background is usually interesting and catchy but the lyrics lose me more often than not. The fake hispanic accent Zappa puts on throughout the album is detrimental. There aren't many tracks that stick out to me. "Trouble Every Day" and "Help, I'm a Rock" are my two favorite. Even though I have problems with it, I admire the album for its uncompromising originality. In a time when everyone was trying to be The Beatles, these guys made this and while it does draw heavily from multiple different genres that came before it, it's still unlike anything else at the time.

Trouble Every Day is the gem of an awesome album.

Everyone says Pet Sounds was the main inspiration for Sgt.Pepper, but people forget this greatly influenced the Beatles as well. This a bit unorganized, but the sounds and ideas from this album are surely the beginning of what would follow in the next year. (1967) Zappa said he only smoked pot a handful of times and didn’t like it. I don’t know how he came up with this whacky shit without being completely blasted on acid or some other substances. This is a hard listen but an important part of music history.

From wenny 04/21/2019 08:49

It's colourful, funny, bizarre, catchy, chaotic and absolutely enjoyable from start to finish. The presence of this album in Zappa's catalogue displays his role as an extreme innovator and pioneer of experimentation to come. What can't you get from this album?

Considering that this was recorded in 66, it is quite a ground breaking album encompassing many musical styles which would crop up over and over again on future output. The opening track with its very psychedelic guitar is a personal favourite, as is 'How Could I Be Such a Fool' with its 'normal' song structure. The doo wop style of music appealed to Zappa and it crops up here on a couple of tracks and kinda works. For a best progressive track I would have to pitch for 'You Didn't Try To Call Me'. Most radio friendly 'Any Way The Wind Blows'. Most psychedelic 'Trouble Every Day'. Weirdest track 'Son of Monster Magnet' which in parts is utterly bonkers but saved by some great free form jazz noodling!

Zappa is so underrated artist...he is phenomenal, just like this album...

From Boltzmann 09/16/2018 11:14

The enjoyable parts are not very interesting and the interesting parts not very enjoyable. It’s not experimental rock, this is experimental and rock.
But I’ll give it to them that they’re one of the first to in incorporate noise into their music, using extensive distortion to create a rather apocalyptic environment, and overall just starting to experiment with rock ‘n’ roll. But again: when the experimenting starts, the rock ‘n’ roll disappears.

Oh yeah, and they don’t have rhythm. And don’t come to me with “you just don’t get it” ‘cause I think Trout Mask Replica has a fair amount of rhythm to it. This album’s random breaks just completely fuck up the flow constantly, which makes me think that they didn’t really care whether the people listening it would actually enjoy it; they care more about people thinking they’re smart and out-of-the-box. Jeez, they have their heads so far up their asses it’s really hard to give them credit for what they actually did good. I’m just gonna submit this comment and quickly leave the site before I change my mind and make it a 5/100.

From Brad1770 02/20/2018 06:15

Ok so here's the thing I'm a 50 something life long music nut and I've never gotten Frank Zappa , I've never gotten his music and I've never understood why his catalogue is so popular . Its exactly the same way I don't getTom Waite's and his music ( apparently he’s ‘ The Voice Of A Generation ‘ ) I just don't get it

My journey to listen to the BEA top 500 twice has taken me to Freak Out! and listen twice I did and ..... I STILL don't get it

'Motherly Love ' , 'Wowie Zowie ' and ' Trouble Every Day ' are all IMO ok especially 'Trouble Every Day ' . Every other track is just weird , whilst the closing track 'The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet ' is 12 minutes of complete noodling nonsensical garbage .

There are something like 75'829 albums on BEA and Freak Out! is ranked 490 or within the top 4% . That just blows my mind . I could go on but instead I'll list 5 Killer Albums BELOW Freak Out!

500: "Ritual De Lo Habitual" Janes Addiction
495: "Morrison Hotel" The Doors"
539: "Reconing" R.E.M
548: "Badmotofinger" Soundgarden
563: "Sued" Sued ( 563 Good Lord that's low !!!)

Oh and addressing the comments below suggesting Freak Out! was a "major" influence on Sgt Peppers , I recon I know Sgt Peppers like the back of my hand and I don't see the comparison , not even close . To suggest other wise is quite frankly hyperbole

Just because you COULD make a Double Album doesn't mean you should

40/100