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...

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.

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

The Mothers' first album and first masterpiece.

The last track drags an otherwise awesome album down.

Favorite tracks: Hungry Freaks, Daddy, I Ain't Got No Heart, Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder, Wowie Zowie

B+

First album from The Mothers. The first two thirds is great, but it really falls to pieces towards the end. The last track is awful, as some Mothers albums and 'songs' sometimes are. An acquired taste I suppose, but some of it is pure genius.

Interesting

This album makes me happy, and I don't know how or why.

"Who Are the Brain Police?" is very ahead of its time (specifically, Alice in Chains in 1966!)