Frank Zappa- Thing Fish

Thing Fish

Well, like pretty much anything by the inimitable FZ, this is certainly not for everyone. Rare indeed is a person who can truly enjoy every one of the numerous directions Frank aimed his talents. Generally, the more open-minded and eclectic you are, the more you can appreciate his vast array of creativity, including this effort. And if you tend to be more single-minded and myopic. . . well, nuff sed.

So like just about everything else regarding music in general, it really boils down to personal taste. I can understand why someone would find this album hard to take; it took me a few listens to start to appreciate it for what it is. Is it my favorite Zappa album? No. But then, which is? Depends on the time of day/week/month/year/decade, and what's been happening in my life, lately. I suspect that's pretty much the same for most Zappatistas. . . .

The thing that gets to me, though, is reading the one-or-two-star raters who claim to love "everything else" by Zappa, but to completely hate this particular album. Really? You have no problems with Lumpy Gravy, 200 Motels, Uncle Meat, Absolutely Free, Joe's Garage, etc etc etc, but you find this one album to be "unlistenable", "indulgent" and "pointless"?

Well, what a bunch of whiney, over-opinionated little wimps! It was intended to be a satire of Broadway productions, and then-current social mores, you twits-- NOT as just another of your let's-get-stoned-and-party albums. If you can't appreciate it for what it is, then just clam up and go listen to whatever your fuzzy little brains can tolerate, already. Harry and Rhonda would be so proud of you. . . .