#464: Frank Zappa - Hot Rats (1969)

Zack: Last time I listened to a Frank Zappa album for this endeavor, I was getting very drunk on bourbon with a coworker and listening to Freak Out! I really liked that album, and I really liked Hot Rats as well. But while my fondness for Freak Out! stemmed from how impressed I was at the execution of a concept, I appreciated Hot Rats just as a piece of music. Only one track here had any vocals, but unlike Jazz Samba, I was sufficiently engrossed into the jazz-infused sounds at work here that I didn’t mind at all. The arrangements really are beautiful, and I can’t wait to relisten to it once I get a chance. It’s definitely a perfect in-the-background-while-I-work album.

Favorite Tracks: Willie the Pimp; Son of Mr. Green Genes; Peaches in Regalia

Emily: When we listened to Freak Out! way back in 2012, I wasn't sure where the next Frank Zappa album would go. My prediction was "blues, rock, noise, or something completely different?" Five and a half years later, we've returned to Zappa and the answer is (D) something completely different. Hot Rats is best described as an experimental jazz fusion album. The only words sung on the album are by our less-than-favorite guy, Captain Beefheart, but overall it's probably 90% instrumental. And it's really interesting instrumental music, not just background noise. Frankly, lyrics would have been a distraction from the unique and complex arrangements that flow beautifully throughout this album. Now I truly have no idea what other Zappa albums will entail - could be blues, could be jazz, could be Beefheart, or could be all of the above.

Favorite Tracks: Peaches in Regalia; Willie the Pimp; The Gumbo Variations

#214: Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996)

Zack: This was certainly quite a change of pace for us. It was completely instrumental, and they did a lot of pretty weird stuff. I really liked some parts, but wasn’t too into others. But those parts definitely couldn’t have been cut out. What I perceived as weak tracks led perfectly into the songs I like. Overall, this is more of a cohesive musical output than a song with separate tracks. With that in mind, I can’t really register a complaint about the whole 65 minute long thing. Yeah, it seemed like an excessive duration, but I can’t really imagine it being any shorter and having the same brilliant peaks.

Favorite Tracks: The Taut Tame; Glass Museum; Along the Banks of Rivers

Emily: Instrumental "post-rock" is not something that I've ever heard of before, let alone wanted to spend an hour listening to. It's a unique experience to say the least. I saw it as kind of a blend of experimental, electronic, alternative, and rock. Sounds weird, but it's quite calming and pleasant. I had it on in the background as I finished up some reading and checked emails, and it blended in quite nicely but I never ignored it. Although the album for the most part seamlessly blended together, the song Glass Museum particularly resonated with me. Not because of the song itself, but because I work at an actual glass museum. Synergy!

Favorite Tracks: The Taut Tame; Glass Museum; Along the Banks of Rivers