Frank Zappa The Freak-Out List DVD Review by Gary Hill
Let’s get one thing out right away. Those looking to find a lot of footage of Frank Zappa playing live will be disappointed with this DVD. If you come here looking for a documentary about Zappa you will also be less than satisfied. However, this is an intriguing documentary that gives you some insights into Zappa in an unusual way.
When Frank Zappa’s Freak Out was released, the liner notes included a long list of his various influences. This DVD seeks to explore many of those artists and understand how they impacted the music of Frank Zappa. That makes it a unique exploration into the mind of a musical genius. Sure, some of these connections can’t be fully understood without asking Zappa – and we can’t do that. But it is interesting to see the various background musical imagery involved.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010 Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.
