Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

Hot Rats is the second solo album by Frank Zappa. It was released in October 1969. The album consists of six songs, five of which are instrumental. It was Zappa's first recording project after the dissolution of the original Mothers of Invention. Because it focuses on long instrumental jazz-like compositions with extensive soloing, the music sounds very different than earlier Zappa albums which featured short songs with satirical vocal performances. It features none of the Mothers, save Ian Underwood, who was also the primary collaborator and sideman. In his original sleeve notes Zappa described the album as "a movie for your ears." This is one of my favorie Zappa albums that I own.

Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

1. Peaches En Regalia - 3:38
2. Willie the Pimp - 9:16
3. Son of Mr. Green Genes - 9:00
4. Little Umbrellas - 3:04
5. The Gumbo Variations - 16:56
6. It Must be a Camel - 5:15



My hero (literally).
This guy did so much for the recording industry (in terms of fighting censorship) on top of being a musical genius and way ahead of his time. Let's face it, the man is hilarious as well. He will be missed :(

Battles - Mirrored

Battles is an American math rock band. The group's line-up is composed of well-known musicians, including ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, ex-Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, ex-Lynx guitarist Dave Konopka, and Tyondai Braxton (son of avant-garde jazz musician Anthony Braxton), who also plays guitar and keyboard and creates live voice samples. This is one of my favorite albums of 2007, although it did take awhile for it to grow on me. I got a chance to see them live when I was visiting San Francisco and got a better feel for what they were doing once I saw them perform (although I was somewhat distracted by 3 moron hipsters who were trying to start a mosh pit)....The band looked confused.

Battles - Mirrored
1. Race In
2. Atlas
3. Ddiamondd
4. Tonto
5. Leyendecker
6. Rainbow
7. Bad Trails
8. Prismism
9. Snare Hanger
10. TIJ
11. Race Out