I didn't spend any time with Zappa in the 1970s, only a bit in the late 80s (roommate was a ThingFish fan!), and not much in the intervening years until a couple years ago, when I really began to listen a lot. So, long story short, I feel post-Mothers Zappa is practically new to me.



And, since you asked, I do feel like the sentiment of some lyrics has aged badly and I do feel like it interferes with some of the musical enjoyment.



My druthers: I love the 1972-1976 era best. In the Läther - Joe - Sheik era, Sleep Dirt is my fave, and, after that, I find my interest in his rock output peters out and finally arrives at zero following You Are What You Is. Still love Yellow Shark, though! And Jazz from Hell!



It's not the Stink-foot and Pee-pee jokes (a man's gotta sing about something and these are pretty funny). It's the persistently crude presentation of women and gays that rubs me the wrong way. He goes too far for my comfort level. I don't doubt that Mr Zappa encountered plenty of foolish young women offering sexual favors and I'm sure there are (or were) gays who conform to the stereotype he's selling. Moreover, I can see that a reasonable person might say he's making fun of such crudeness. But, to my ears, I think that claim only goes so far. He is making fun of that crudeness, I can see that, but he's also enjoying and promoting that crudeness (and cruelty, if that's not too much to say), and I find that off-putting. I certainly don't want my kids picking up on that ****. If that makes me one of the "PC crowd", well, that would be a surprise to my colleagues (heh), but I guess these labels mean different things to different people.



I guess I should close by affirming that, to these new ears, Zappa also still make a strong impression of musical genius, pretty consistently over a long career.

Even his lyrics, crude as they sometimes are, are ingenious. Zappa was a great and joyful discovery for me last year. But there are some moral blemishes that are sometimes interesting to think about (as you see, I've written a long post), but also sometimes interfere with the artistic success of the work.



Just my little opinion, it goes without saying, RH

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