DWEEZIL ZAPPA – RETURN OF THE SON OF…
When is too much Zappa enough Zappa? Is Dwezzil a Zappa too far? Anyone who is familiar with Johhny Cash’s A Girl Named Sue will know why Frank lumbered his offspring with such names (siblings Moon Unit, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen arguably suffered more than Dweezil). Having seemingly given up on his own solo career under the significant shadow of his father, Dweezil has spent the last few years taking dad’s music on the road. As a guitarist Dweezil has learnt from his master technician father well, and his playing on this live album rarely suffers in comparison. In this area he is joined by a technically brilliant band that live and breath the music (as Frank would have demanded). If there is a lacking here it would be the lyrics. Despite using vocalist Ray White – who worked with Frank for many years – it is not so much the delivery that lets Dweezil and the band down, as Frank’s scatological (and often juvenile lyrics). All debates on their worthiness aside, they don’t age so well as the arrangements. While it’s good to hear Broken Hearts Are for Assholes and Montana again, one could as easily pull out the originals.
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