Them Or Us [Original recording remastered]

Frank Zappa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Zappa Records
• ASIN: B0000009TA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,916 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Closer You Are

2. In France

3. Ya Hozna

4. Sharleena

5. Sinister Footwear II

6. Truck Driver Divorce

7. Stevie's Spanking

8. Baby, Take Your Teeth Out

9. Marque-Son's Chicken

10. Planet of My Dreams

11. Be in My Video

12. Them or Us

13. Frogs With Dirty Little Lips

14. Whipping Post

Editorial Reviews

From the Label

Originally released as a double album of UMRK studio recordings in 1984, THEM OR US is now on one CD. One of the more diverse of the later Zappa albums, the set includes everything from a pair of '50s doo-wop homages ("Sharleena" and "The Closer You Are"), to a straight-faced cover of the Allman Brothers' "Whippin' Post," to a backhanded salute to rock's latest trend ("Be In My Video"). Other humorous moments include "Stevie's Spanking," a recounting of guitarist Steve Vai's bedroom adventures; and "In France," where the scatological lyrics are handled by Johnny Guitar Watson.

Some of Zappa's better rock instrumentals are here as well. The title track finds him soloing away with only bass and drums for accompaniment; while "Sinister Footwear II" is an intricate, multi-keyboard arrangement of a section of his ballet of the same name. Less characteristic is "Ya Hozna," which pairs a funky bassline with hypnotic, tape-reverse vocals -- doubtlessly a response to the "backwards masking" flapdoodle of the time.

Product Description

Japanese reissue of 1984 album, packaged in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. Videoarts. 2002. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Are We All Smarter Now, Frank?... Frank?, February 1, 2004

By 

Michael Meunier (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Them Or Us (Audio CD)

I know it's a silly thing to say, but I always feel a little bit smarter after listening to a Frank Zappa album- he seems to give off something of a professorial atmosphere sometimes... This album follows in his tradition of challanging his listeners to explore the endless possibilities of music.

I was originally attracted to Zappa's work by his clever, acerbic lyrics and catchy melodies. As I've begun to explore his work, I've realized that the full spectrum of his gifts are most appreciated by those who love the instrumental work of, say, King Crimson or even Yes at times.

This album, like most of Zappa's work, is chock-full of guitar brilliance (not to mention the other instruments!). Some of the songs with lyrics, however, aren't particularly to my taste, even if creativly composed. I don't mind Zappa's blue humor at all though, it's hilarious (think Robert Crumb set to music)- and you may react more enthusiastically.

This album is par for the course Zappa brilliance. It may not have as wide of a commericial appeal as some of his other albums- but we all know that commercial appeal was never the point for Zappa- unless he had a point to make about commercial appeal...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Contains some good stuff, despite the in-organic sound, August 9, 2001

By 

F. J. Khoury (Parsippany, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Them Or Us (Audio CD)

No brass, woodwinds, or acoustic strings. All electric instrumentation with lots of synthesizers. Even Chad Wackerman's acoustic drums come off sounding a bit like they're electronic. So, the sound is rather cold. That's my main beef with this album. Since Ed Mann is present using his myriad of percussive insturments (vibes, glockenspiel, bell-tree, etc.), the sound IS better, IMO, than that of the 1984 touring band as heard on Does Humor Belong in Music.

The guitars (FZ, Vai, and Dweezil) are fast and furious, but the style is very 80's...not as interesting to me as 70's FZ guitar, (e.g., I Promise Not to Come in Your Mouth, from ZINY). But still good, nonetheless - see my comments on the solos.

There are no "top-ten" FZ songs here, but some of them are decent, including Sinister Footwear, Baby Take Your Teeth Out (that jazzy groove in the middle is too cool), and even Ya Honza (well, that depends on my mood).

Two good points are:

1. Decent vocal arrangements. FZ did a good job with vocals in the 1984 time period...Thing-Fish is another good example of Zappa composing well with the human voice.

2. Good FZ guitar solos. Actually, the solos on this album required a lot more patient listening before I began to appreciate them. Case in point, Truck Driver Divorce. The very effect-laden guitar solo (a la Drowning Witch) seems to wander aimlessly if your attention is not all there. Now I greatly enjoy the landscape that solo creates.

There are many other Zappa CDs to get before you get Them or Us. Although I have many Zappa CDs, I do reach for this one when I yearn for that heavy metal side of FZ.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proof of Zappa's genius., February 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Them Or Us (Audio CD)

I listened to Them or Us for the first time in about 5 years and rediscovered what a work of genius this album is. Listening to Them or Us gives the impression that there are a million brilliant musical ideas out there waiting to be discovered, and Zappa has claimed a disturbing number of them for his own. The diversity of moods and landscapes in this album, as well as Zappa's incomparable humor, will merit relistenings for many years.