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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not perfect, but still a pretty good album., November 3, 2001
This review is from: Tinseltown Rebellion (Audio CD)
Hello. This album features the 1980/81 live band attacking a wide variety of tracks, some new, some going back to Frank's early days. For the most part, these are some of Frank's more caustic tracks. He definitely had an axe to grind with record labels and various other groups of people, so if those kinds of tracks turn you off, avoid this album. Otherwise, I'd recommend it but would refer Zappa newbies to other albums like _Lather_. There are some great tunes here, but I feel you need to be somewhat familiar with Zappa's style first. One thing no other reviewers have mentioned is that, along with _You Are What You Is_, this album was remastered in 1998 by Spencer Chrislu. When Frank was working on this album, he was apparently experiementing with some new digital effects and managed to mess up the audio in the process. After fans complained, this album was quietly remastered and re-released. Unfortunately, neither album has any sort of label on the front, although YAWYI has a blurb about the '98 remastering in its liner notes. To see if you have a bad version, check "For the Young Sophisticate." If the length is 2:36, your copy is the old one. If it's 2:48, it's new.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A solid album, December 24, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Tinseltown Rebellion (Audio CD)
Tinsle-Town Rebellion is a pretty solid album that hints at some of the excesses of Zappa's tours in the early 80s -- a proclivity toward podestrian reggae beats, a little heavy on broad extended synth lines, and humor overpowering attention to the music. What saves this album is the material and the band which, frankly, had chops. Vinnie Colaiuta makes this album worthwhile -- and while the effect of his textured playing doesn't create quite the same explosive combination with FZ as it did on Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, his playing was incomparable, even in FZ's catalogue. Arthur Barrow on bass is another plus -- his slap technique and funk lines adds a lot of energy to some of the tracks. Steve Vai provides some stunt guitar for those who are interested in Vai (not me, certainly). The album, somewhat awkwardly, begins with a studio track, FINE GIRL -- a rather harmless, catchy piece of misogyny. The rest of the album is live -- starting with a rousing, full performance of EASY MEAT. Some run throughs of songs from Zappa's early catalogue are pretty wasteful. There's really nothing extraordinary about them, save maybe a cute new edition of TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, and the first release of the Leather song FOR THE YOUNG SOPHISTICATE, which is a bluesy little ditty not without merit. NOW YOU SEE IT - NOW YOU DON'T is a reggae-backed grinder of a solo by FZ that meanders a bit, but comes off nicely, comparable to the lesser tracks on Shut Up. There's two tracks of stage theatrics which are funny, but a lot less musically charged than the stunts pulled by the Roxy Band (Be-Bop Tango) or even, dare I say it, the Flo'n'Eddie lineup. The second half of this album is what makes it for me. Most of the material is original, and the two oldies are both worthwhile. THE BLUE LIGHT is one of my favorite FZ songs -- a funky monster of a track that contains some rather esoteric lyrics. TINSLETOWN REBELLION, the title track, is a venemous shot at the Punk movement with a ton of hooks that ape musical style. PICK ME, I'M CLEAN (like EASY MEAT, I think this was also, curiously, a Flo'n'Eddie number) is a lively song with a great solo. The punch-gut blues of BAMBOOZLED BY LOVE is a charm, if you can look past the rather morbid lyrics. BROWN SHOES DON'T MAKE IT and PEACHES III (Peaches En Regalia) are great closers. Two of the best songs from FZ's early career, in my opinion. This is actually my preferred version of Brown Shoes, and Peaches is always magnificient. A pretty good album that maybe runs a little too long. Not essential, except maybe for the presence of Colaiuta, but a good one for fans of FZ and this period.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
great concert moments from uncle frank, February 23, 2001
This review is from: Tinseltown Rebellion (Audio CD)
this may not be the best frank zappa album but still, it is worthy of 5 stars. 1981 was a good year for zappa fans. he released the great you ar what you is , which mercilessly attacks american culture and vacuity. also his guitar masterpiece shut up n play your guitar. he also released this album, which has gotten a bad rep over the years from some so called zappa fans. This is a great album. I wasn't expecting that much from it when i bought it because i had read quite a lot of bad things about it. Well don't believe all you read. It is a collection of live recordings from concerts around 80-81. We have Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, arthur barrow on bass, ike willis, steve vai, ed mann, denny walley, tommy mars, and of course the world famous ray white. The first tune is actually a studio cut, ' fine gril', it is a good song. Then one of the most awesome things you'll ever hear. Easy meat. Starts off...Ike singing away, he sings two verses, then we get this wonderfully cheesey 'classical section' which was overdubbed by tommy mars on keyboards. It is like Beethoven on drugs. Then there is some piano sounds and we go into a guitar solo of galactic proportions. It is one of Frank's great guitar moments, he is brilliantly aided and abetted by the rhythm section. Then back into the song via more Mars overdubbage. Then the band do some great remakes of old songs. Love of my life, i ain't got no heart, tell me you love me. Classic vocal performances on the doowop song. THe young sophisticte makes its 1st appearance on this album. It is not a sgood as the lather version, but it still rocks. Warren Sophia excels on this track. Frank introduces the band via 'the panty rap', which is an amusing bit of conceptual continuity. He makes fun of someone who can't spell:'This is a college educated community huh? WEAR, spelt W-E-R-E. Never mind'. We are then treated to another magnificent guitar solo on ' now you see it now you don't'. And 'dance contest' gives us a flavour of the audience participation that accompanied these shows. the title track is a great song which rocks. (check out the 'doe humor belong in music?' video for the ultimate version). also the blue light, a strange but fascinating song. pick me i'm clean-a classic. a song about groupies with a white hot guitar solo. bamboozled by love delivers also. then some more remakes-brown shoes is great as is peaches III. the later features some inspirational guitar from warren and frank's famous 'let's hear it for another great Italian' quote. Buy this album now. Thank you.
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