I submit that Frank Zappa (solo and with Mothers of
Invention) represents the quintessential American
"rock" music genre -- at least the America I've come
to know and love.

For starters, Zappa's music incorporated jazz, blues,
rock, country, tin pan alley, and doo-wop influences
(all American in origin); he maintained an undeniably
pioneering musical mindset throughout his lifetime; he
wrote biting, humorous, often intelligent (and
sometimes crotch-scratchingly not) lyrical commentary
on the not-so-mainstream (but just as common) American
experience; and imagined some of the most challenging,
far-reaching, genre-bending/blending music (and
musicianship) ever committed to wax.

Name another American artist who's blended all of
these uniquely American influences so thoroughly --
Todd Rundgren, perhaps (you can add rap/hip hop to
Todd's list of American influences).

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but bands like The
Byrds, Bruce Springsteen and Grand Funk Railroad most
certainly do not musically represent America as I see
it -- rather, they represent the stereotype, the
mundane, the Lifetime Network(tm) point of view. 

There's so much more to the American experience than
the struggle to survive, or marrying your high school
sweetheart; there's also a vast wealth of American
musical influences to draw upon, and a discouragingly
small amount of American rock artists who've taken the
time to incorporate those influences. 

Right or wrong, Frank Zappa saw thru the bullshit,
called America on it, and created his own utterly
identifiable musical persona utilizing many of the
influences at his considerable disposal -- influences
that, quite frankly (no pun intended), a majority of
American rock bands simply were unwilling (or, more
likely, unable) to incorporate. As they say, simple
sells.

I still get off on "We're An American Band" tho --
nothing can stop the cowbell (a Swiss influence,
actually)!

kErrY kOMpOsT
www.myspace.com/kompost

NP: Extra - F R Double E (solo album by ex-Wondermint
Jim Mills)


       
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