Search - Frank Zappa :: Unmitigated Audacity

Unmitigated Rock

Grizsly | Yonkers, NY | 10/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD in a heartbeat when I saw the setlist. I, like many, am a BIG fan of the Mothers, and this CD's tracklist is chock full of goodies. I also love Camarillo Brillo, so I figured it was a no brainer. Ah, but unfortunatly, there is no real warning when you're in the stores - the sound quality is AWFUL. I listened through once, kicked myself for spending the bucks, and threw it in my back seat. When I had the chance to play it at home, I was in my bathroom shaving when "Oh No" came on, and I actually stopped, walked back to my room, and stood in front of the stereo with a half shaven face dripping with cream. The jam is top notch, right into "More Trouble Everyday," which is the slower version of this song (ala "Roxy & Elsewhere). I think one reviewer mentioned that the more you hear it, the less attention you pay to the quality of the recording. The quality of the MUSIC is what's important, and after a few songs, you hardly notice the shabby recording, instead becoming lost in the musical brilliance and simply enjoying Zappa's genius.
If you, like me, saw this in a store and bought it without doing research, then got [upset] and decided to see what other folks thought by checking out Amazon.com, do yourself a favor, play it on a good stereo, let it go for awhile, and see if you can catch yourself grooving to the beats. There. See? It wasn't that much of a waste! Other than that, I can only say to those contemplating buying this that do not own any other Zappa works: No. You need to have a little more understanding and tolerance before you're ready to exhibit true Unmitigated Audacity."

For fans only

ghengisadonis | United Kingdom | 07/05/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The sound quality is indeed poor. Compression is the problem, everything else - mixing, the music/audience sound balance - is all right. (Except the editing, which removes "Orange County Lumber Truck" and the first verse of "Oh No")
But if you can live with that, you may conclude (as I did) that these are the best-ever versions of "You're Probably...", "How Could I...", "Wowie Zowie", "I'm Not Satisfied" and even "Camarillo Brillo"."

It's a bootleg, not an official recording

Rick Nye | Minneapolis, MN | 06/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some people are so upset at the sound quality of this recording; it's a bootleg, for crying out loud, what did you expect? Someone said it sounded like it was recorded with one mic near the concession stand. Well, that's probably exactly what happened. Frank got a hold of these bootlegs and released them on his own label in order to try to make a little money off of them. Don't get so hung up on sound quality with bootlegs, just enjoy the music and be glad we at least get to hear something we otherwise wouldn't be privy to."