Album of the Day

Läther, by Frank Zappa (1996): Läther was conceived by Zappa as a 4-LP album back in the mid to late 70s. He delivered it to the record company, which refused to release it in that format. After some legal bickering, most of the album's parts were strewn across four separately released projects: Live in New York (a double LP set), Orchestral Favorites, Sleep Dirt, and Studio Tan. The Zappa clan finally put together this release after Frank's death. The scope of the material on Läther is vast. The more straight forward funny rock stuff is here, as are lengthy jazz workouts and orchestra works. And then there's the 20+ minute cartoon for the ears that is "Greggary Peccary." Pretty much covers all the man ever did, stylistically ('cept for the Synclavier stuff, of course). If you've never bought a Zappa album, this is a perfect place to start. Odds are if you don't find anything to like in Läther, Zappa's music is just not for you.