Frank Zappa: Broadway The Hard Way
By Richard J. Grula
FRANK ZAPPA
Broadway The Hard Way
Barking Pumpkin
NOT SINCE 1979's Sheik Yerbouti has a Zappa album been this crisp, musical, or fun. Broadway The Hard Way was recorded live during Zappa's 1988 world tour and leans heavily to his pop side. The satire is heavy and taps FZ's usual sources (tv preachers, Michael Jackson, the '88 Presidential race, Irangate, AIDS, Elvis, et al), but Zappa is at the top of his game and his lethal wit is put to good use. The result is some of his funniest, profound/ridiculous lyrics in a long, long time.
For his moments in the spotlight, Frank's picking ranges from the loose jazz of "Any Kind Of Pain" to the nasty snarls on "Dickie's Such An Asshole." It seems his years away from the guitar have left no permanent damage. If anything, he's lightened up a bit – some moments are downright pretty ("Stolen Moments"). This lighter attitude crops up on other tunes as well. Zappa and singer Ike Willis often break down with laughter as they harmonize about a "Confinement Loaf" or some other absurdity. And dig the cameo vocal by Sting on a cover of the Police's "Murder By Numbers." All in all, a splendid piece of work that should see plenty of action on better hi-fi's everywhere.