Comments on: Joe’s Domage

By: giantalbinopenguin

giantalbinopenguin — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:40:39 +0000

Well, a friend played me this (that is still allowed isn’t it?) yesterday to try and knock me out of my recent non-zappaness. Is he mad? I can’t think of a better example of a shoddy release.

Fine if you like rehearsal tapes, although I guess that the man himself would have cringed at the thought of this being made available to the public.

By: Isis

Isis — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 13:04:47 +0000

The release of Joe’s Corsage imbued me with school girl like excitement and hope of as good (or even better) discs to come. I immediately pre-ordered Domage when it was announced and waited impatiently for it to materialise. At that point in time, I was unhealthily obsessed with Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo, and the prospect of a whole disc of demo material left me dripping with excitement. The one mainstream magazine review I could find gushed praise.

I must admit, I misled myself somewhat. I was under the impression that these would be properly mixed studio run-throughs of the material I so loved, much like the early working version of Inca Roads on Lost Episodes. Self-deception, as Jean Paul Sartre would be happy to tell you, is a veritable crime.

Domage collates incomplete and shoddily recorded rehearsal tapes and offers them to you on a plate. And they’re far from being a sumptuous dish. Almost every recording is incomplete, and cuts abound. The tape sounds like it was recorded in the U-Bend of rehearsal space toilet.

For someone interested in the mechanics of FZ’s compositional construction techniques, Domage may provide a few interesting listening experiences. If this were a bootleg, I would class it as an excellent find. As an official release added to the Zappa cannon, it’s nothing more than a wasted opportunity. For people wanting a true FZ product, they’re better off investing in some Zappa vinyl. The ZFT has promised much, and delivered little. They’ve hardly been subdued in their descriptions of the wealth of material in the Zappa vault, so why release something like this?

By: The.O

The.O — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 04:49:28 +0000

Save your money don’t buy this show

By: Gojira1975

Gojira1975 — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 01:38:04 +0000

For the true hardcore Zappa fan only! I was let down by this initially, but have grown to like it a little more. For me, it falls into the same category as Playground Psychotics and Francesco Zappa - In the sense that I dont listen to them much,but when I do they are pleasurable. Domage highlight is listening to FZ instruct the band, something which I had never heard before, not being a hardcore live/demo/rehearsal FZ collector…..Domage is worth getting if you love and own the rest of the catalogue….Not as a first listen though…

By: Paul Sempsci

Paul Sempsci — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 05:12:37 +0000

So essentially what you’re saying is shut up and be grateful that we have the opportunity to buy 35 minutes worth of music of questionable quality and sound for triple what it’s worth.
Honestly, I dig what they attempted to do on Corsage but Domage was a bit too far. I mean of all the things to release, with the unreleased masters of Zappa’s post-humous albums, the 12 record Mothers box, the stuff you mentioned, hell, even to release the full studio sessions and outtakes of Hot Rats but this?
I see what they’re trying to do, behind the scenes of a band that was never on record. But based on the quality and the small size of information on the cd. I’m sure it could have been filled with some other relevant material (and then some). THis was just a shoddy release that was not thought out too well.
And if it is so hard to release Frank’s work, then sign all the goddamn tapes over to Ryko or something!!!
I appreciate their efforts but there is so much there that they neednt develope their own projects and compliations for a long time.

By: Aladdin McFadden

Aladdin McFadden — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 16:14:18 +0000

Listen you bloody idiots. How do yo expect anything worthwhile to happen if all you do is bitch about anything you can think of? The ‘65 disc - admittedly 35 mins approx - is absolutely unbelievable and far superior to “Freak Out” and the R&B sections of “Absolutely Free” and the Grand Wazoo rehersal tape is fascinating! It was recorded on a cassette in 1972 and reveals FZ’s skill and imagination in a breathtakingly refreshing installment of greatness. It was also something none of us had ever heard before. And quite frankly, who gives a fuck about the sleevenotes? Do you buy Frank Zappa music to be told how to appreciate it or are you the brain police? Here’s the easy New York teenage version motherfucker - whoever you are, wherever you’re from - YOU ARE DUMB ALL OVER! And it’s gonna take a lot more than naively criticizing the Zappa Family Trust for you to realise that your excuse for an observation is nothing more than a jazz discharge party hat!

Sure, I’d like to see the ZFT release the following:

10. ZAPPA IDOL - WHAT CAN YOU THAT IS AMAZING?: THE BEST OF THE AUDITION TAPES
9. FLO & EDDIE REHERSALS 1987
8. SHUT UP AND PLAY YOUR KIT - DRUM SOLOS
7. THE YELLOW SHARK DVD
6. FINAL INTERVIEW 1993
5. THE PRESENT DAY COMPOSER REFUSES TO DIE DVD
4. STOCKHOLM 1973 DVD
3. THE CLAPTON GUITAR MASTERCLASS
2. THE RAGE AND THE FURY MOVIE
1. THE ROXY MOVIE

But it can’t gonna happen if they’re met with needless animousity on almost every level imaginable. When was the last time we read something positive, or indeed accurate about the ZFT on the internet. Here’s a thought - they own -as far as I know - Frank’s intellectual property until 2043. Treat them with respect or we may have to survive on stolen tapes etc. until then.

By: mark

mark — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 08:52:14 +0000

I can’t believe people are defending the ZFT’s choices just because of their last name!
As for this release, you have to ask…would Frank have released something like this? Answer: Not in a million years!
Joe Travers is a good drummer, but he sucks as a “vaultmeister” and in knowing what the fans want.
Where the hell is the Roxy DVD (or any live show DVD)?

By: ben

ben — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 07:51:29 +0000

I agree with those who said that this won’t be played more than once or twice. This is due to the start-stop nature of it coupled with the muffled audio. Gets on your nerves. That said, I do like the Grand wazoo/Waka Jawaka material, it is great to see how it was put together. As such, I am glad this is available, but to put it out at full price is way out of line.

By: eduardo

eduardo — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 06:06:55 +0000

frank, the best of the world

By: laney

laney — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 13:48:05 +0000

i dont see what the big beef is …anything new to listen to that has f.z’s voice or his direction is ok with me although there are some pros and cons to it …give ZFT some credit for at least putting it out and realizing how the music all came about …i just cant be negative about anything ZFT does so im not dissapointed at all and if you dint like it just give it to a friend who might appreciate it …music is the best ….thanks ZFT