Yeah, Lou was never a nice guy. I've been reading his biography by Anthony DeCurtis and he was a lifetime *******. After Quine helped him rediscover his guitar and make his best album in years in the Blue Mask, he effectively mixed Quine out of the Legendary Hearts follow up album...because Quine got too much credit for Blue Mask. I love reading about my musical icons and immerse myself in their music when reading their bios. I was always a fan but never realized how deep his assholery went...still a fan of his music, though.
I've always preferred his more rock, jazz, and melodic music to the "meltdown" stuff of his earlier career.
Well I have been needing to get Joe's Garage, Act I as well as Acts II and III, but I have been intimidated by how long those albums are and I'm not sure I understand what those albums are supposed to be about (some kind of opera?). What's your thoughts on those 2 (I have heard some people say that they are Zappa's magnum opus and I have heard others say that they are vastly overrated).
A masterpiece. His vision of the record industry and the world all rolled into a great story that is both serious and seriously funny. Worth it for the first iteration of Watermelon in Easter Hay but it is chock full of some masterful arrangements and searing solos. He gathered some of his favorite guitar solos and dropped then into these songs. He called it Xenochrony . Don't listen to it with your kid...unless they are grown. Edit: you must listen to it from start to finish for the full impact.
i got into harold budd from the album he did with cocteau twins. that was a great pairing - i wish he would have joined the band full time. his eno collabs are great too. his playing is so relaxing and dreamy - its the audio equivalent of wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket by the fire on a cold night.
