November 28th, 2015 - Le Freak Out!

Good afternoon!  The Meista here getting freaky with pairing a Le Freak from Green Flash Brewing Company and the debut album by The Mothers of Invention, "Freak Out!"!

Album Info:

• Artist: The Mothers Of Invention
• Title: "Freak Out!"
• Recorded: March 8th though 12th, 1966 at Sunset-Highland Studios of T.T.G. Inc. in Hollywood California
  Release date: June 27th, 1966 (debut album by The Mothers Of Invention)
• Record company: Verve
• Production: Tom Wilson
• Album cover art: Jack Anesh
• Personnel: Jimmy Carl Black (percussion, drums, and vocals), Ray Collins (vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, booby pins, and tweezers), Roy Estrada (bass, guitarron, and boy soprano), Elliot Ingber (lead and rhythm guitar), and Frank Zappa (guitar, conductor, and vocals)
• Guest musicians (The Mothers' Auxiliary): Edwin V. Beach (cello), Paul Bergstrom (cello), Paul Butterfield (vocals), Eugene Di Novi (piano), Eugene Estes (percussion), Kim Fowley (hypophone), Carol Kaye (12-string guitar), Raymond Kelley (cello), Neil Le Vang (guitar), Arthur Maebe (French horn and tuba), Les McCann (piano), Mac Rebennack (piano), Kurt Reher (cello), John Rotella (clarinet, sax) Emmet Sargeant (cello), Joseph Saxon (cello), Motorhead Sherwood (various noises), and Jeannie Vassoir (the voice of Cheese)
• Musical style: Avant-garde/experimental and progressive rock with elements of doo-wop, jazz, blues rock and roll, classical, and folk  
• Sound: Surreal, sometimes ridiculous, always compelling and engaging, the sound on "Freak Out!" covers a lot of area... especially for the time. 
• Major themes: Dripping with sarcasm and social criticism, the lyrics on "Freak Out!" look at teen love, relationships, states of being, and states of mind, all presented with humor and lunacy.
• Notes: Of the band, Zappa stated "...at the time, it was, you know, if you were a good musician, you were a motherfucker, and Mothers was short for collection of motherfuckers. And actually, it was kind of presumptuous to name the band that, because we weren't that good musicians, we were...But by bar-band standards in the area, we were light-years ahead of our competition, but in terms of real musicianship, I just suppose we were right down there in the swamp."
• Funny side note: At the time it was released, the Los Angeles Times said this about the album: "I guess you might call it surrealistic paintings set to music. Not content to record just two sides of musical gibberish, the MOI devote four full sides to their type of 'artistry.' If anyone owns this album, perhaps he can tell me what in hell is going on...The Mothers of Invention, a talented but warped quintet, have fathered an album poetically entitled Freak Out, which could be the greatest stimulus to the aspirin industry since the income tax."
• Tracks:  

1. "Hungry Freaks, Daddy"
2. "I Ain't Got No Heart"
3. "Who Are The Brain Police?"
4. "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder"
5. "Motherly Love"
6. "How Could I Be Such A Fool"
7. "Wowie Zowie"
8. "You Didn't Try To Call Me"
9. "Any Way The Wind Blows"
10. "I'm Not Satisfied"
11. "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here"
12. "Trouble Every Day"
13. "Help, I'm A Rock (Suite in Three Movements)"
• "Okay to Tap Dance"
• "In Memoriam, Edgard Varese"
• "It Can't Happen Here"
14. "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet (Unfinished Ballet in Two Tableaux)"
• "Ritual Dance of the Child-Killer"
• "Nullis Pretii (No Commercial Potential)"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Company (San Diego, California)
• Website: http://www.greenflashbrew.com/
• Brew: Le Freak
• Style: Belgian India Pale Ale (IPA) - a hybrid of a Belgian-Style Trippel with an American Imperial IPA
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.2%
• IBUs: 101
• Ingredients: Amarillo hops and Belgian yeast
• Pour: Bright orange-gold with a frothy and firm 2-finger white head that show good retention and intricate and sustained lacing.
• Nose: Fruity, bready, zesty, spicy, and punchy, the nose of Le Freak is characterized by aromas of orange, coriander, grapefruit, passion fruit, Belgian yeast, caramel, and pine.
• Taste: The taste is complex and bold with lots of zesty, fruity, and funky flavor.  There are notes of orange marmalade, lemon zest and juice, hints of soft banana, passion fruit, pine, soft caramel/toffee, and bready malts.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel of Le Freak is thick, chewy, and somewhat sticky with a dry and tart finish.

Overall pairing: Like Le Freak, The Mothers Of Invention's "Freak Out!" is complex and very interesting experience!  Together, the brew and the album make for a wild ride filled with interesting nooks and crannies of artistic integrity and craftsmanship with elements of zaniness. 

Cheers!!  Let your freak flag fly!!