Tag: rhythm

zdbd – How Could I Be Such a Fool

I love the rhythm of the vocals in this tune, with the sad, dark bass, the light click on the high-hat, the xylophone; it opens with such mood. When the rest of the band joins the tune, I’m less interested, somehow; the arpeggio on the guitar, maybe, loses me.

The drop into the chorus sounds great, though, with the gloomy brass band and the thumping heartbeat on the kick drum. The rhythm of the lyrics, too, is neat, staccato. The post-chorus builds into the verse, motivating a mournful trumpet that sounds like it wandered up from Old Mexico. The finger-style bass is perfect, supporting the vocals thoroughly.

Soon, the song builds to a languid ending, each instrument hanging on the note, until the drums bring us out and home.

zdbd – Motherly Love

A particularly radio-friendly hit, with Byrds-style harmonies, spindly guitar, and distorted electrics on the rhythm. It’s got enough twists to remind you we’re listening to Zappa, of course – the kazoo on the transitions, as well as the twisted post-chorus that drops into a minor key with a funky rhythm. They sing about the band itself, which is fair; they’re singing of their own capacity to “rock groupies …’til they sweat and cry.” Zappa’s band at the time was called the Mothers of Invention, so the implication is more than clear.

The strucutre is fairly rudimentary, but the ending section has some funny vocalising by Zappa, as well as a great, sharp tone on the guitar.