CURATE YOURSELF: Joe's Garage

Disc 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRN_mULAjkI
Disc 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_tKKncKO9k

     Joe's Garage is by far my favorite concept album created by my favorite musician, Frank Zappa. Frank was a self taught man who was ahead of his time and even ours, his views on life were cynical yet genius at the same time. His career took place from the mid to late 1900's and his work consisted mostly of humorous satirical criticisms on society followed by some unique "psychedelic" music and lyrics. He's considered an advocate for freedom of speech, self education, political participation, and the abolition of censorship. In simpler words, he was a funny, intelligent asshole who didn't care for the dumb things in life. He just wanted to make music for fun and criticize the hell out this stupid world while he's at it and I think that's awesome.

The story of this album is told through a character named the "Central Scrutinizer" who narrates the story of Joe, an average adolescent male who forms a garage rock band, has unsatysfiying relationships with women, gives all of his money to a government assisted and insincere religion, explores sexual activities with robots, and is imprisoned. After being released from prison into a dystopian society where music itself has become illegal, he lapses into insanity. "Joe realizes at last that imaginary guitar notes and imaginary vocals exist only in the imagination of the imagener! And ultimately, who gives a fuck anyway. So he goes back to his ugly little room and quietly dreams his last imaginary guitar solo".

Every song of this album has a different style to it and a different message behind it while continuing the story of Joe, our protagonist. To many people these songs may sound strange and nonsensical, but pay attention closely and you'll lose yourself to this unique, vivid masterpiece. Like Zappa once said, "A mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work if it is not open".