Is Les Claypool the Frank Zappa of today?

[Quickie]

I find more similarity than not. Different time sigs on songs....controversial lyrics, very experimental and talent that is far above most musicians.

[fenderhutz]

You would have to take the musical styling of Les Claypool, the art of Adam Jones from Tool, and then mish mash it up.

Might get someone like Frank, but he was a unique bird.

If you want to be amazed at his playing skills go on YouTube and look for Zappa vs. Satriani

He could back up his quirk with skill.

[superfunk47]

Well, aside from this belonging in Misc (since it's music-related), I don't really see the similarity. Both deviate from the musical norm in some fundamental ways, but they're two totally different musicians and composers/songwriters in my mind. Zappa was a composer in the purest sense - Les is a songwriter. That's not really one way or the other, but they're two very different approaches to music.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Quickie

I find more similarity than not. Different time sigs on songs....controversial lyrics, very experimental and talent that is far above most musicians.

Frank's main legacy is that of a great band leader, IMHO. I love Les too, but I've never really thought of him that way. Still, I can see your point. The humor aspect is definitely there.

This doesn't belong in OT, by the way...

[champbassist]

Apart from the quirk and humor, no similarities, IMO.

I'm a huge Primus fan, but Frank's compositions were intensive, vast, unique and complicated to a degree that no Primus compositions are close to. Not to say I dislike Primus compared to Zappa, but music wise, they are quite different.

[Gard]

Short answer: No.



Long answer: both are/were great, but Zappa was a COMPOSER and bandleader of unbelievable skill; Claypool is a quirky (and good) songwriter.

[MakiSupaStar]

No.

[Chebass88]

Look here, brother. Who you jivin' with this cosmik debris?

Claypool is a good imitation of Frank Zappa, but I would not say they are comparable. Zappa, as stated above, was a composer, and wrote ditties and toured in order to accomplish his primary goal - writing music. Claypool seems to be a guy who goofs around on stage for the purpose of entertainment.

[RS]

I love Les but his music is much more derivative than Zappa's. The more you listen to The Residents, Tom Waits, Stanley Clark, and even Peter Gabriel to extent, the less novel Primus seems.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by RS

I love Les but his music is much more derivative than Zappa's. The more you listen to The Residents, Tom Waits, Stanley Clark, and even Peter Gabriel to extent, the less novel Primus seems.

^this.

Zappa was influenced as well (Stravinsky, Varese), but it was much less evident.

[king_biscuit]

No!

[El Beardo]

I've always thought of Mike Patton as today's Zappa.

[handofseven]

Originally Posted by El Beardo

I've always thought of Mike Patton as today's Zappa.

Nice... +1

[echoSE7EN]

Originally Posted by champbassist

Apart from the quirk and humor, no similarities, IMO.

I'm a huge Primus fan, but Frank's compositions were intensive, vast, unique and complicated to a degree that no Primus compositions are close to. Not to say I dislike Primus compared to Zappa, but music wise, they are quite different.

...and Zappa was a well-spoken, 1st-Amendment-loving dude that could hang at a Congressional hearing. I don't picture Les giving an "important" statement before Congress on much besides fishing. I dig Les' stuff. He's cool. But he's not Frank.

[pedroims]

No

[armywalaby]

All of the above.

[baba]

Originally Posted by Gard

Zappa was a COMPOSER and bandleader of unbelievable skill; Claypool is a quirky (and good) songwriter.

Precisely.

[tastybasslines]

I dunno, I think Claypool is boring. He is like the Victor Wooten of rock, only he's all flash and no substance like Wooten. His playing sounds the same to me on most of his music.

[madmatt]

Are you joking?

[Col Pruse]

I'd say Trey Anastasio is more along the lines of Zappa...