Weasels Ripped My Flesh is often regarded as either a masterpiece, or one of the worst albums Frank Zappa ever did. Well, I like this album. The reason why not everyone would like this album is the music is very uncompromising. Listen to "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gask Mask" for example. Not only is it very uncompromising, it's downright disturbing, especially with that squeely voice from bassist Roy Estrada.

The album does feature some actual music. One is "Directly To My Heart To You" which is a rather bluesy number, written by Little Richard, with violin by Don "Sugarcane" Harris (who happened to play with Little Richard, by the way). "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Momma" is another one, and is often a fan favorite. Plus there's "Oh No", sung by Ray Collins (the last time a Mothers album ever featured his singing) which was basically a part of Lumpy Gravy set to words.

"Get A Little" starts off with one of the Mothers speaking about ripping off someone's drawers to get a little, then the music kicks in, which is basically a guitar solo from Zappa himself, not unlike what's found on Burnt Weeny Sandwich. But the album is also full of experiments that some might write off as noise. Like "Didja Get Any Onya". It starts off jazzy with brass, but then it goes totally off the deep end with some funny voice in a German accent complaining about people looking at him funny because he refuses to conform.

"Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" is another example of totally uncomprimising. The music is unbelievably complex, and might be rather difficult for many to get in to, but for those in to such RIO prog rock bands like Henry Cow, this would probably be right up your alley.

The final cut, the title track is literally nothing else but noise. This whole album is totally strange. The musicians playing on this album plays like a who's who of The Mothers of Invention up to that point. Zappa, of course on guitar and vocals. Bassist Roy Estrada is here as well as rhythm guitarist Lowell George (it's interesting to note that both Estrada and George formed Little Feat after the Mothers broke up). Two drummers, Jimmy Carl Black and Art Tripp III. Several saxists are here including Bunk Gardner, Ian Underwood, and "Motorhead" Sherwood. Buzz Gardner played trumped and flugel horn. Ray Collins sings on "Oh No", as mentioned already. Don Preston plays keyboards, and Don "Sugarcane" Harris plays violin.

Weasels Ripped My Flesh, whether you like the album or not, just proves how original and inventive the 1965-1969 version of the Mothers of Invention were, and it's little wonder why the rock critics give the most favorable reviews to this era of Zappa's career. He hadn't quite got in to the bathroom humor phase like "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" or the Fillmore East, June 1971 album, or releasing inconsistent material. If you're not bothered by how far out this album is, not to mention the whacked out experiments, then you should give this album a try.