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Dweezil Zappa's new album is top-heavy with the influence of father Frank and bottom-loaded with harmony-drenched pop songs.
Dweezil has been performing Frank's music for years, but on "Via Zammata," the Sicilian street his family emigrated from, the paternal effect only goes so far.
The elder Zappa would have smiled at the distorted arrangements provided his clichéd heavy-metal lyrics on "Dragon Master," the only co-write between father and son. On "Malkovich," Dweezil sets up actor John Malkovich by letting him read a classic philosophical text before asking him what the heck he is talking about. Both say yes to Frank's question, "Does humor belong in music?"
"Rat Race" comes with a rockabilly beat and an organ sound close to Del Shannon's "Runaway," while opening instrumental "Funky 15" reflects Frank's progressive rock tendencies.
The rest of the 12 tracks range from Posies-like power pop to lounge music and the Tijuana Brass. The variety of guitar sounds is astounding and "Truth" is an instrumental with a wonderful bluesy solo The Beatles could have recorded with Eric Clapton.
On "Jaws of Life," Dweezil says, "You were probably smarter when you were a kid." But "Via Zammata" proves that at 46, he has aged wisely.