Author: Jernej Vene
Artist: Zappa, Dweezil
Label: Barking Pumpkin
Release: 1991
Length: 72:59
Rating: 4/5
Dweezil is the son of rock legend Frank Zappa. Growing up in a rock environment and learning the craft from his old man, he’d already built a reputation as a killer guitarist by his early teens. Guest spots on records by Don Johnson, Winger and Extreme followed. Dad Frank took care of the “mileage,” since young Dweezil played with him on a few tours. Confessions is Dweezil’s third record since 1986. Besides the usual rock topics, Zappa’s lyrics also tackle the environmental troubles of our planet. At the start of the song Earth he serves up a little solo symphonic intro, because as a young metal guitarist he just can’t resist reminding us every so often that he’s spent all his free time playing guitar. So don’t go thinking Dweezil is just one of many young string-shredders. He’s a real guitar hero, and plenty of aces of world rock guitar will tell you so. Dweezil is full of surprises. The big paper sheet that comes with Confessions is a read that takes quite a while, as you fight your way through a forest of all kinds of wild ideas and silliness.
Members of Extreme helped Dweezil out on almost every track, but for guitar freaks the juiciest bit is the cover of the Bee Gees hit Stayin’ Alive. For the guitar exposé he got help from these masters: Zakk Wylde from Ozzy Osbourne’s band, Steve Lukather (ex Toto), Warren DeMartini (Ratt), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) and Tim Pierce (a session musician who played with Rick Springfield). Donny Osmond adds some interesting spice to the vocals. On his dad’s side Dweezil is half Italian, which means he’s got a lot going on with women. Like all of us, he often gets it wrong too, even when he’s planned everything carefully. If you’re expecting a pretty ballad, the kind hard rockers play so nicely, you won’t find one here. In Helpless Dweezil unloads all his anger over lost love in a burst of energetic metal. On every record Dweezil pays loads of attention to the list of people who helped him with the songs, whether as musicians or as sources of inspiration. Naturally, the guys from Extreme helped the most, along with his brother Ahmet Zappa and sister Moon Unit. The famous showbiz names who helped him on the road to fame include dad Frank, Clint Eastwood, Madonna, Jane Fonda, Andre Agassi, Steve Vai, Edward Van Halen, Jon Bon Jovi, Mickey Rooney and plenty of others from every corner of the star-studded sky. Even in these credits you can spot Dweezil’s jokey side, since he is, after all, the son of Frank Zappa, the world-famous rock oddball. Confessions is packed with proper rock goods, often featuring real guitar artistry and instrumental exhibitions.
If you’ve only known the Zappa family through father Frank, Dweezil invites you to get to know the younger forces in their musical world. Either way, it’s a record for true rockers, hungry for good, at times experimental hard rock.
Line-up
Dweezil Zappa – vocals, guitar, banjo
Moon Zappa – vocals
Ahmet Zappa – lead and backing vocals
Gary Cherone – vocals
Donny Osmond – vocals
Pat Badger – backing vocals
Nuno Bettencourt – cello, backing vocals, guitar
Mike Keneally – guitar, piano
Warren DeMartini – guitar
Tim Pierce – guitar
Steve Lukather – guitar
Zakk Wylde – guitar
Scott Thunes – bass, backing vocals
Josh Freese – drums, programming
Track list
1. Earth (5:55)
2. Bad Girl (5:30)
3. F.W.A.K. (5:55)
4. The Kiss (4:37)
5. Anytime At All (1:50)
6. Vanity (3:40)
7. Helpless (4:19)
8. Shoogagoogagung (4:30)
9. Stayin’ Alive (4:39)
10. Maybe Tonight (4:05)
11. Confessions Of A Deprived Youth (3:15)
12. Gotta Get To You (5:38)
13. Pain Of Love (5:30)
14. Obviously Influenced By The Devil (6:51)
15. Return Of The Son Of Shoogagoogagunga (6:45)
