10 Greatest Ever Rock Concept Albums

Framed as a satirical warning against the dangers of music on contemporary society, Joe's Garage recounts the story of average man Joe as he forms a garage band, gets arrested for playing too loud, attends Catholic Youth sessions as a punishment and contracts an STD from a rebound after his girlfriend leaves him to become a groupie for a famous rock band. If that premise sounds a bit too bizarre for you, then just tap out now, as the album only gets stranger as Joe joins a Scientology-like cult that revolves around technology, before getting arrested again just as music becomes outlawed across the country. Regardless of whether or not the narrative makes much sense, all three acts of Joe's Garage are some of the finest music that Frank Zappa has ever recorded.

Joe's Garage begins with "The Central Scrutinizer", a spoken-word/instrumental/source of exposition that sets of the scene of the album before segueing into the titular track, "Joe's Garage". Throughout the album, Frank Zappa's penchant for the bizarre and his versatility in a number of different genres is marvellously presented across its two-hour run time, producing a record that never fails to engage any new listeners. Tracks as diverse as "Catholic Girls", "Lucille Has Messed Up My Mind", "Sy Borg", "Watermelon in Easter Hay" and the creatively titled "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?" all highlight the underlying peculiarity that is present here and on many other Frank Zappa albums. Very few albums are able to successfully encompass so many genres and styles, but this album pulls it off perfectly.

Every track on this album stands out and brings something new and unique to the narrative and the overall sound. Joe's Garage is an album that could have only been made by an artist as creative and eccentric as Frank Zappa, and it's all the better for it.