"You Are What You Is" is a double album by Frank Zappa, released in 1981 as his 34th studio album. The album features three musical suites that blend a wide range of genres, including pop, doo-wop, jazz, hard rock, reggae, soul, blues, new wave, and country.
Lyrically, Zappa's work on this album is characterized by sharp satire, addressing a variety of subjects such as hippie culture, socialites, fashion trends, drug use, cultural appropriation, religion, televangelists, and the military draft. Zappa's incisive commentary reflects his trademark blend of humor and social critique, making the album both musically diverse and thematically rich. The eclectic sound and thought-provoking lyrics showcase Zappa's innovative approach to music and his keen observations of contemporary society.
You Are What You Is is celebrated for its adventurous blend of genres and incisive satire. Jamie Atkins from uDiscoverMusic describes it as "a thrilling ride through 20th-century pop music," highlighting its seamless transitions between doo-wop, jazz, hard rock, reggae, soul, blues, new wave, and country.
The album is structured into three suites, with the first two suites comprising the first record's sides, while the third suite is spread across both sides of the second record. Key tracks include "Harder than Your Husband," a country rock number, and "Doreen," noted for its "power doo-wop" style. The reggae track "Goblin Girl" creatively references "Doreen," showcasing Zappa's musical interconnectivity.
Instrumentally, the album features complex pieces like "Theme from the 3rd Movement of Sinister Footwear," a challenging jazz fusion instrumental that took guitarist Steve Vai considerable time to master. "Mudd Club" stands out with its unique blend of barbershop quartet vocals and a slow reggae rhythm.
Lyrically, Zappa tackles a wide range of subjects, offering sharp commentary on topics such as hippie culture in "Teen-age Wind," fashion and drug use throughout side two, cultural appropriation in the title track "You Are What You Is," religion in "Dumb All Over," televangelism in "Heavenly Bank Account," and the military draft in "Drafted Again." This combination of musical variety and social critique cements the album's place as a noteworthy entry in Zappa's extensive discography.
