"The Words and Music of Frank Zappa" is the first book to move beyond the details of Zappa's biography towards a focused treatment of the songs of this great American composer. Frank Zappa's music is approached as a whole, allowing it to emerge as a coherent, thoughtful, innovative - if somewhat daunting - body of work. Kelly Lowe examines each aspect of that work, from Zappa's role as a satirist, to his place within the genre of "progressive rock," and his importance as one of the foremost critics of American culture and society. Like many satirists, Frank Zappa's messages - musical and lyrical - may not always be clear, but they are well worth considering, and Lowe has provided an excellent guide to that endeavour. The volume begins with a discussion of Zappa's role as a satirist and a discussion of his musical style, and then proceeds to an in-depth examination of his albums. Through this extended engagement with Zappa's music, a clear perspective of Zappa's personal views is also provided, shedding light on his treatment of such topics as the falsified notion of love in popular culture, the compromising influence of money on popular music, and the concept of freedom in a systematised society. The book also features an official discography and a bibliographic essay which discusses the current state of Zappa scholarship.