I didn't say he was an unfocused composer or instrumentalist.
He was an unfocused artist.
There is a reason why one of his most popular albums is a triple disc collection entitled Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar - an album that consists entirely of his guitar solos removed from the context of his songs. And that reason is that a lot of people love his incredible guitar wizardry, but do not want to have to endure the other parts of his songs to get to them.
As an artist his approach was apparently to record literally any idea he had - whether it was a good idea or not. As a lyricist his approach was apparently to just say anything that popped into his head, unedited.
As a musician, he was peerless. As an artist, he wasn't.
All I need to do is point to Thing-Fish and rest my case.
I didn’t say he was an unfocused composer or instrumentalist.
He was an unfocused artist.
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So an unfocused artist can be a peerless instrumentalist, create focused compositions, and play his instrument in a focused manner? So his lack of focus as an artist had no bearing on the art he actually produced? On what possible basis, then, do you suggest he was an unfocused artist? And if his lack of focus as an artist did not impact the artistic product, why then even mention it?
I think these apparent contradictions stem from your attempt to make the subjective objective.
I love FZ and am a fan of all sorts of wierdo music (any other No New York fans out there?). Even I couldn’t sit through Thing-Fish!