The Official Captain Beefheart Thread

[Chives]

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

no, i don't think it's underrated

if anything, I feel it totally unrepresentative of the Cap's sound and he felt the same way about it as well

I hadn't really thought about it that way, but yeah I see what you mean. I guess I see the Strictly Personal/Mirror Man stuff as documenting an odd alternate Beefheart. More straight jamsy blues that we don't really get to see later, which is for the best because his later work is superior, but I still feel that the material is kind of interesting in retrospect. Perhaps not underrated, but I still enjoy it.

[Chives]

I gave Unconditionally Guaranteed another listen and it's really not THAT bad. I don't think it'd be of interest to anybody who wasn't already a Beefheart fan but it's pleasant enough that I can't totally dismiss it. Honestly, the horrible cover art bugs me more than the music inside. In some ways it just seems like a natural progression from the sort of stuff he was trying on the past two albums, but with a lot less energy or creativity.

I bought copies of it and Bluejeans & Moonbeams while in New York in the past week (along with a third-pressing Trout Mask Replica from a flea market!). I needed them to complete my Beefheart collection, but I haven't heard Bluejeans yet and I'm not really excited to do so. I'll probably get to it in the next week or so though.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Chives

I bought copies of it and Bluejeans & Moonbeams while in New York in the past week (along with a third-pressing Trout Mask Replica from a flea market!). I needed them to complete my Beefheart collection, but I haven't heard Bluejeans yet and I'm not really excited to do so. I'll probably get to it in the next week or so though.

Bluejeans has a couple of good tracks on it and I'd say that it's better than Unconditionally Guaranteed.

[Cuthbert]

Can somebody explain to me why Captain Beefheart is so highly regarded please? Why is his music 'avant garde'?

Appreciate any help. Cheers.

[Sequoioideae]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Kittens

Can somebody explain to me why Captain Beefheart is so highly regarded please? Why is his music 'avant garde'?

Appreciate any help. Cheers.

Hm, I'm like this with Zappa, but I love and highly respect Beefheart. I think with me it's the fact that there are some amazing blues tunes underneath the quirky lyrics, and image. I love his woflman-like growls, and his dada-esque feel. I find him funny, and extremely listenable. Try "Safe as Milk", it's a wonderful place to start if you're unfamiliar with Beefheart. I really can't explain the "Avant Garde" part, but someone else might be able to.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Always

Hm, I'm like this with Zappa, but I love and highly respect Beefheart. I think with me it's the fact that there are some amazing blues tunes underneath the quirky lyrics, and image. I love his woflman-like growls, and his dada-esque feel. I find him funny, and extremely listenable. Try "Safe as Milk", it's a wonderful place to start if you're unfamiliar with Beefheart. I really can't explain the "Avant Garde" part, but someone else might be able to.

Cheers man appreciate you took the time to reply.

I listened to half of Trout Mask Replica earlier. Was alright, but I don't "get" it. I've seen this guy referred to as a genius and whatnot, so want to understand why people think this. I liked some of the music on that album though.

What is Safe as Milk like?

That track is alright, it's listenable. Doesn't really sound like anything brilliant though (not that it isn't, I just don't think I get it. Or maybe I'm overthinking it.)

[TockTockTock]

Yes, you're definitely over-thinking it. Beefheart himself said to just experience the album and let it sink into your brain subconsciously.

However, I could say rather bluntly and superficially that there was absolutely nothing like Trout Mask Replica before and after its release in not only rock music, but music in general. He completely changed the idioms in which he worked with, and since you're trying to appreciate his work... it's best to consider the time period. (Although, I still find his work incredibly ahead of its time... even today).

There's a saying that goes something like... "It takes about six or seven listens to Trout Mask Replica until you begin to enjoy it." It really only took me two, but I've found that the former is more common.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Cenotaph

Yes, you're definitely over-thinking it. Beefheart himself said to just experience the album and let it sink into your brain subconsciously.

However, I could say rather bluntly and superficially that there was absolutely nothing like Trout Mask Replica before and after its release in not only rock music, but music in general. He completely changed the idioms in which he worked with, and since you're trying to appreciate his work... it's best to consider the time period. (Although, I still find his work incredibly ahead of its time... even today).

There's a saying that goes something like... "It takes about six or seven listens to Trout Mask Replica until you begin to enjoy it." It really only took me two, but I've found that the former is more common.

Ah man this post is so helpful. I will persevere with this album then, and post again when I think I've absorbed it.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Kittens

Can somebody explain to me why Captain Beefheart is so highly regarded please? Why is his music 'avant garde'?

Appreciate any help. Cheers.

It's important to consider the time when the album was released. For 1969, this is incredibly out of ordinary. What the album Trout Mask Replica did was break rules that many hadn't even considered yet.

It's fairly common to not like the album for the first several listens, but after several listens and that chance to "get" the album, you'll see the layers more clearly. I'm especially a fan because no one really has the same sound that Trout Mask Replica resonates with. In some cases, other groups have come close to the Beefheart sound (Pere Ubu and other bands come to mind, but they were greatly influenced by Beefheart, methinks). Remember that this isn't improvised (apart from China Pig and the woodwinds on Hair Pie: Bake 1) and is meticulously structured based off of Don Van Vliet's piano musings. He would also whistle tunes to the instrumentalists at hand and they would learn it on the spot.

Trout Mask Replica is a beast of energy and the album has a magic about it that few albums match. Some don't like the album, even when they get it, which is fine. It's important to understand the influence of the album on avant-garde music as a whole, since he gained a cult following over the years.

Listen to all of his albums if you have a chance. They can be difficult and even grating at first, but after the challenging nature of the music is less shocking through repeated listens, it's extraordinarily rewarding. If you don't like Beefheart too much on your initial listens, be sure to hold on to the album. If you do this, you can revisit the piece when your iTunes is on shuffle or something else and maybe you'll find that the music is easier to understand now that you've had more exposure to it.

If you can't tell by now (or if you didn't notice my username), I'm a huge Beefheart fan. He's what I consider my favourite artist

[Goofle]

Whilst you will probably end up liking the album, I wouldn't waste too much time if it doesn't seem to be clicking. You might "get" it right now, but just not like it anyway.