The Official Captain Beefheart Thread

Chives · 10-23-2012, 10:15 AM

Yeah that's what I meant. As I said, I only considered Grow Fins because I saw it at what I thought was a decent price. And really, it shouldn't be much longer till I have the rest of the studio stuff. Unconditionally Guaranteed and Ice Cream For Crow have nice reissues everywhere and Blue Jeans is usually cheap enough.

EDIT: Shoot wait, I always forget about the A&M Sessions. Many ways to get that but I always forget about them.

Chives · 10-28-2012, 10:24 PM

The copy of Strictly Personal I got off ebay arrived over the weekend. The record has no scratches or anything, although it sounds a bit worn. But that's how a lot of older records end up sounding after some time on the tables, so I'm just glad to finally have a copy.

After being so used to the clear-sounding Mirror Man Sessions versions of most of the songs it's a bit weird hearing the Strictly Personal mixes again. Some of the stuff I don't mind, like the strange heartbeat put over a track, but man sometimes the sound is crazy weird. I forget how the CD sounds, though. Maybe it's better. Or maybe I'm just spoiled when it comes to album production.

Does anybody feel Strictly Personal is underrated? I think it might grow on me as I give it more listening.

Howard the Duck · 10-28-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chives

The copy of Strictly Personal I got off ebay arrived over the weekend. The record has no scratches or anything, although it sounds a bit worn. But that's how a lot of older records end up sounding after some time on the tables, so I'm just glad to finally have a copy.

After being so used to the clear-sounding Mirror Man Sessions versions of most of the songs it's a bit weird hearing the Strictly Personal mixes again. Some of the stuff I don't mind, like the strange heartbeat put over a track, but man sometimes the sound is crazy weird. I forget how the CD sounds, though. Maybe it's better. Or maybe I'm just spoiled when it comes to album production.

Does anybody feel Strictly Personal is underrated? I think it might grow on me as I give it more listening.

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

for what it's worth, it is a "step" in the development towards Trout Mask

Chives · 10-29-2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

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 · 02-22-2013, 10:24 AM

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** · 02-22-2013, 01:18 PM

Quote:

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~~ · 03-15-2013, 06:12 PM

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

Appreciate any help. Cheers.

Sequoioideae · 03-15-2013, 08:18 PM

Quote:

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~~ · 03-15-2013, 08:28 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-15-2013, 11:22 PM

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.

10-23-2012, 10:15 AM	#181 (permalink)
Chives Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 299	Yeah that's what I meant. As I said, I only considered Grow Fins because I saw it at what I thought was a decent price. And really, it shouldn't be much longer till I have the rest of the studio stuff. Unconditionally Guaranteed and Ice Cream For Crow have nice reissues everywhere and Blue Jeans is usually cheap enough. EDIT: Shoot wait, I always forget about the A&M Sessions. Many ways to get that but I always forget about them. __________________ [My last.fm] [My Tumblr]

10-28-2012, 10:24 PM	#182 (permalink)
Chives Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 299	The copy of Strictly Personal I got off ebay arrived over the weekend. The record has no scratches or anything, although it sounds a bit worn. But that's how a lot of older records end up sounding after some time on the tables, so I'm just glad to finally have a copy. After being so used to the clear-sounding Mirror Man Sessions versions of most of the songs it's a bit weird hearing the Strictly Personal mixes again. Some of the stuff I don't mind, like the strange heartbeat put over a track, but man sometimes the sound is crazy weird. I forget how the CD sounds, though. Maybe it's better. Or maybe I'm just spoiled when it comes to album production. Does anybody feel Strictly Personal is underrated? I think it might grow on me as I give it more listening. __________________ [My last.fm] [My Tumblr]

02-22-2013, 10:24 AM	#185 (permalink)
Chives Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 299	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. __________________ [My last.fm] [My Tumblr]

03-15-2013, 06:12 PM	#187 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Can somebody explain to me why Captain Beefheart is so highly regarded please? Why is his music 'avant garde'? Appreciate any help. Cheers.

03-15-2013, 11:22 PM	#190 (permalink)
TockTockTock They/Them Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,914	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.