Captain Beefheart - Progressive Rock Music Forum

The early albums (Safe As Milk, Mirror Man Sessions) are pretty straightforward (for the times). TMR is to me brilliant and not. I've never listed to the whole thing in one sitting. There are many good songs lurking in there. I wish Lick Off My Decals was available...maybe it is now, I forget to check. What I've heard of it is much like TMR, but accessible (and I use the term loosely).

The Spotlight Kid and Clear Spot used to be available on a single disc, a bargain if there ever was one. These are a bit more commercial, but still very good. A couple albums followed that are near garbage. Then came the mighty Bat Chain Puller. I've only heard a couple songs from Doc .

As Slarti sez, there's the stuff with Zappa, Bongo Fury being the best known. But of course the Cap'n is there on Hot Rats, and unless my memory is completely shot, he sings The Torture Never Stops on one of the YCDTOSA albums.

My favorites...Clear Spot and The Spotlight Kid. Beefheart probably hates these, but songs like Click Clack and Big Eyed Beans from Venus don't exactly grow on trees, then or now. They have a definite more commercial bent, but underneath the sheen retain the good madness of TMR in their own way.

Can you tell me where we're headin'?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.

Marty McFly wrote:

I'm not sure what is meant by acquired taste, but if it means something like: "it has to grow on you / you have to have certain need, experimentation in your music taste / it's probably not love on first sight and it will take time", then it's OK.

Yup, that's pretty much it.

"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken

I'm not sure what is meant by acquired taste, but if it means something like: "it has to grow on you / you have to have certain need, experimentation in your music taste / it's probably not love on first sight and it will take time", then it's OK.

People warned me that Gentle Giant can be hard to get into, but except one listen I had two years ago (and I didn't like it), when I run through their first four albums recently, I loved it instantly. Same with VdGG, King Crimson.

And these artists are names that people usually warn about, so that's strange. I "like" some of these dangerous ones and dislike others ? Well, that's one's taste I suppose :-)

There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"

-Andyman1125 on Lulu

Even my

If you like weird, experimental and "music done in a way you've never heard before", this artist is perfect.

There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"

-Andyman1125 on Lulu

Even my

Good timing, their debut just arrived in the post - I am listening now, quite enjoyable and a bit odd... mainly rock 'n roll stuff but in a bizarre way (?) - that is how I would describe it for the time being

however, I have never listened to CB before, so I will need some time to form an opinion

I need to listen again, I got bored half way through TMR the first time, haven't listened again.

Is it ?

There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"

-Andyman1125 on Lulu

Even my

Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) is my favorite.

Trust me. I know what I'm doing.

I've known Beefheart for a while, but haven't collected too many of his albums. I've got Doc At The Radar Station, Safe As Milk, and Troutmask Replica. That's about the order I like them.

Also Bongo Fury, which is more of a Zappa album.

Edited by Slartibartfast - March 15 2010 at 16:01