TROUT MASK REPLICA

Honestly, I'm insulted that this album only carries a four-star rating. Sure, everyone's entitled to their opinion, and I can see how this album could be a 'turn-off' to some people, but it's influence on pop music and its artistic freedom are both irrefutable. Sure, Don's combination of blues, poetry, jazz, and, well, sound, are definitely tough to get used to, and an album with so little cohesion could be disenchanting (it certainly does take a few listens to fully grasp the record's concept), it's still a monolith record. It remains the zenith of unconventional rock music, the pinnacle of the strange, and a testament to individuality and creativity. And even with the insanity, it still remains true to its roots; it's still a rock record, even if there's no togetherness, even if it has absolutely no discernible cohesion. I give five-star ratings pretty sparingly, I will admit, and though I'm sure several of my personal favorite albums don't deserve them, this one certainly does.

Shuffling through the other reviews, I couldn't help but notice the mass of negative criticism; I reckon that I'm no master reviewer, that I'm right now saying what's been said a million times, but I know a masterpiece when I hear one. Even the most broken, unintelligible music has some artistic worth. This record isn't about a glossy polish, about complicated keyboard solos, or about impressive, complicated finesse; no, Trout Mask Replica is about singularity and avant-gardeness!

I've heard a million complaints about this type of music...honestly, I have! Beefheart's voice is absolutely unbearable, I've heard, the instruments are too broken, I've heard, but like I mentioned earlier, rock music doesn't solely need to rely on beautiful voices and instrumental complexity; if this were the case, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry wouldn't be legends, would they? Sure, Beefheart's music isn't even remotely reminiscent of Holly's or Berry's, really, but it follows the same structural ideal...it's not about the intricacy or the talent of the band members, it's about the sound, the overall sound, and the emotion that is felt and given off.

I'd say give Trout Mask a few listens before judging it. If you hate the avant-garde and the strange, then this certainly isn't the record for you, but if you're willing to keep an open mind, then this masterwork is an absolute yes.