[ScreamingSchool]

Hello Sonics fans, your pal ScreamingSchool here. Here's my situation: I'm trying to get into Captain Beefheart. There was one track that I enjoyed I can't remember the name of it something about a witch or voodoo or something. I've gotten this Brown Star Sessions recording and I mean, it's okay but in essence it just sounds like a bunch of hippie jam music. If someone could kind of tell me what the appeal is and suggest an album I'd be grateful.

[atsonicpark]

You're probably thinking of the witch doctor life.

And no offense, but we have a search engine on this board with plenty of threads about Beefheart (linked below). Also, how did you manage to get Brown Star Sessions as the first album you heard by Beefheart -- not that many people even know about that album to begin with! Pretty funny. Anyway, it was never released; it's almost exclusively instrumental outtakes and demos from Clear Spot, and, um, jams. Trying to explain the appeal of Beefheart with your only reference being that album is going to be difficult. You just have to hear -- endlessly creative, clean, completely disciplined yet free-sounding, beautiful music. Some of the most complex compositions ever written... just amazing music. I dunno. I could gush... but... okay, one of (if not THE) the greatest musicians of our generation, the most important musical influence in my life, and someone whose records I've completely worn out but still listen to weekly. A music god.

The most accessible albums (while still being really GREAT) are Safe As Milk and Doc at the Radar Station. My favorites are Ice Cream for Crow and Lick My Decals Off Baby. The classic, of course, is Trout Mask Replica, but it's not one of my favorites -- it's obviously his most important one of the most important albums ever made, but it just doesn't have as many of my favorite songs on it. To an extent, you can't really go wrong with any of the officially-released albums except for Bluejeans and Moonbeams and Unconditionally Guranteed.

http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=892 captain beefheart appreciation thread

http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=12233 captain beefheart poll

http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=13645 captain beefheart reccomendations

http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=18041 ranking captain beefheart albums in order

...

[PAULYBEE2656]

safe as milk......

then fuck that shit!

[Derek]

Doc At The Radar Station and Lick My Decals Off Baby are amazing. I sort of have the same opinion on Trout Mask Replica as atsonicpark. I'd say Doc At The Radar Station is a good starting point.

[ScreamingSchool]

I would have taken less offense at the reply had it not started with "no offense" :-) but thanks for the info. I just enjoy the "real time" (yes I realize it's not actually "real time") discourse about music that happens when posting to this board, thus the thread. I can look crap up all day if I want but, well, you know. thanks again.

[atsonicpark]

Well, I said no offense becuase I really meant nothing by it, I just enjoy reminding new users about the search function.

[jonathan]

I would probably start with Safe As Milk. I never got into anything after Lick My Decals Off Baby. I think working in a steady progression through his musical career is a good way to go about it. I love Trout Mask Replica: definitely a high point. It'll take a few listens, but when it clicks it's amazing.

can't go wrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Beefheart

[Dead-Air]

I'm kinda weird about Beefheart, but then I'm kinda weird. I like his entire output, but the only album I've ever bothered owning in Trout Mask Replica. To me that is his ultimate statement and the other records just pale by comparison.

The other albums have some sort of connection to the whole beast of rock 'n roll while Trout Mask is entirely it's own original music animal. I mean, it's rock and blues based of course, but the time signatures are from some other planet. As Adam says it's incredibly complex, and yet it's totally primitive at the same time. A lot of artists throw around the term "avant garage", but nobody has ever achieved that concept with the same level that Beefheart did on Trout Mask. The closest runner up I can think of is Dial M for Motherfucker by Pussy Galore, but they were never anywhere close to the musical virtuosos of the Magic Band.

[akprodr]

My experience is limited to TMR and ICFC.

I describe TMR as a bunch of muscians in separate rooms and can't hear each other. On ICFC, the can hear each other but just don't care.

TMR is a bit weird for my taste but ICFC is a fav.

[atari 2600]

Originally Posted by ScreamingSchool

I would have taken less offense at the reply had it not started with "no offense" :-) but thanks for the info. I just enjoy the "real time" (yes I realize it's not actually "real time") discourse about music that happens when posting to this board, thus the thread. I can look crap up all day if I want but, well, you know. thanks again.

Yeah, but you could've gotten feedback by just bumping one of the existing threads.

Originally Posted by ScreamingSchool

Hello Sonics fans, (yes, you have my attention) your pal ScreamingSchool here (pal? this is the first I've ever noticed one of your posts). Here's my situation: (hmmm, frustrated screenwriter?) I'm trying to get into Captain Beefheart. There was one track that I enjoyed I can't remember the name of it something about a witch or voodoo or something (hmmm, a little flakY). I've gotten this Brown Star Sessions recording (haha) and I mean, it's okay but in essence it just sounds like a bunch of hippie jam music (because it's outtakes). If someone could kind of tell me what the appeal is and suggest an album I'd be grateful (aw, in the end such a sweetheart).

[stu666]

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

Well, I said no offense becuase I really meant nothing by it, I just enjoy reminding new users about the search function.

compared to ScreamingSchool (join date mar 2006) you are the newer user

[atsonicpark]

rep for cleverness!

[stu666]

thanks

[akprodr]

I bet 'safe as milk' isn't real popular in China right about now

Oh, and pertinent to absolutely nothing, I live real close to Van Vliet Ct.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=van+vliet+ct&sll=40.8587 22,-74.152699&sspn=0.009705,0.022659&ie=UTF8&ll=40.861 651,-74.152865&spn=0.009704,0.022659&z=16&iwloc=addr

[atsonicpark]

How about we play "top 10 favorite Beefheart songs"...

1. sheriff of hong kong
2. suction prints
3. ballerin' p
4. steal softly thru snow
5. hot head
6. safe as milk
7. the ghost, the holy, the most holy-o
8. floppy boot stomp
9. ella guru
10. big eyed beans from venus

[Derek]

1. electricity
2. ella guru
3. run paint run run
4. sheriff of hong kong
5. ice cream for crow
6. the dust blows forward n the dust blows back
7. ashtray heart
8. lick my decals off baby
9. zig zag wonderer
10. the host, the ghost, the holy-o

I've only heard 5 of his albums though... I think I'm missing one or two.

[atsonicpark]

You're missing at least 7! Haha. I love Run Paint.. there's an instrumental version of it on the original Bat Chain Puller that's unbelievable.

I love the acapella songs on Trout Mask... dust blows forward is amazing, though my favorite has to be.. what's it called, orange claw hammer? The one that goes "I woke up in vomit and beer in a banana bin"... god. That song is amazing!

[Derek]

I've heard Safe As Milk, Trout Mask, Lick My Decals Baby, Doc At The Radar Station and Ice Cream For Crow.

I'm currently listening to them all right now. I'm also gonna get the ones I don't have and listen to them. CAPTAIN BEEFHEART APPRECIATION DAY.

[gohleekwang]

The Mirror Man Session is not to be miss.

[Derek]

Is Bluejeans and Moonbeams really that bad? I'm listening to it now and it just seems like a decent blues rock album... which I guess is the stuff the Captain SHOULDN'T be doing but it doesn't sound like poison to my ears at all...