Trout Mask Replica
A staggering work of musical genius? My hairy quivering arse it is. Captain Beefheart has released some great stuff but I'd rather eat a John Major knob cheese sandwich than listen to this again.

The honourable exception is Ella Guru.
(I Was a Teenage Spaceship, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 9:03, 12 replies)

I agree
on both points ... Beefheart's undoubted talent as displayed elsewhere and that TMR is very hard work.
( Ramsay Tupper, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 9:21, closed)

Oh yes
This was the first Beefheart album I bought, and it put me off of listening to him for years!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 9:59, closed)

you give up too easy...
...i too remember those youthful days when it sounded like nothing more than guffage, but persevere and it will begin drilling into your brain piece by piece until you fully embrace its utter genius.

Saying that, if you dont have a taste for avant garde music nor a beard you will never like it.
(wrigglesworth, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 10:43, closed)

TMR = teh crap!
I listen to him now it's just I didn't get into him for a long time coz of TMR, and I have a beard, though that may have to come off soon.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 11:12, closed)

why does your arse quiver?
polly logs for off topic but I'm scoobied by that.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 11:34, closed)

oooooh, ooooh
Can't agree enough. I love all the many varied and magical albums by Don van Vliet but Trout Mask Replica is fucking awful. I can't bear to listen to it.

What really riles me though is that any muso compilation of the Best Albums Of All Time will include TMR as the person including it in the list thinks, "Hmmmm, that Captain Beefheart. He's famous for being weird and this is his weirdest album so it must be his best."

Calm, calm.
( djtrialprice, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 11:42, closed)

@ djtrialprice
How can you love all his other albums except Trout Mask?
Have you heard 'Lick my decals off, Baby' ? its basically trout mask part 2...

And if you seriously belive that those two lumps of beefshit 'Bluejeans & Moonbeams' and 'Unconditionally Guaranteed' are superior albums in any way then you are a cunt of the highest order.
Any beef fan worth his salt knows that they are shameful cocaine fuelled mistakes on an otherwise unblemished career.
(wrigglesworth, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 12:58, closed)

@Baz
My arse quivers because it is a bit on the wibbly side. It takes some time for it stop wobbling after I have become stationary.
(I Was a Teenage Spaceship, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 13:12, closed)

@wrigglesworth
Firstly, my opinions on music - however bizarre or inconsistent - do not make me a cunt.

I agree that Unconditionally Guaranteed is weak but I personally have a real soft spot for Bluejeans & Moonbeams. I love the laid back feel of Observatory Crest and Same Old Blues. I think the guitar instumental on Farther Than We've Gone is just perfect. I don't think it's as good as say Strictly Personal or Doc At The Radar Station but it's still a good album.

I don't own Lick My Decals Off, Baby since as far as I'm aware it doesn't have a UK CD release. I'll add the import version to my "To Buy" list.

But other than that I own all his studio albums from Safe As Milk to Ice Cream For Crow and I think they're all at least "good" apart from TMR which I can't stand.
( djtrialprice, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 13:15, closed)

no offense intended...
but i just find it perculiar.
Like a Beatles fan detesting Sgt Peppers or a Brian Wilson fanatic loathing Pet Sounds...
The chances of liking 'Lick my decals...' are seriously diminshed if you hate Trout Mask as much as you do, but give it a chance.

BTW, I have seen the magic band performing trout mask 3 times and it is even more mind blowing live, far from shitty weirdo music for people who study top ten lists and want to appear hip.
(wrigglesworth, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 14:01, closed)

It took me a while too
But it grew and grew on me, and would almost definitely make my top ten favourite albums.

Oh, and Moonlight on Vermont rocks harder than Ella Guru ;)
(Generator cannot be named for legal reasons, Tue 1 Jul 2008, 22:51, closed)

^^^^^^^^
Moonlight on Vermont is possibly the Cptn's finest moment.....

Big Joan, superb, 'hoi hoi, is she a boy?'

Pachuco Cadaver, immense, the lyrics ' She looks like an old squaw indian
she’s 99 she won’t go down
Avocado green ‘n alfalfa yellow adorn her t’ the ground', reminds me of our beloved Queen Mum.

Pena, epic one breath 'autolyric' machine

And ANY album that features the words - Fast'n'Bulbous. Is a winner in my book.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Wed 2 Jul 2008, 4:36, closed)