STRICTLY PERSONAL

I love Cpt. Beefheart's debut, but this, second, album is a bit different. Still rooted on the same blues, music there is simpler and more weird at the same time. Even if you will easily recognize Van Vliet's vocals and general music atmosphere, I am missing there some musicality was presented in debut.

This album is REAL avant-garde. Freaky mix of screaming lyrics, sharp bluesy dirty sounds, minimalistic arrangements (very punkish in moments), distorted instruments sound. Well- known fact is album producer Bob Krasnow added plenty of "fashionable" psyche-space effects and strange sounds, which often are out of place ( but really make freaky atmosphere even more crazy).

Placed between two great albums (in time), this release is not of the same level. Very interesting for Cpt.Beefheart fans, I can't recommend it for newcomers. Better start from excellent debut, and then ( if you still will have interest) go to "...Replica...". But for those with deeper interest to Van Vliet music, this album is really one from "must have" list.