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PrognosticMind 
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 Topic: Captain Beefheart
Posted: September 11 2014 at 16:00 |
What, in your opinion, is his finest hour? I have to go with Trout Mask Replica for many reasons, mainly that it was something that was so fresh, so different, and perhaps the apex of avant at the time.
Seeing as I haven't found too much discussion on here about Captain Beefheart, I wanted to see what others thought of his contribution to progressive/experimental music  .
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Xonty
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Posted: September 11 2014 at 16:41 |
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Trout Mask Replica, definitely - don't understand how it's not the highest rated album of his on PA.
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Vompatti
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Posted: September 11 2014 at 16:51 |
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Decals, closely followed by Trout and Ice Cream.
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HolyMoly
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Posted: September 11 2014 at 17:20 |
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Doc at the Radar Station, followed by Decals and TMR (tie for 2nd).
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Man With Hat
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Posted: September 11 2014 at 17:24 |
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Trout Mask just over Decals.
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Dig me...But don't...Bury me
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questionsneverknown
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Posted: September 11 2014 at 18:42 |
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Doc just slightly over Decals just slightly over Trout.
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The damage that we do is just so powerfully strong we call it love
The damage that we do just goes on and on and on but not long enough.
--Robyn Hitchcock
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questionsneverknown
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Posted: September 11 2014 at 18:50 |
Increasingly I think calling Trout a masterpiece can just get in the way of being able to listen to it. Maybe I should preface that by saying I love the album and it is an all time favorite. It's just that so much attention has been put on that album that it becomes hard to listen to it on its own terms (if that's even a possibility). I went with Doc because I genuinely love it and it keeps surprising me (as does Decals), whereas, if I'm honest, I listen to Trout far less often. It's definitely an album I have to pull out with the extreme focus and concentration that says, "I am now going to listen to Trout Mask Replica."
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The damage that we do is just so powerfully strong we call it love
The damage that we do just goes on and on and on but not long enough.
--Robyn Hitchcock
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zravkapt
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Posted: September 11 2014 at 19:44 |
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Decals
Shiny Beast
Trout
Doc
...the rest
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Magma America Great Make Again
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KingCrInuYasha
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Posted: September 12 2014 at 01:13 |
It's a three way between Safe As Milk, Trout Mask Replica and Shiny Beast. The first was one of his most accessible, the second was one of his most avant-garde, and the third is his Goldilocks record, making a nice balance with the elements from the former two.
I also like the alternate takes from Strictly Personal, if only to see the Magic Band work their magic.
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He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball!
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PrognosticMind
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Posted: September 12 2014 at 05:44 |
 Xonty wrote:
Trout Mask Replica, definitely - don't understand how it's not the highest rated album of his on PA. |
I was wondering the same thing just last evening  .
questionsneverknown wrote:
Increasingly I think calling Trout a masterpiece can just get in the way of being able to listen to it. Maybe I should preface that by saying I love the album and it is an all time favorite. It's just that so much attention has been put on that album that it becomes hard to listen to it on its own terms (if that's even a possibility). I went with Doc because I genuinely love it and it keeps surprising me (as does Decals), whereas, if I'm honest, I listen to Trout far less often. It's definitely an album I have to pull out with the extreme focus and concentration that says, "I am now going to listen to Trout Mask Replica." |
I think this applies to all albums that are heralded as "masterpieces". It gets overhyped, and doesn't live up to expectations because there shouldn't BE any expectation to begin with. The music should move you by itself, without a million people telling you what it did for them. If after you've listened, you agree with these people, that's a completely different matter.
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"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: September 12 2014 at 05:50 |
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I've been listening to Mirrorman a lot the past two months while shooting pool and drinking beer with friends, so that's where my vote went. Trout Mask Replica and Safe as Milk are better albums though, and TMR is possibly one of my most played records ever.
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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PrognosticMind
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Posted: September 12 2014 at 07:30 |
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TMR is getting a lot more spins from me recently, as well. Like I mentioned in the other thread the only other album which reaches this caliber of creativity and unorthodox approach is Gorguts Obscura. Ironically, it was during a review for said album that Beefheart TMR was mentioned - and that's exactly how I stumbled upon his legacy.
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"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"
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PrognosticMind
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Posted: September 14 2014 at 18:20 |
Very interesting looking at the numbers in the poll above...it's seems the Captain's got a little bit of something for everyone  .
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"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"
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Slartibartfast
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Posted: September 15 2014 at 06:28 |
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I've got the Trout Mask but I cringe every time it comes up in one of my circulation schemes. I listen to it and I still am not impressed. My first Beefheart encounter was on the Zappa album Bongo Fury, and I kinda liked that, it was my first Zappa album. I really liked Doc At The Radar Station, but Trout Mask was my second acquisition and it pretty much turned me off from checking out any other of his albums until I took a stab at Safe As Milk, which I like.
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Luna
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Posted: September 15 2014 at 06:34 |
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Have only listened to Trout, so no vote, but that record is good at confusing me. It has some nice moments, some nice hooks, some avant out-there-ness, but it still drags on and gives me a neutral to negative impression. I haven't listened in at least a year or so, so maybe it's time to try again.
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PrognosticMind
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Posted: September 15 2014 at 09:37 |
Slartibartfast wrote:
I've got the Trout Mask but I cringe every time it comes up in one of my circulation schemes. I listen to it and I still am not impressed. My first Beefheart encounter was on the Zappa album Bongo Fury, and I kinda liked that, it was my first Zappa album. I really liked Doc At The Radar Station, but Trout Mask was my second acquisition and it pretty much turned me off from checking out any other of his albums until I took a stab at Safe As Milk, which I like.
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Completely understandable. It took me over a year to finally get back to Trout Mask Replica, and it finally started to "make sense" to me. A very, very strange record indeed.
Luna wrote:
Have only listened to Trout, so no vote, but that record is good at confusing me. It has some nice moments, some nice hooks, some avant out-there-ness, but it still drags on and gives me a neutral to negative impression. I haven't listened in at least a year or so, so maybe it's time to try again. |
Break it out and give it another shot .
Edited by PrognosticMind - September 15 2014 at 09:38
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"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"
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Slartibartfast
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Posted: September 15 2014 at 11:40 |
Not that I don't have a thing for strange music, but that one still hasn't clicked with me. 
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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HolyMoly
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Posted: September 15 2014 at 12:45 |
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Back in college I used to memorize a lot of the TMR lyrics and recite them at drunken parties. Somehow, I managed to have a girlfriend.
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My other avatar is a Porsche
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.
-Kehlog Albran
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Padraic
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Posted: September 15 2014 at 12:55 |
Luna wrote:
Have only listened to Trout, so no vote, but that record is good at confusing me. It has some nice moments, some nice hooks, some avant out-there-ness, but it still drags on and gives me a neutral to negative impression. I haven't listened in at least a year or so, so maybe it's time to try again. |
Sometimes my sentiments are precisely captured by another's post. This is one of those times.
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dr wu23
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Posted: September 15 2014 at 15:25 |
'Clear Spot' for me.......(I have all the studio ones including the 'Dust' mini box set that came out a while back.)
It's the most accessible one while remaining true to his avant garde ideas and blues roots.
And 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus is one of the best things he has ever done...imho.
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
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Captain Beefheart
