| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
 Posted - 02/08/2003 : 06:12:04
|
Youse Captain Beefheart fans (all three of you) are probably already aware of this glorious website. For anyone that isn't- what you have here is a free MP3 copy of a full-length, totally out-of-print masterpiece of unpretentious art-rock.
http://www.widdess.com/decals.html 
P.S.: Don't hesitate to give the author of the site a big pat on the back (or an electronic facsimile thereof).
CAK |
|
|
mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2003 : 08:06:42
|
hah do you really listen to this stuff more then once? its cool for novelty reasons, but i dont think i could take it for too long. the one beefheart song i do like is "her eyes are a blue million miles" its like an actual song heh.
-miked |
 |
|
|
mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2003 : 09:30:05
|
| Thanks, Chris. I always meant to check out Captain Beefheart. Boy, Tom Waits and Pere Ubu sure have some 'splaining to do! (Hard to think of either of them as the "more commercial" version of anything, but they're both so clearly Beefheart-influenced.) [Off-topic sidenote: was listening to Pere Ubu the other day and thinking, "Boy, that David Byrne sure has some 'splaining to do!" It's always fun to play Spot the Influence. |
Edited by - mereubu on 02/08/2003 17:02:18 |
|
|
|
ObfuscateByWill
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1887 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2003 : 16:11:23
|
quote:
Originally posted by mdisanto
hah do you really listen to this stuff more then once?
Yes!
quote:
the one beefheart song i do like is "her eyes are a blue million miles" its like an actual song heh.
For a really great overview (IMO) of Beefheart's career, you should check out the Dust Blows Foward anthology. It sort-of puts the songs is slightly different perspective.
I mean, "...Decals..." is probably my favorite album, but through the comp. you're able to hear the songs as being a little more than odd avant-jazz/blues/rock.
*Take a bite of the chocolate coffin. |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2003 : 23:54:19
|
I actually have a legit copy of this CD and it is definitely on par if not better than Trout Mask. I was fortunate enough to find it at a used record store in Boston called Looney Tunes.
I have nearly every Beefheart album (except the "Tragic Band" era.) I used to be a huge Zappa fan as well and have close to 40 of his albums. It took me a longer to get into Beefheart, but my taste for him has stayed the same over the last six years. My taste for Zappa has declined to almost nothing.
I admit that I had to kind of force myself to listen to Trout Mask Replica for a while. My first reaction was "This is just noise. It sounds like they aren't even trying." Then I started to realize that they meant it to sound like that and that it was supposed to be dissonant and rhythmically disorienting. When I found out that every note was written out and meticulously rehearsed, I became obsessed and had to hear everything he'd done. It's so refreshing to listen to. It's like nothing else before or since. I use it sometimes to cleanse my musical palette when my mind is too full of Pop Garbage.
Anyhow, check out www.beefheart.com as well. It's very informative and has pictures of his paintings which are also amazing.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2003 : 00:09:38
|
As an addendum, if you want to get your feet wet with Beefheart before diving in to his crazier stuff, try:
Clear Spot
The Spotlight Kid
Safe as Milk
These are all good albums and tend to have more typical song forms with lyrics that are less "acid" influenced.
After that try:
Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
Doc at the Radar Station
Ice Cream for Crow
These are a little more grating, but still accessible (although "Making Love to a Vampire with a Monkey on My Knee" is pretty out there) These albums also feature our friend Eric Drew Feldman on bass.
Finally, the masterpieces:
Trout Mask Replica
Lick My Decals Off, Baby
and to a lesser extent - Strictly Personal
Anything else you should be very cautious of and try to hear before buying.
Mereubu - Yes, Pere Ubu and Tom Waits definitely have some splaning to do! (and to a lesser extent so do Devo, XTC, David Byrne, and Black Francis!)
www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
|
mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2003 : 07:28:54
|
well i mean, what about Flash Gordons Ape.. heh i mean, the screetching saxes are a bit much. it is pretty cool to learn that it was all "written out and meticulously rehearsed" becuase thats pretty impressive given the insanity of the songs, i guess ill have to check out the less wierd stuff. it seems hard to believe that he could go from "her eyes are a blue million miles" to this. also, on Clouds are Full of Wine is that him singing or someone else? That songs pretty good.
-miked |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2003 : 08:04:36
|
quote:
Originally posted by mdisanto
well i mean, what about Flash Gordons Ape.. heh i mean, the screetching saxes are a bit much. it is pretty cool to learn that it was all "written out and meticulously rehearsed" becuase thats pretty impressive given the insanity of the songs, i guess ill have to check out the less wierd stuff. it seems hard to believe that he could go from "her eyes are a blue million miles" to this. also, on Clouds are Full of Wine is that him singing or someone else? That songs pretty good.
-miked
That's him singing "Clouds are full of wine".
Yeah, "Flash Gordon's Ape" is hard to listen to. I usually turn that one off. It sounds like bad NYC traffic.
I really like "Clouds . . ", the title track, and especially "Doctor Dark" The instrumentals on Decals are amazing as well.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
|
Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2003 : 05:26:16
|
I am re-reading Zoot Horn Rollo's book about his time in the band. He is not a fan of the Spotlight Kid - which I find quite surprising. He does rate Clear Spot highly though - I would agree with Atheist's advice to seek out Safe as Milk, Spotlight Kid and CLear Spot first. I would probably add Shiny Beast to this pre-Trout MAsk and Decals listening as well.
The book is well-worth reading, but it does make you question the Captain - and his 'use' of the band. |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2003 : 07:48:07
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ten Percenter
I am re-reading Zoot Horn Rollo's book about his time in the band. He is not a fan of the Spotlight Kid - which I find quite surprising. He does rate Clear Spot highly though
The book is well-worth reading, but it does make you question the Captain - and his 'use' of the band.
Or should you say "abuse" of the band
Beefheart didn't like Spotlight that much either. They felt the playing wasn't up to par. I like it because it's extra dirty and loose.
Make sure you read Mike Barnes' biography of Beefheart as well.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
