Captain Beefheart
Trout Mask Replica
This near 40 year old has aged remarkably well, however reviews are still highly polarized.
The Frank Zappa produced Trout Mask Replica is a rebellious arrangement of jazz, delta blues, electric rock guitar, and untamed rhythms; with vocals in the style of Howlin’ Wolf and Tom Waits. To many, its rhythms and images appear incoherent. However, no matter how chaotic this album appears, the music is more structured than many think.
It’s not music that I’d put on as background at a dinner party, but there’s a lot to get out of what it has to offer. It was originally a double album, so it has stacks of tracks; among them are:
Frownland is the opener, a progressive track with blues-style vocals.
Dachau Blues shows Beffheart’s incredible vocal range.
Moonlight On Vermont is the best track on with great guitar and demented lyrics.
The closing track Veteran’s Day Poppy is a highlight of the album.
It remains a very progressive album and people will undoubtedly still be listening to it in another 40 years.
A 1969 Rolling Stone review started with ‘Captain Beefheart, the only true dadaist in rock’.
Released:
Vinyl 1969
CD 1990
