Reviews (page 4 of 7)
this got less and less charming as the album went on
Pretty off-kilter stuff that feels like it led to butthole surfers later. I liked it fine.
Very odd
Weird, fun
yeah
для любителей блюза.
its safer than trout mask replica and more listenable, hence the title. 3/5
Never heard of this or any of these songs but I enjoyed it. Nothing life changing but it didn't need to be. Favorite Songs: I'm Glad, Autumn's Child
Enjoyed the stranger parts of it, hated the faux Chicago blues.
Cool
"Trout Mask Replica" traumatized my group but it's still on my 'to listen' list, so I approached this with extreme skepticism, but it was not bad at all.
accidentally waded into the bonus tracks on this one (mistake) but fine-to-pleasant overall
PK, bbut it doessn't hold up
Better than the other Beefheart album as a "one listen and done" thing, but too much to take in all at once.
interesting, not my fave
Na primeira nota já estava curtindo. Adoro esse rock blues clássico dos anos 60. Ele começa bem forte, mas vai perdendo a força aos poucos. Na medida que começa a ficar mais alternativo e experimental, sacrifica musicalidade desnecessariamente. Melhor do álbum: "Sure 'Nuff'n'Yes, I Do". Pior do álbum: "Electricity".
I don't think weird 60's psychedelic stuff is my thing. It's fine, but as much as I love later 80s versions (Robyn Hitchcock, etc). This and Zappa, etc don't quite get me there.
It’s a good listen but not really sure it needs to be on this list. It’s basically slightly demented blues rock featuring Captain Beefheart’s enjoyable Howlin’ Wolf style vocals.
Talented parodist
Started very nice. The first four songs fine. But then it just got worse. Don't really know how to vote for that ... but it'll be a 3
Decent in places but generally a bit bizarre and experimental for me
This lacks a lot of what made Trout Mask Replica so unique. Without the weird avant-garde instrumentation this is just a kinda generic blues rock album. It's not bad, but I don't think it really stands out. It just feels like a lesser Zappa album. There are still some things to enjoy though, I like the weird synths that appear sporadically. High 3.
Beefheart takes the blues template and pushes it in different directions through these songs. I'm sure the hippies and other adventurnauts took notice. Rocketing ahead to the now, it's less thrilling than it might've been. Then again, even Zappa-level weirdness of the era rarely holds my attention. And yet, while the production and recording quality signal its source in time, I'm more charmed by, and interested in, it than a lot of the popular music on this list from the 1960s — and I certainly find this album more enjoyable than Trout Mask Replica. Post-album review note: The spirit of Beefheart is alive and well in 2025, if we understand the impulse as the unruly mix of avant-garde structure, anti-commercial stubbornness, mythmaking, humor as a weapon, and a kind of self-authored cosmology. So while this album may be dressed in the trappings of its era (as I either roll my eyes or point/laugh), it is important as a potential line of flight and cultural response. Maybe the next time you hear billy woods/Armand Hammer, Mr. Bungle, Black Midi, Moor Mother, JPEGMAFIA, Yves Tumor or even Zeal & Ardor, you can ask yourself: is this just a more sophisticated or synced-to-the-moment spiritual successor to ol' Captain Beefheart? It's the kind of thing that makes you want to continue to blow the dust off these old records and connect them to now.
2,7 - Dem Album geht leider ziemlich schnell die Puste aus und dümpelt dann nur noch vor sich hin. Aber für die ersten 5 Lieder lohnt es sich schon. Highlights: Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes, I Do; Zig Zag Wanderer
I didn't hate this, which is better than I expected. In fact, a lot of the instrumental stuff was pretty fun. Some of the weird-for-the-sake-of-it songs didn't hit for me, but a couple did for whatever reason.
The Captain’s debut album is a lot less experimental than his other works, opting for a more blues/50’s R&B sound. While I prefer the oddities on Trout Mask more the straightforward approach works pretty well for Captain Beefhart as well with Van Vliets’ gruff voice suiting the styles well. The best stuff in here is when they get weird with it though. 7/10 Favorite tracks- “Dropout Boogie” “Electricity” “Abba Zabba”
This is a very interesting sound. I think I like the first song a lot. Great guitar. Wish it was longer honestly. Zig zag has Beatles vibes, and love the name. Fun, old school song. Good songwriting. Call on me is pretty good, kind of jazzy/throwing sounds together. Dropout boogie is another fantastic title. Song itself is weird. Not bad but weird. Really cool that they were making these sounds in the 60s. Love the piano. I like “I’m glad” a lot too. Interesting listening to these 60s band and hearing the Beatles influence all over. You could tell me that was Beatles and I’d believe it. Electricity is 🔥🔥. Opening, production lyrics all so good. There’s never been a bad song with yellow brick road in the title, all I gotta say abt that. That’s three great signs in a row, this is a quality album. ABBA zaba is another interesting one, I like the music alot. Kinda just shouting into the mic tho. Sweet solo. Plastic factory is pretty good, nothing special. I like the switch in the middle. When there’s woman sounds like a whole new band/singer. Great range. I like grown so ugly as well, the background tracks have been so good across all songs. Mix of Beatles and Dylan. Autumn’s child is fine but a bit underwhelming as the closer. Doesn’t ruin the album by any means. This was really cohesive and a lot of good songs. Would recommend. 3.4 stars
It was surprisingly good in parts and not so surprisingly a grind in other parts. All together it’s alright I guess
Damn, that wasn’t great. Probably a 2 but I’m rounding up for a legendary human.
idk the captain may be magic tho. All-in-one
Some bangers! But very inconsistent
not my favorite in the capt beef catalogue
Interessant, en del lettere at lytte end den sidste vi havde med dem men stadig ret excentrisk
6/10 Favorite: Sure ‘Nuff ‘n’ Yes, I Do
Better than expected, but I’d set a pretty low bar going in.
Heard the name but doing if I ever listened to before. I feel like I would've remembered this strangeness. The album was a bit bizarre but I enjoyed it. Im not sure I'll intentionally listen again, but I wasn't upset with the experiment
Not nearly as compelling as his more psychotic work, but a lot more compelling than any other psych rock in the list. I think all the psych rock on the list should be dropped except for this one, and Os Mutantes.
Clearly early blues rock here but there's something more interesting and weird underneath the surface. I'm sure I've heard I'm Glad before. Electricity has a keyboard stomp to it that's reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, especially with the slide guitar stuff on top. I'm reminded of Frank Zappa as well. I liked it enough but I don't know that I need to listen to it again.
Odd but not as odd as its reputation
Fun
My first Captain Beafheart album, very solid and I like the bluesy rock nature of it.
Weird but not as weird as Trout mask replica so does that make it better?
Had the quirk factor, but not enough of it. Still fun to listen to.
I was kind of getting into this 60s groove. I actually added Zig Zag Wanderer to my liked songs. The song Electricity was my least favorite for the strange vocals.
Not my personal vibe
Solid, weird psychedelic blues, folk. More accessible than Trout Mask Replica. Other bands did similar better but this is still pretty good
A lot better than I expected — blues roots, bursts of psychedelia, and a streak of delightful weirdness. “I’m Glad” could sit next to a soul ballad, and “Electricity” feels like it’s from another dimension. It’s uneven but undeniably original. I respect it more than I love it, and that’s enough for a solid 3-star rating.
Sounds like a jam band of sorts with a bit of freaky psychedelic experimentation using electronic elements.
freumi unironisch ok s debutalbum isch sicher mal zuegänglicher als trout mask replica...aber s hetmi na nüt würkli begeisteret dropout boogie het e cooli klavierbridge I'm glad chli ruhiger..herzige hindergrundgsang! electricity GOOFY yellow brick road isch nomal chli zuegänglicher und echt na cool s het aber trz fast ständig irgendöppis komischs wo am laufe isch hahahaha autumn's child het ganz e spezielli atmosphäre, de ahfang mite giti erinneret mich lustigerwiis chli ah iron maiden? joo het schono spass gmacht aber teilwiis hslt chli too much
A much easier listen than Trout Mask Replica, not nearly as absurd or avant-garde. Definite psychedelic tendencies but also very rooted in blues and r&b. Overall, pretty good listen.
Beefheart on the 1001 Album challenge! I was reading a blog post the other day saying that only after the passage of 40 years had the listener been able to finally appreciate Captain Beefheart I'm not quite there yet, but these days i'm actually enjoying Sure 'Nuff, Zig Zag, Plastic Factory, Call On Me and I'm Glad But the whole album - thats still a step too far!
463/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Fav: I’m Glad Least Fav: Electricity Compared to their other album in the list, they sacrificed originality in exchange for being listenable. Probably for the best
3.5
Tiene su aquel. Me recuerda a Frank Zappa. meritorio en su época pero no me engancha.
This feels like listening to the last album, but through a kaleidoscope.
from previous experience I was expecting a mash of folk blues pyscon jazz but was surprisingly more bluesy and good. not what I was expecting
Good reminder that alternative rock didn’t start in the 90s. There was weird and eccentric shit back in the 60s too.
Well, very familiar with the name but never actually given them a listen… A kind of Rolling Stones vibe, with a bit more grit. Actually, getting more of the left field and variety than that as I listen on. Enjoy the quirkiness and originality. Variety and groove. Can sound like a different band between songs. Enjoyed it, but likely wouldn’t go back to it (3.5)
Captain Beefheart is a legend, it‘s a shame that I don‘t enjoy his music that much
I’m Glad // 3.5/5
This was more enjoyable to listen to than Trout Mask Replica. Although it sounded like generic 60s psychedelic music.
Fav Song: Zig Zag Wanderer
New band to me. Enjoyable mix of sounds with a wide range of styles!
I think we did a Beefheart record already and didn’t think we needed another one. Oh and it’s an hour and ten minutes long. Awesome. Average.
Some nice bits but a bit all over the place
Enjoyed the Tom Waits-y vibes at the beginning and one or two tracks at the end of the extended version. Could have done without the long instrumentals.
Captain Beefheart is not a captain and his Magic Band is not magic.
This started off in a really good place, with the first few tracks feeling really interesting and different for something on this list. Really got you in the mood for going hiking and playing some guitar. Then it started getting duller as it went on, perhaps there was too little variation, not sure. Overall I enjoyed this quite a bit for being an older record. Perhaps not anything I'll put on right away, but I had a good time listening to this album.
Really enjoyed the start with the Muddy-Waters Blues. It had standout vocals and a really good groove. The longer the album played to the further it moved from blues in to psychadelia, and the less I liked it. The vocals were still very good but the physcadelic/progressive elements were quite tiresome. The vocals were worth a listen of this album.
A pleasant surprise indeed, I was worried this was going to be a bamboozler but it was pretty accessible rock!
I'm sure this was classified as noise by a lot of people when it came out. Perfect blend of relaxed acid-rock by today's standards. I like hearing Captain Beefheart's voice. Great background rock, not boring, a good dose of that '60s feel. 3/5
Plus facile d’approche que Trout Mask Replica, c’est sûr, mais définitivement moins intéressant
To set out my stall early here, I hated Trout Mask Replica. To date, it is the second worst thing this Generator has subjected me to. So I was dreading this. It's sort of normal? Of all the things I could have expected, it sounding like The Doors or someone of that ilk was not ever going to be my guess. I'm Glad feels like it should be playing at a school dance in the early 60's and the the idea of playing anything from Trout Mask Replica at a school dance suggests a *very* different kind of event (maybe one run by a psychopath). I quite enjoyed this (though I did stop at Autumn's Child where the original album ended and ignored the bonus tracks). Clearly my tastes are too pedestrian for where Captain Beefheart was going to take his music in later albums. 2.5 would be my rating with half stars, but its going to get a 3. It's been bumped up due to all the theremin. 3/5 Side note: I discovered today that every time I mentioned Captain Beefheart to my child previously, they thought I was saying his name was Captain Bee Fart, so that's nice.
Different and some nice bluesy parts. Probably not something I’ll come back to though.
Not really my thing but i dont hate it
Some mediocre blues rock
This album started off really good, but towards the end I was hoping it would end... I just am not a fan of the style of guitar and a healthy dose is good but this was just packed with that. Overall 7.39/10
Good, but didn’t draw me in. Regular 60s 70s boy band 🤷♀️. Doors vibes but less weird idk
Débute comme un album rock-folk typique des années 1960, évolue en quelque chose de plus brouillon et expérimental. Je ne doute pas que ce fut un précurseur et une influence importante, mais je trouve peu de plaisir à l’écouter
A bit of a trip. Not a bad one. I think.
it was alright not really my thing i think, i really hope nobody can read these because they will not be flattering
Album 882 of 1089 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Safe As Milk (1967) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Today’s album was Safe as Milk by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. I know Beefheart has better than Trout Mask Replica, and this debut is a perfect example of that. Sure, it’s still a bit odd, but there’s clearly some method to the madness here. You get some really cool tunes, fun arrangements, and just enough of that signature Beefheart strangeness to keep you on your toes. It’s not the kind of album that’s going to give us timeless classics, but it shows off the band’s creativity and makes for a surprisingly enjoyable listen. Quirky, yes—but in a way that works. Definitely one to check out if you want to see where Beefheart started before things went completely off the rails.
First time listening to any Captain Beefheart. Kinda underwhelming since I was expecting something much stranger. I'm looking forward to the infamous Trout Mask Replica which should be more satisfying. Favorite track: Where There's Woman
This album is wonderfully weird. Experimental is an understatement here!
Nothing for me
Most of the album has a soundscape of the Beatles at their most jangly. It almost feels as if it is intentionally irritating for the sole purpose of being different. That said there’s also a good amount of Mississippi delta blues influence that’s quite enjoyable.
6/10 - nice soft blues rock, good instrumentals and easy listening
Cool
Really interesting album 3/5
Fun and strange!
Feels like sitting in a saloon and listening to hillbillies.
This was straight up accessible compared to trout mask. I enjoyed this overall!
Always liked the captain - this is nice and bluesy, pretty raw.
A whirlwind of an album with a mix of genres. Some really good songs on there but some awful ones too. I couldn't finish the album once it got to the noisy instrumentals
not surprising, he knew how to do it
This album is an "experience?" to say the least. I don't hate it, but I also won't go out of my way to listen to it regularly. I like the instrumentals better than the vocals and lyrics.
First listen
Much better than trout nask replica
Hm. Not the Observatory Coast album but accessible nonetheless. Bit of a surprise. Perhaps I should stop running away from the good captain.
Zum Teil nerviges Geschreie, zum Teil recht lässig. 2,7
Shocked at how normal this is. Gobsmacked brother. I have heard trout mask replica before this so I had some expectations to be fair. Its almost nothing like that. Beefs vocals are cleaner but they still are what they are. Im not including the cd deluxe tracks i did also listen to but those are much closer to trout and in turn what I thought I was getting. Its just pretty good oldie style rock. Nothing incredible but for sure not bad. I had a fun time thinking what if this was the Beatles. How insane the world would be in that timeline. Fun thought experiment even if completely ridiculous. Grabbed a few songs for the likes but im not sure if I'll be back to this one. I want the weird the strange the fucking wildness and its just not what this is but thats alright
Nice jams. Could see how this might have influenced noodly indie rock. (43 known/90 new)
Rating: 3.1 Didn’t waste my time, weird in an intriguing way, musically rock solid and surprisingly listenable album considering what I’ve heard about this band before. I also greatly enjoyed the cameo of Sumo from Clarence in the one song.
So, I listened to the whole album on Spotify, and it turns out the last half dozen or so songs are off a later-released bonus disc. Without those songs, this actually is a high 3, flirting with 4. But, if you it includes those songs, it would be a 2... which proves my point that one should always just grade based on the original release, and not some deluxe/extended edition.
More of Beefheart's weirdness. Strangely likeable
Really good album, 3.5 but gonna round down to 3
63/1001. While I am a big fan of experimental music, and have been listening to Beefheart albums for a long time, in Safe as Milk there is much still yet to emerge out from the traditional blues / rock / pop mold. Using weird instruments or funny (ok, you can call it everchanging) voice with mostly quite traditional song structures and chord progressions doesn't really make this much different from a comedy album. Better stuff to come, hope also in this list.
Cool.
Several tracks here were already familiar to me, however I'm less confident on whether I've actually sat through this album in one piece before, so this was effectively a new listen for me. An unhinged, constantly volatile and challenging experience, primarily rooted in blues rock however unafraid to dip its toes into garage and psychedelic territories. The end result is as impressive as it is disorientating, and at no point did I tire of this album as you simply can't tell what might be lying in wait for you next. Ultimately, however, it's an album that I'm unlikely to return to regularly. It's also fair to say that this is a relatively palatable effort two-years removed to Trout Mask Replica, another 1001 feature which I'm looking forward to revisiting and attempting to piece together.
слушала два дня но опять забыла даже жанр. только тестовый звук в одном треке помню. запомнила что неинтересно и не приглянулось)
Vaguely aware of this geezer and present as weird as I was expecting. Simpsons: Yes
Safe As Milk or Trout Mask Replica? I’d pick Safe As Milk. Shorter and more accessible. This album has the backbone of garage rock/blues rock/rhythm and blues and it’s fleshed out with psychedelia and avant-grade weirdness. Not my thing, can see why it’s in the book. Overall: 5/10
I'd tried listening to Captain Beefheart before, Trout Mask Replica, I believe and found it to be too far out there for me, I'm a simple man who likes melody more than things that combine experimental with acid jazz, as CB's later albums do. This album seems to be rooted more fully in R&B, which to me is much preferable. Ry Cooder is really laying down some great guitar riffs here. I enjoyed this early sound before Beefheart steered more towards acid jazz more than his later efforts.
Some songs do t hold up, with the affected singing voice tipping into blackface territory. Interesting band overall, though, and in some ways well ahead of their time
The original tracklist on Safe as Milk makes for a good listen. Nothing’s outright bad, and a few songs do stand out, like "I'm Glad" and "Zig Zag Wanderer". It’s raw and weird in a good way, and shows early signs of Beefheart’s unique style. I would suggest staying away from the bonus tracks added to later CD versions. Most of them feel like throwaways and don’t add much to the experience. Stick with the original release, that’s where the good stuff is.
can't remember....
Heard a few of his songs before, but not much from this album. Psychedelic 60s!!!
Varsin hyvää blues-henkistä jamittelua! 3/5
Kind of weird but not as weird as his later stuff.
Есть приятные композиции, но в основном какие-то хаотичные звуки. Всё же, 6 баллов из 10 поставить можно.
Die pretentieuze Zappa-zweem hangt er een beetje omheen. Beetje conceptueel, zo van "nu gaan we een soulnummer doen", "nu gaan we een bluesnummer doen". Enfin, als je het dan zo goed naspeelt, zul je wel een echte liefhebber van die genres zijn. "I'm Glad" was al langer favoriet.
Go from thinking this is brilliant, to thinking it's a load of shite. Guess that's what makes them so unique.
Some real moments on this, particularly liked the instrumental Flower Pot. Trust Us - Take 9 for it's sludgy, bluesy guitar line and hoarse singing and I'm Glad for its soulfulness I do enjoy the blues rock aspect of this, but it is just a bit too on the weird side for me.
6/25/25. Interesting mix of blues and psych. Fits right into the 60s landscape and a pretty quick album.
Not familiar with this group, but have heard the name before. Very crunchy and swampy rock with some eccentric lyrics ("Abba Zaba" stands out in that regard). Sort of enjoyable honestly, if you can get past Captain Beefheart's odd delivery of course.
Frustrating when the potential for greatness is there but the choice is silliness.
When the singer's not intentionally trying to be weird, I kinda liked this. The cacophonous quality of the music was at about the edge of what I can normally enjoy, so that was fine. If I could trim a couple songs off of this, I might have been able to get up to 4*s, given the pioneering nature of this weirdo.
It is definitely an odd album. Not as of as some of their works to come, but has their distinct style. Not something I would want to repetitively listen too, but enjoyable in a quirky kind of way. 3/5 Might listen again
Interesting 3 stars
Blues from hell, but sometimes seems to want to shock rather than have passion in its weirdness.
“Electricity” was cool
The voice does not match the music. 5/10
Not a big beefheart fan
I feel like this was a 2 teetering on a 3 but I ultimately decided on a 3. Some of the mic effects and production / mixing techniques were very cool- other elements of this album just went a little too long for me.
Ok? Meglio dell'altro immagino
Strikes a really good balance between weird and accessible. Didn’t exactly “enjoy” listening to it per se, but can see it being a grower.
This is all new to me. Some parts were incredible and genius. Blues and rock and roll and psychedelic and just plain weird, but some parts were a little too weird for me. To be expected on an album from the late 60's over an hour long.
Some parts are ok, some parts not so much. 3 stars or C-.
Now this is much more what I expected from the captain. A bit left field and experimental, but not too cacophonous. It's a good collection across several genres and musical, it carries a tune. Again hot to be worth a 3.
So at least this is music, compared to the Trout album this is a 10 star album. I really like the music and about half the time I really enjoy the lyrics. But, every time he goes into froggy voice it just feels like a joke and that he is making a mockery of the music or the genre. Sorry if that is his real voice and not the intent but it just feels that way to me.
This has such a vintage feel to it. I want to listen to it in a big old convertible driving down Route 66. Certainly an improvement from the travesty that was Trout Mask Replica!
Much more palatable than the previous Captain Beefheart album, but for that same reason, not quite as interesting or unique.
Пощадите мои уши, мне Боба хватает. (Порой прикольно, но не совсем мой стиль)
Meh
It was pretty good
I had relatively high hopes for this one - I remember the track Ice Cream for Crow from my youth and thought that was pretty rad. This feels pretty classic rock n roll for the most part, just a bit more mental. Not much stood out to me, but I can recognise its place in this list for sure.
3 decent
I saw the name of this band and I immediately thought be at the hell is this? Lol but it was actually better than I thought it was going to be lol decent album though
TMR >> but a slightly more conventional Beefheart is most certainly welcome
Milk is starting to go bad
This album was quite the experience. There were a number of super weird songs that felt surprising for ‘67. It definitely had an experimental sound to it and I liked it. The lead vocalist had a very gruffy sound. The bands bio said the vocalist had an impressive octave range and I am a little disappointed that I didn’t hear that too much in this. I listened to this on a nice walk through an unmapped part of my neighborhood.
You can hear the early beginnings of punk rock mixed in with blues/jazz. It's such a cool and unique sound, I think this opened the door for a lot of experimental stuff coming in the years after.
The final track on this album “autumn‘s child” encapsulates my entire experience with this release. At times I was left thinking WTF is this? At other times I’m thinking OMG this is amazing! The album itself often wanders too deeply into psychedelia for my tastes, but is rescued by some fantastic rhythm and blues based tracks, and the 60’s beauty of “I’m glad”. I much prefer this release to the only other album of his that I’ve heard which was trout mask replica.
Fine, weird 60's freakout. I'll be honest, the name Captain Beefheart has always steered me away. That's probably the point.
Best een prima album, een aantal highlights voor mij zoals im glad en call on me. Tegelijkertijd is veel van het album best verouderd zoals de zang op bepaalde nummers. Ook is de productie niet geweldig en kon ik zelfs met mijn koptelefoon niet altijd alles goed verstaan. Begrijpelijk voor de tijd, maar alsnog genoeg voor een minpunt
Not unpleasant, with an eclectic mix of songs. Some more enjoyable than others. Interesting listen. 2.5
Easily forgettable
Pretty decent. I fw beefheart.
Good
Okay, I guess. Not a fan of those older rock'n roll bands, they sound to samey for me.
Enjoyable but went kind of long.
Now I knew what to expect with Captain Beefheart, and still reminds me of something I would hear on Dr. Demento. I like this one a bit better than Trout Mask Replica.
And interesting album for sure, a bit on the longer side. I like the more experimental take but not really for me
His best
I really enjoyed this. The songs were different and unique.
This was some weird shit, in a good way
Good in parts
Way more accessible than Trout Mask Replica
Adding this to the list of ‘great bands fronted by a total wanker’. What if, and hear me out here, what if Captain Beefheart fronted by David Byrne? This struck me particularly when Yellow Brick Road came on, which sounds just like a lost track from Uh-Oh. I actually liked this a lot more than I thought I would. A lot of that is probably down to the Ry Cooder guitar.
6/10 Interesting, but not always pleasant. Highlights: Electricity
As we listened to some DJ rave about an "oldie but a goody" and it began to play, my dad said "this song sucked when it came out and it still sucks." Just because something is old, or "classic" does not immediately give it some free pass on excellence. Now Captain Beefheart is NOT that bad! My example was simply to illustrate that "just because" this album is from a beloved era of music and it is not bad, does not make it especially good or especially interesting is what I mean to say. I think my dad would say "I don't know too many people who got into this band." Which is neither an endorsement nor an outright dismissal. And that is how I feel. For me it feels like sort of a MEH band and there are others who simply "do it better."
A little better than "Trout Mask Replica" but still not good enough to connect me to the band's sound. I'm not saying it's a bad album, it just didn't win me over. And that's okay.
That was quite normal for the most part.
Enjoyable enough if a bit forgettable
Nothing to significant for me here. Sounds like some other bands from the era, The Doors for example.
Electricity was an interesting song. And the rest of the album was the same. Without looking it up, I'm hoping the start contrast of singing voices is the same guy lol. Overall not bad
Cpt Beefheart is always interesting to me because his music is so obviously steeped in irony. Dude is weird for the sake of being weird. Trout Mask Replica is his magnum opus in that regard, but this is also a really interesting take on 60s pop and blues.
Reminds me a bit of the rolling stones or similar bands, is nothing exceptional but has the same kind of sound. Interesting enough as a listen.
Pre-listening thoughts: uh oh these are the guys who made trout mask replica (which we still haven’t gotten but is notorious for being disliked here). Scared! Post/during listening thoughts: okay so weirdly I kind of like this. My biggest complaint is it sounds like shit compared to other albums made at the time. Like the production or mixing or something is bunk. But whatever. I feel safe as milk rn. 6/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Zig Zag Wanderer, Call on Me, Yellow Brick Road, Where There’s Women Least fav tracks: sometimes the vocals grated on me a little like on Dropout Boogie and Electricity but idk
This was much better than i anticipated based on the only other Beefheart record ive heard (trout mask - ick) Slightly twisted blues based stuff. Ry Cooder brings some magic.
Accidentally started listening to the extended version (don't recommend..). Though the original issue isn't too bad, much much more accessible than Trout Mask Replica. Though this is more of a standard blues/country blues style album.
First half was decent enough then turned into the musical self indulgence of its time.
3 as it's a solid listen but not inclined to go back, Electricity is a banger
Neither of these beefheart albums are ones i would pick but this is definitely the better.
The Good: We drink as much milk as we want to! The Bad: That it isn’t Doctor Beefheart who’s telling us that… The Ugly: Realizing that we’ve been tricked by magic… Ry Cooder… He’s alright. To an extent. Then, he ain’t… I’d say that the first couple of tracks were straight forward, no nonsense, blues. After that, we don’t know what to call it. The fun part about participating in this little experiment of 1001 albums, is that we start becoming more critical while we are listening to anything. The bad part about participating in this little experiment of 1001 albums, is that we start fearing the unknown on the list, as there is too much forced weirdness, and not enough “this is awesome”… 2 1/2*
jävligt skumt men också lite kul emellanåt. tydligt 60-tals sound. men man slipper iaf en massa sitarr.
Gekkigheid met een randje bluesfolk. De vorige bijdrage van deze zeebonk was afschuwelijk, dus ik had me schrap gezet voor het ergste. Het valt mee. Wat rare stemmetjes, maar er wordt zowaar muziek gemaakt en mijn oren tuiten niet. Maar één keer draaien is ook wel weer genoeg.
Some of this is pretty weird. A few good ones.
I liked the spookiness on the song electricity but I think this album can't get a fairshake until it is remastered or in a different format. The audio was a muddy as the bayou waters
3/5
I stopped at track #12 since the wiki page said tracks 13-19 were bonus ones. Just for the record. This is pretty harmless blues music that is fairly easy to listen to. The opening song had some juice to it. Also enjoyed Yellow Brick Road. Nothing earth-shattering or anything. Fine = 3 stars.
Wow this album is significantly better than the previous Captain Beefheart album. The beginning was mixed weird or something cause the vocals felt very off to me. The whole album settled in quite nicely as the instrumentals started hitting. Very very solid 3 here. I feel like I am very biased because I expected this to suck eggs. Had some moments I thought it was a 4 and some moments that I thought it would be a 2 so those kinda cancel out.
Definitely weird, but not even on the same planet of weird that Trout Mask Replica was. This one was actually some semi decent music that just sounded like it was made from some guy in the 60s who loved doing drugs. Low 3
Oh god I hated the last Trout one so much. Right off the bat this is so much better. Digging the bluesy vibe instead of the just blatant weirdness. As I'm going on there is some weirdness to this but its much more nuanced. Electricity is a standout for me.
Enjoyable rock that was abrasive and edgy, but ultimately hasn’t stuck with me! Will have to dig deeper into Captain Beefheart’s bag of goodies and revisit this.
🙂
I love records like this. Weird, goofy, experimental and explorative. The sounds are unique and trippy, making me think differently about the process of creating music. This isn't a record I'll revisit regularly, but I absolutely appreciate this type of production. Weirdos unite.
Sounded a lot like any other sixties American rock band, but with better drums
Pretty fun, nothing super special
It’s fine, and pretty unique compared to similar albums, but I still don’t love it.
I’m happy I got this before I eventually stomach trout mask replica 3/5
longggg but i liked it more than Trout Mask Replica
Wasn’t quite as wacky as I expected, and there’s some decent tracks on here. Beefhearts performances are amazing. The instrumental back half dragged a bit for me. Rating: 3.75
Its Ok pretty interesting and innovative for the time.
Definitely out there for 1967, interesting
I’ve attempted to listen to Captain Beefheart’s much more experimental work in the past and it’s never really clicked with me. This album is more traditional blues rock, but also has not clicked for me as of yet. Safe As Milk sounds like a combination between The Who and Canned Heat with a dash of very early Floyd psychedelia. There’s something very pastiche about Captain Beefheart that rings untrue to me, and I can’t place my finger on it. But objectively speaking, this is a really solid psychdelic blues album. 3.6 / 5
Although a bit trippy in places, this was a really interesting album.
Odd and bluesy. Worth another listen sometime, but I'm not rushing back to it.
1. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band is such a stereotypical 60's band name that it would be rejected if a screenplay was being written. 2. I have been dreading Trout Mask Replica and so I completely overlooked there was another Captain Beefheart album in this book. Again, there is a lot of 60's rock that I don't really believe belongs but the sound brings back good memories so we are stuck with it. I'm a sucker for Chicago blues, so Captain Beefheart should be in my wheelhouse. The first song, "Sho' Nuff..." didn't really start the album off very strong in my opinion and I didn't love Electricity either. Both were a few of my least favorite songs. Zig Zag Wanderer was a great song though and you can tell the band really liked having Ry Cooder around. Yellow Brick Road is another great song. A lot of "Safe as Milk" is the typical 60's hippie rock I have railed against on other albums. This is pretty non-offensive rock and it's fine to listen to but I have no idea why I would revisit it. Probably didn't need two Captain Beefheart albums in this book, but average 60's bands getting overrepresented has been par for the course thus far.
I sounded like something I would like in time, but I'm not going to go back to it any time soon.
Funky and weird!
Doesn't come close to what he would do just a couple years later, where he really goes off the rails, but this is still decently fun blues rock. It's just a bit plain when you know where his music is about to go.
A delightfully weird album. Pure unadulterated 60s psychedelia that leans quite a bit into blues rock, among other things. There's actually quite a bit of range on display here. We go from the sweet harmonies on "I'm Glad" to the vocal performance on "Electricity", which is certifably insane. At one point it sounds like he's actually getting electrocuted. It's absolutely captivating. Very creative, kinda fun, though also very of its time. Fav tracks: Call On Me, I'm Glad, Electricity, Plastic Factory
Dropout Boogie is like 1 or two notes from being "California, here we come". Honestly, this is the most approachable Beefheart record I have come across. Abba Zaba is a great song. Very recognizable blues groove rock sound with some of that freak scene influence.
More digestable than Trout Mask Replica for sure. Sweet that Ry Cooder plays on it. Again, I know I should like Captain Beefheart more given what I'm into, but I still sort of think he's overrated.
Based on clips I had heard on music podcasts, I was expecting way weirder and more experimental, but it's his first album, in 1967, so it's pretty much psyedelic meets honky tonk rock and pretty digestible to the modern ear... except that it's over an hour long!
However this album was produced its a primary example of 60s music.
I've heard Trout Mask Replica before so I'm surprised by how relatively normal this album is. Enjoyable but I'm not sure I'd go back to it.
Abba Zaba will stay in my head for a while.
eh
Previously rated: Trout Mask Replica (2/5) ***************************** I'm listening to this the day after Trout Mask since they are both streaming now. How does this earlier album compare? Well, it's not as unique or interesting as Trout Mask, but on the other hand it's more listenable. It's still quirky twangy rock that is alright, just not super memorable.
Better than the first one - can see the influence. A weird album. Nods to past and future
I started this album and thought it was dumb, but once I got into the groove, read up on him a little bit, I started to get it pretty quickly. Still, it's not resonating with me in a profound way. There are moments that have stellar singing and I like the avant garde feeling of a lot of it, probably setting up a lot for future artists. So based on the influence it must have had I need to give it some props. But the actual songs and music are rarely stand out to me, unfortunately. A couple bangers for sure, but it's more the willingness to go absurd or creative that stands out than the songwriting.
Fine. I enjoyed the guitar playing (hooray for Ry Cooder) but otherwise the album did not grab me.
🎧Interesting/weird bluesy record. Dropout Boogie is annoying, the rest I didn’t mind.
When it comes to Captain Beefheart, I find myself most drawn to the music and instrumentation. I don’t think I’ll ever fully warm up to Don Van Vliet’s guttural, gritty, and gravelly vocals. This album is deeply rooted in blues rock, but you can definitely hear the psychedelic influences of its time. While it’s probably one of their most accessible albums, it still has that avant-garde, experimental edge. The quirky instrumentation, unusual song structures, odd time signatures, off-kilter rhythms, dissonant chords, and “wrong” notes all add to the playful vibe. If you’re into Frank Zappa, this is the closest you’ll get without it feeling like a direct copy of his sound.
Too much „Shang-A-Lang“. „I‘m glad“ saved it.
Interesting record.
3.5/5
It‘s a solid old timey rock record from Blues to Prog and experimental. Pretty nice
I have never heard of this band before, but I think this was a solid 3. Very 60s sounding and an enjoyable listen.
Am I not young enough anymore? There is a time I think I would have embraced this crazy. I can feel that me somewhere deep within. But when sitting down for a good listen, this is not what I'm reaching for. A low 3 because I know the hidden me will be sad if I gave this a 2.
Really groovy, funky blues to start with and then the album just tailed off...
This would've been 4 stars but it had that early stereo technology trait of vocals in one ear instruments in the other that just doesn't work.
enjoyable though at times feels like a parody of the worst trends of the 60s. also, these are the fuckin guys who did trout mask? LMAOOOO
Weird and enjoyable,
It’s a pretty straight forward listen in comparison, but strangely enough I don’t find ‘Safe As Milk’ anywhere near as compelling as ‘Trout Mask Replica’.
Wouldn't necessarily listen to this again but it was a decent album. Vocals aren't great but the band puts out a gritty sound that has an authenticity to it. Overall, not bad.
Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do Zig Zag Wanderer Electricity
So the Captain can make normal music.
A lot going on in this album. It was like a medley of a bunch of different genres that Captain Beefheart decided to throw together. Each song wasn't necessarily bad, but I felt it could have been done better by an artist who specializes in that correlating genre. Some of the vocals are wild.
I like the variety and that I couldn't predict what would come next. The vocals are pretty annoying and ruin a lot of the tracks. Interesting mix of 60s rock and elements of blues. Definitely unique. I really like the song I'm Glad. The whole record is in need of a remaster.
Cool sound! I've been hearing of this band for decades but never really listened to them as I thought they were some jokey act but this music is intriguing and different. I appreciate the use of fuzzes', distortions, and production experimentation (even though I generally dislike the extreme panning choices), and I was surprised when "I'm Glad" came because it's so different from the rest up to that point. The singer has such an attractive timbre too; this album flew by and his crooning really stuck in my head. Cool record, I'll listen more!
this was a good album, i liked a lot of the songs they were relaxing, i liked the psychedelic vibe, good album
This was a lot more blue based then I was expecting.
Gregarious, complicated garagey bluesy pop rock. Relishing in its unexpectedness. Quite casually complicated, starting with the vocals and continuing through song structure. I have to say Electricity is brilliant. I have to say I was continually delighted.
I really didn’t know what to put for this. Firstly, I had severe misconceptions about this album. For years I thought they were prog rock but I obviously got that wrong. I gave this a second spin because I was decidedly undecided. It’s probably a 3.5 - I loved the weirdy vibes.
While I can appreciate and even enjoy some of Beefheart's otherworldliness, this was too disjointed and strange for me in too many places.
Fine I guess
Started out liking the album, but it seemed to trail off in the last few tracks of the album and I was less a fan of that part. I like the inclusion of the theremin in a few of the tracks too. I'm a sucker for any band that uses one.
Favourite track: Abba Zaba.
While I was expecting some "avant-gardistic" shit like "Trout mask replica", this wasn't that bad at all. Some fun bluesy parts, and quite interesting. Some songs were a little too experimental for my taste though.
A bit safe compared to his previous entry, which makes it a lot more listenable
Halfway through I wondered what I was listening to as I thought i'd put on Captain Beefheart and I was getting normal music. Nothing like Trout Mask Replica
Got over my hatred of the last Captain Beefheart album and gave this one a chance. Actually pretty good. Very 60's - but none of the Avant Garde bullshit from the last one we listened to. A bit weird, lyrics were interesting. But the background music was really good. They should have stuck with this sound. Solid debut album before they decided to get terrible.
Acid-fried Delta Blues. This is probably the easiest album of the Captain's to get into. There are the soon to be typical grizzled vocals and Dadist lyrics but it's weirdness is still approachable. It's like that odd fellow at the bar, not the screaming crack head at the traffic lights. Best Tracks: Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes I Do; I'm Glad; Electricty
Its like if the voice actor for winne the pooh did mushrooms with friends and then they thought they were connected to a radio and changed genres a ton. Dont get me wrong; this was a blast. But i defy you to tell me that aint winnie the pooh from track one on after using “honey” 😂
A decent blues/psychedelic record that only strays into the weird from time to time. Much easier listen than Trout Mask Replica. It was a reasonably enjoyable listen.
Oh god another Captain Beefheart album.... oh it is actually listenable. Kinda dug this and maybe if this talent shone through on trout mask replica it would have been a better album.
Ok psychedelic blues rock
还阔以
This album feels like a rough collage of blues and experimental rock, blending grit with moments of surprising melody. It's got the raw edge of early Frank Zappa but without the same smoothness. The vocals are offbeat, almost abrasive, which works at times but can also feel disjointed. There's a sense of freedom, though—like it's all being pieced together as it unfolds. The bass lines are groovy and anchor the chaos just enough.
I was listening to the album just kind of letting it float by me and all of a sudden it was over.
My only experience with Captain Beefheart is “Trout Mask Replica” so when I saw this album today, my heart dropped. But this was not what I expected. Sure there are still some quirky experiments going on, but in a more accessible format. Nice changes in time, tempo, and style really make for an interesting listen. 2.5/5
When the first song started, I thought it would be a fun rhythm and Blues session with a pinch of Bluegrass, and I was happy with it, but it did not deserve much attention. Suddenly, around the middle of the album, I started to listen to some experimentation, which I had not expected to hear. It increased my evaluation a bit, proving it not as another useless album but something worth my time. Far from perfection, it's sad that I never heard about the album or the band.
There's room for innovators. After the horror of Trout Mask Replica this was a blessed relief.
This will be my second Captain Beefheart album to review after... well, you know. I certainly didn't love Trout Mask Replica, but I can respect the work that went into making something so ridiculously avant garde that people quit listening to it thirty seconds into it. It seems like this album is a lot more accessible than Trout Mask Replica, so I'm interested to see what this has in store. I'm not wild about this album, but I did enjoy the blues-y garage rock sound. Those two elements came together really well to form something new and unique, but still accessible. I don't particularly care for the vocals on this album either, but they never got to the point of where they completely derailed my experience. Like Trout Mask, this album has an air of controlled chaos about it as well; the sound isn't exactly jarring, but there's a certain uneasiness that I felt in listening to this, yet it's evident that Don and Herb did everything with intent and purpose. I'm really glad I got to listen to Trout Mask first, because this album foreshadows what wast to come on Trout Mask. I don't know that any particular song stood out to me on this album, because each song really had something to offer me in one way or another. I don't know that I'd be quick to return to this album, but I can appreciate how it pushed the envelope for rock music.
Pretty good, had some stuff I liked on it. A little too bluesy for me at times. Will I listen to again: 40%
This is my first beefheart album. Im not sure if its just me but i could barely hear the vocals in some songs?! maybe thats the appeal....The music wasnt offensive. Not bad. Nothing to shout home about though either. 3 for me. Standout tracks - zig zag, nuff n yes, im glad, plastic factory
Very decent for the mud 1960's.
A document of music developement in the US. I've heard more influent albums. 3/5
I've long heard talk about Captain Beefheart being one of the most challenging and unlistenable artists of all time, but maybe that only applies to the album with the Catfish faced person on the cover. This is definitely a weird little offering. But it's got some stank on it that I can get down with. Dropout Boogie was giving me life. I'm Glad was a delightful song too! So soulful. It does go on a bit too long though, the album. I guess maybe this is a pit stop on the way to becoming more inaccessible and bizarre?
I already had Trout Mask Replica which I rated 3* although I find it more interesting than enjoyable. This album is a lot more accessible and a fun blues-rock album. I'm not a huge fan of his vocals but liked it
3.5
I expected something unlistenable like Trout Mask Replica and was pleasantly surprised. Nice RnB album, though the singer's voice is not my thing.
I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it.
Surprisingly enjoyable
From the first song, I expected to hate it, but it was really groovy. I dislike the sound, but enjoyed the rythm and energy.
The good Captain's debut is an unremarkable collection of blues tunes that shows a few signs of his future crazier creations. In my opinion, Beefheart would only get better, his band more magical, in subsequent releases of his ever-original and very weird work.
A lot more accessible than his later work. Blues based but moves far beyond simple 3 chord stuff, and I'm grateful for that. Didn't fall in love but think this will need a few more listens.
Okaish Blues Rock. Unlikely to listen again.
Nice
I liked this a little better than the first Cap'n Beefheart record I heard on this list. It's fine.
Nice sound but nothing really stands out to me.
shit, another effin’ captain beefheart album… at least that was my reaction when i saw what the album would be today. trout mask replica was one of the worst albums in this entire challenge so far, so the bar was low. however, i was pleasantly surprised. psychedelic blues rock infused with a touch of delta blues. it reminded me a little of dr. hook. it was pretty good, to be honest. highlights: “sure ‘nuff ‘n yes i do” “dropout boogie” “abba zaba”
Bluesy and sorta fun at times. A little long.
An album of many colours although primarily bluesy and psychedelic. This would be odd in any era. Lead singer is notable for range and a variety of vocal stylings; a bit of a chameleon. Not something I will return to but a couple of decent songs including "I'm Glad". Some outright weird compositions like "Electricity".
I think this might be more accessible than Trout Mask Replica, but I’m not sure it’s quite as engaging. TMR is just weird, this one is a lot more straight forward. But I don’t think it’s any better for it. It’s fine.
I guess this is ok for people who like this.
This album felt way more straight forward than his later stuff. I didn't even realize I was listening to Beefheart until Dropout Boogie at song 4, where his raspy vocal style really rings clear. Prior to that, and often after that, it felt like a mix of bluesy psychedelia. Nothing wrong with that; solid work. Favorites were Sure Nuff N Yes I Do, Call on Me, Plastic Factory, and Where There's Woman. More surprising was I'm Glad at song 5 - felt like a cross between Motown and white hippie folk, with sweet vocals. Real lovely. Electricity at song 6 reminded me it was Beefheart (or the Wolfman?) but just like Dropout Boogie the beats were solid and his weird vocals didn't seem out of place. I think it's Ry Cooder - man can that guy play (slide the guitar) and gives the album such a neat blues sound. Beefheart's harmonica also helps. I couldn't always pick up on the lyrics, sometimes they were predictably cryptic but other times they sounded normal. Abba Zaba was the only song where I went WTF? This album is an easy 3 and maybe if I had a bit more patience to listen to it some more it'd creep up to a 4.
Bluesier than I expected. It's OK but I can hear the weirdness coming through in the second half of the album. I liked this one more than I thought but I'm not sure how I'll feel about Trout Mask Replica.
I started getting a migraine while I was listening to this and I don't think the two things are totally unrelated
Kind of fun and not nearly as bad as I expected.
Normal 60s white man blues, sounds a bit like what later Beefheart would sound like, but not enough to be anything other than average.
The only way he could have gone from something that is enjoyable to the pile known as Trout Mask Replica must have been acid. There is no other explanation.
Heard of but never heard. A pleasant experience.
Rock n roll, blues’et, folk’et,
I like it more than Trout Mask Replica. Beefheart are another of those bands that I don't click with.
Some of the quirkiest blues riffs I've heard in some time