Safe As Milk

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.

Groovy and driving and one's glad to have made this record's acquaintance. Certainly one prefers the controlled (but still rough-on-the-edges) flow and the referencable song structures (e.g., "I'm Glad") here to the artier and more out there aspects of Trout Mask Replica. Though not exactly one's cup of tea, it's not hard to recognize the orginality and willingness to be different (even if it times it can seem a bit willful and forced). "Where There's Woman" sounds authentically swampy, as do other of the country-bluesy cuts. Again, the quality (including "Yellow Brick Road" and "Trust Us") suffers under the weight of the unnecessary quantity. Indeed the several effective instrumentals suggests they might have succeeded by staying deep in that particular groove. One knows their reputation for being "a huge influence on ..." but one is somewhat skeptical and wishes there was a reliable or more precise way to quantify other than editors' claims.

Okaish Blues Rock. Unlikely to listen again.

A masterpiece. Just such a fun and unique album.

I kind of loved this one. The name of Beefheart was familiar through collaborations with Frank Zappa, but I had never heard his music before. It's sort of a wild mix based on blues rock but also with touches of what would later be known as sludge, southern americana, grunge even. At times, this albums also sounds something of a predecessor to the kind of southern-influenced-mash-up indie rock that is still popular today (think Counting Crows and Black Keys). In any case, this was vastly ahead of it's time, and fantastic throughout in terms of musicianship.

Before things got really freaky, this debut album by Captain Beefheart demands much less from the listener than some later work will. Some of it may even be familiar as music to your ears.

A safer CB album. My dad would be proud at my four star ranking.

Nice

I liked this a little better than the first Cap'n Beefheart record I heard on this list. It's fine.

Cool. Fun

Kinda sounds interesting but it's tot for me, middling 2.

I have a visceral memory of hearing Zig Zag Wanderer blasting in my basement waking me up with a terrible hangover, and thats how I felt listening to this whole thing; disoriented and mad. I'm Glad was okay but its the album high point. The lead singers voice gets incredibly grating at time, especially in Electricity (although the spooky sounds were a nice touch I guess). I appreciate the experimental psychadelic stuff for what it is but its mostly terrible.

No thanks. I didn’t enjoy Trout Mask Replica and I didn’t enjoy this

Was ok, a bit too alternative for my taste

Nice sound but nothing really stands out to me.

A dirty, fun blues/psych rock record from the 60's. I like that this has the personality of the band and captain beefheart with none of the artsy, avant garde stuff from trout mask replica. While that album may be more unique and technically impressive, it's good to know they still have the capability to write instant catchy songs as well and makes me appreciate them more.

Was absolutely hooked from the first few bars. Lovely, bluesy, rocky nonsense

Fully prepared to dislike because of the Frank Zappa influence (and if you follow my reviews, you know how I feel about FZ and why). However, a couple tracks in and I'm not hating. Let's see where it goes. Very bluesy and soulful, kind of like Jerry Lee Lewis or BB King at times (I'm Glad), but then will take a hallucinatory turn with experimental sounding rock and random vocal moments (Electricity) that make no sense yet add to the groove. Then Autumn's Child lands in the mix like a trippy beat poetry reading. It's a mixed bag. I think his vocal range is rad, though.

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.

This must be the most accessible Beefheart, but that doesn’t mean it’s not damn good. 4/5

About as safe as old milk

### In-Depth Review of "Safe As Milk" by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band #### Overview "Safe As Milk," the debut album by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, was released in 1967. It stands as a landmark in the development of rock music, blending blues, rock, and avant-garde elements into a unique and influential sound. The album was produced by Richard Perry and features a young Ry Cooder on guitar. #### Lyrics Captain Beefheart, born Don Van Vliet, is known for his surreal and abstract lyrical style. On "Safe As Milk," his lyrics range from the whimsical to the profoundly strange, often evoking vivid imagery and unexpected turns of phrase. **Key Tracks and Lyrical Themes:** 1. **"Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do"**: This opening track showcases Beefheart's knack for playful, blues-inspired storytelling. The lyrics mix traditional blues themes with Beefheart’s unique perspective. 2. **"Zig Zag Wanderer"**: This song deals with themes of freedom and non-conformity. The phrase "zig zag" represents a deviation from the norm, reflecting the countercultural ethos of the 1960s. 3. **"Dropout Boogie"**: This track offers a cynical take on societal pressures and the concept of dropping out of mainstream expectations. 4. **"Electricity"**: One of the more avant-garde tracks, the lyrics and vocal delivery mimic the unpredictability and power of electricity itself. **Pros:** - **Innovative Language:** The lyrics often defy conventional structure, creating a fresh and intriguing listening experience. - **Imagery:** Vivid and surreal imagery that enhances the listening experience. **Cons:** - **Accessibility:** The abstract nature of the lyrics may be difficult for some listeners to fully grasp or appreciate. #### Music Musically, "Safe As Milk" is a melting pot of styles. It draws heavily from blues and rock but is imbued with experimental sounds and rhythms that were ahead of its time. **Key Musical Elements:** 1. **Blues Influence**: Many tracks, such as "Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do" and "Plastic Factory," are grounded in traditional blues structures but are given a unique twist through Beefheart's unorthodox delivery and the band's instrumentation. 2. **Psychedelic and Avant-Garde Elements**: Songs like "Electricity" and "Autumn's Child" incorporate unconventional sounds, time signatures, and rhythms. 3. **Ry Cooder's Guitar Work**: Cooder's slide guitar is a standout feature on many tracks, providing a raw and authentic blues feel. **Pros:** - **Musical Diversity:** The album’s wide range of styles keeps it engaging and unpredictable. - **Technical Proficiency:** The musicianship is top-notch, particularly Cooder's guitar work and Drumbo’s complex rhythms. **Cons:** - **Cohesion:** The eclectic mix of styles can sometimes feel disjointed. #### Production The production of "Safe As Milk" was handled by Richard Perry, who managed to balance the raw energy of the band with a clear and punchy sound. **Production Highlights:** 1. **Sound Quality**: For its time, the album boasts impressive sound quality, with each instrument clearly defined in the mix. 2. **Innovative Techniques**: The use of theremin on "Electricity" and other experimental sounds showcase the willingness to push boundaries. **Pros:** - **Clarity:** Each instrument is distinct, allowing the complexity of the music to shine. - **Innovation:** The production techniques used were ahead of their time, contributing to the album's unique sound. **Cons:** - **Consistency:** The production quality varies slightly between tracks, which can be jarring. #### Themes "Safe As Milk" explores a variety of themes, reflecting the turbulent and transformative era of the late 1960s. **Major Themes:** 1. **Non-conformity and Rebellion**: Many tracks encourage listeners to break away from societal norms and embrace individuality. 2. **Nature and Surrealism**: Songs like "Autumn's Child" and "Yellow Brick Road" incorporate natural and surreal imagery, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. 3. **Critique of Modern Life**: Tracks like "Dropout Boogie" and "Plastic Factory" offer a critical view of modern industrial society and its impact on individuals. **Pros:** - **Depth and Variety:** The album covers a wide range of themes, making it intellectually stimulating. - **Relevance:** Many themes are still relevant today, particularly those related to non-conformity and societal critique. **Cons:** - **Complexity:** The thematic complexity might be overwhelming for some listeners. #### Influence "Safe As Milk" has had a profound influence on various genres and artists. Its blend of blues, rock, and avant-garde elements helped pave the way for future experimental and progressive rock acts. **Key Influences:** 1. **Punk and New Wave**: The album's raw energy and non-conformist attitude influenced the punk movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s. 2. **Alternative and Indie Rock**: Bands like The Pixies and Sonic Youth have cited Captain Beefheart as a major influence. 3. **Experimental Music**: The album’s innovative use of sound and structure has inspired countless experimental and avant-garde musicians. **Pros:** - **Longevity:** The album’s influence is still felt in modern music. - **Pioneering Spirit:** "Safe As Milk" pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be. **Cons:** - **Niche Appeal:** While influential, the album’s avant-garde nature means it has a more limited mainstream appeal. ### Pros and Cons Summary **Pros:** - **Innovative Lyrics and Music:** The album is a pioneering work that blends various genres and introduces new musical ideas. - **Musicianship:** High level of technical skill from the band members, particularly Ry Cooder. - **Production Quality:** For its time, the album’s production is clear and innovative. - **Thematic Depth:** The album explores a range of complex and relevant themes. - **Influence:** "Safe As Milk" has had a lasting impact on numerous musical genres and artists. **Cons:** - **Accessibility:** The abstract and avant-garde elements may not appeal to all listeners. - **Cohesion:** The eclectic mix of styles can sometimes feel disjointed. - **Complexity:** Both the lyrical and thematic complexity might be overwhelming for some listeners. - **Niche Appeal:** The album’s unique sound may not have broad mainstream appeal. ### Conclusion "Safe As Milk" by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band is a seminal album that continues to be celebrated for its innovation and influence. Its blend of blues, rock, and avant-garde elements, coupled with surreal and thought-provoking lyrics, set it apart from other albums of its time. While its abstract nature and eclectic mix of styles might not be for everyone, those who appreciate musical experimentation and boundary-pushing creativity will find much to admire. The album’s lasting impact on various musical genres underscores its significance as a groundbreaking work in the history of rock music.

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".

Rough, bluesey, occasionally meandering and ... Weird. An excellent album if not altogether pleasant. Sorta hippie rock, jazz, blues, thick with drugs. Enjoyable.

Dudes voice is pretty bad. Not for me

This is the most accessible Captain Beefheart album, with some quite remarkable moments. It dips a little here and there, especially with the maybe comical (?) “I’m Glad.” But the first two tracks should be enough to draw you in and keep you on the lookout for more weird greatness.

Low down dirty greasy psychedelic blues rock. Ry Cooder guitar work and Beefhearts Howlin Wolf like vocals are the highlights of this album for sure.

Blues weirdness. But quite listenable.

Fine. I just didn't connect to it.

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.

It’s funny. I love Tom Waits, but have never enjoyed some of the artists that I think you can draw direct lines to and from. This is a good example of one that I could take or leave.

It seemed like it had potential at the start but it got worse, not better

That was alright, not sure what makes it so good? Just an incomprehensible grumbling for the most part.

I will say this: it's better than "Trout Mask Replica." There's more of a sense of songs here, and not anti-songs, like in "TMR". I wouldn't call the album "Safe" by any means. There's still a sense of experimentation, but the songs still feel like there is a full band going through something here. Definitely the finished product is better than the bonus tracks. The instrumentals there go nowhere. I can see why the record company was so negative on "Electricity," but I would have been more "WTF" on "Abba Zaba". I'm a huge fan of Zappa, but Beefheart is to Dada for me. Still, there were a few tracks I liked: "Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do," "Plastic Boogie" "When There Is Woman." Still, I can't recommend it. It's just too "we're being weird for weird's sake" for me, and not finding the actual song. But I didn't hate it.

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.

Wacky album with blues and rock inspirations. Not as unhinged as trout mask yet. 4/5

Liked the drum and bass

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

This once again proves that my patience for psychedelic music is nil. I won’t deny that the irreverent tone is occasionally fun. But it’s a lot of nonsense underscored by music that I mostly find insufferable. 2/5

Kind of fun and not nearly as bad as I expected.

This one was all over the place for me, some tracks really dug and others not so much, but overall better than average.

Some decent 60's rock and roll. It feels a little experimental in spots. I didn't find myself singing along to any of the tracks, but I enjoyed listening to them all.

Normal 60s white man blues, sounds a bit like what later Beefheart would sound like, but not enough to be anything other than average.

In Safe as Milk, Captain Beefheart was already showing their signature sound, not as intense as in Trout Mask Replica, but they were on their way. The album is a great mix of experimental music and charisma. It is something I’ll go back to in a near future.

This is why I keep returning to this page. So wildly unique, so good!

Interesting composition on every number

Love this one, owned a copy 30 years. It's the beginning of the whole Junkyard Blues thing, white guys making raggedy loud blues music, that Tom Waits, Jon Spencer and the White Stripes among others would also do. Don's Howlin' Wolf vocals over the top of the well drilled bands' (including a young Ry Cooder) jangly stomp dominates this one. But it also has the proverbial "psychedelic gleam in it's eye", and is not afraid to break into outright crooning in places. I think one of the most genuine and likeable albums of the late 60s psychedelic explosion. A real touch stone and full of catchy if a but wonky songs too.

Favorite Track: I’m Glad

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.

I don’t know, I found it kind of weird.

This dude sings so bad, it's like spoiled milk. Good lord, this is horrid to listen to.

Some annoying choices were made in the production of this album. I hope they had fun.

i love this album. Captain Beef is severely underrated in my opinion.

Foundational and varied

not my thing

Till now, the only Beefheart album I'd ever listened to was "Trout Mask Replica", and like most, I always found it intriguing but inaccessible and impenetrable, no matter how many times I subjected myself to it. This album, though, is solid. Actual tunes, great bluesy vocals with a hefty dose of soul, and some excellent guitar riffs. I'll becoming back to this one.

Heard of but never heard. A pleasant experience.

Yeah this was very nice surprise. 4/5

What a wild roller coaster of an album!

Seems like it's Quirky Dude June. Yesterday we had Frank Zappa and the Mothers, today it's Captain Beefheart. Lovely. Fun dumb music for my fun dumb mind. Safer than Trout Mask Replica (and milk, apparently), but that's not really saying much, innit. "Electricity" vaguely reminded me of a King Gizzard song. Goes to show how ahead of its time this is.

Ein echtes blues album aber nicht schön für mich

Нечего сказать, простите

Always wanted to listen to Captain Beefheart so this is a fantastic opportunity! This is wonderful blues rock with an artsy bend to it that clearly influenced a lot of following acts, including his contemporary Frank Zappa. Long live Beefheart!

Rock n roll, blues’et, folk’et,

Stopped halfway through but it’s fun and weird, especially for the time. Enjoyed.

this is built for more than background music and I might have to come back to it. but even tired, this is interesting and fun to listen to :)

i'm really sad that i only liked 'I'm Glad' off of this album. i always loved that song and i thought that the rest of it would be the same, buuutt i was wrong. not for me, but that's fine!

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

Average at best...

Would give it a 4 but I don't think I'll listen to this again.

This album doesn’t fit in with the whole Summer of Love image, does it? It’s covered in grit, got spots all over it, and flies under the radar, the kind of music you’d find outside the green where everyone is making daisy chains and dancing in circles and just generally engaging in a “love” fest (all paid for by the parents, by the way). Funny thing about the album title, though: Vliet wanted to name the album after his favorite candy bar but couldn’t get permission, so he changed the name to “Safe as Milk”. Safe, as in not getting sued? Though not the intent of Vliet, I always think of this album as referencing future TMR...compared to that album, this their debut certainly is safe.

I dig the heavy R&B garage sound, but the band does drift into silliness and/or tedium at times: a sign of what was to come on subsequent albums. I have to give the Captain et al credit for taking a risk though. The rock world was evolving very quickly at this time and to do an album of straight-ahead 1964-style burners wouldn't have been very innovative in 1967 — especially for anyone who anyone who had been there for Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, Little Richard, etc.

I did not think I would like this, and I was right.

Blues rock, psychedelic rock. One word describes this album, and that is "raw". It's got the energy, it's quirky, somewhat abstract, and it has passion. Just not a whole lot of polish. Which is good, a mix of these genres needs to feel less like a studio album and more like a band you caught at a gig one time. I think given some more time and more listens to the genres and bands that Captain Beefheart pulls from, I would like it more, but I did have fun as a first time listen to this band. Should revisit. Strong 3.5/5

3.5/5

3/4

this is not the first band on this list that made me realize that musicians choose to make garbage and pass it off as music. i'm not saying i'm in love with safe as milk, but good lord, we now have solid proof that captain beefheart and his magic band can make music, unlike the monstrosity that is trout mask replica. safe as milk even has a steady presence in the blues genre. i wasn't even aware beefheart could have such a focus! the vocals leave something to be desired, but aside from that, there's solid instrumentation happening. i'm just so glad this album wasn't a chore that i am close to giving this a 5.

For what its worth, this album is somehow much more accessible than the other Beefheart album on this project, Trout Mask Replica. But don't get me wrong, this album is still Captain Beefheart at it's core, in every sense of the word. It's very bluesy and very folky, but is overlayed with a thick layer of garage, acid, and psychedelic weirdness and plenty of weird vocalizations and lyrics. And with these genres, they manage to achieve quite a bit of diversity on the album. I still don't think I liked this quite enough to make it a 3, but was surprised that I was able to tolerate it and even had moments where I kind of liked it.

Blues rocks master work, one of the best

fine...but also forgettable

Eclectic but not particularly noteworthy.

It's quite groovy. I like the jangly 60's bluesy / rock n roll guitars, and I like some of the weirdness and experimentation.

One word: mediocre.

I guess I might call it "blues from hell". There's a really sinister undertone to this record, not in the arrangements, but in the... aura? Maybe it's singer Don Van Vliet's delivery. It's definitely an easier listen than "Trout Mask Replica", but then again, most music is. I like the rootsy, folky undertones of this record. Think it requires further study. Favorite tracks: "Electricity", "Yellow Brick Road", "Abba Zabba"

Catchy, anarchic blues.

Decent, but not much there songwriting wise. Strengths in the guitar tone/riffs.

I feel like they could have rehearsed more, but there are interesting ideas here and there. Flavors stuff that would come down the road 10 years later, especially in American New Wave and post-punk like Talking Heads, Pere Ubu, or Devo. When this was released it was probably quite a bit more challenging than it is today (almost 60 years later!!!). Mostly typical 1960s blues-inspired meanderings, like every other psychedelic era band, but with less attention to hooks and more Dadaism. Wondering whether Cap'n Beefheart suffered from some mental illness, and I don't say that in a joking or judgemental way, but I sincerely wonder if everything was going okay. I hear a little anguish in the vocals, and I could be mistaking Beefheart's method of self-expression for true pain. So maybe in the end, the Blues was sincere. This music walks on the ol' line between madness and art. Captain Beefheart is just over the line a little bit, at times on this album and ABSOLUTELY on the upcoming Trout Mask Replica. And that makes stuff like this even more interesting. Is it good? hmmm

Puh. Nee. Gar nicht mein Geschmack. Viel zu langatmige Titel.

Little psychedelic, but pretty enjoyable

Beefheart is regularly noted as one of the most important influences on new wave, punk, grunge, and post-punk. John Peel, Lester Bangs, and Robert Christgau all love him. The tracks on this album that I liked all feature Ry Cooder going to town, so I don’t know if I like Beefheart like all of those knowledgeable music types do. It’s not that I didn’t like it; it’s that some of the non-Cooder tracks turned into annoying background noise.

Fine OK Nothing to write home about Liked that it was short

Very catchy and original and well played. I'd like to revisit.

Utter madness. Crazy lyrics, self-indulgent bluesy jam sessions poured into your ears. Nice.

Ew. 1/5

Not my cup of tea

Remembering my listening experience with Trout Mask Replica, it took me a couple tries before finally hitting play on this one. I was relieved to find 'Safe As Milk' listenable and unpretentious. Big fan of the bass guitar action in particular. Unfortunately, I am now concerned that I should revisit Trout Mask Replica. Highlights: Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes, I Do, Zig Zag Wanderer, Call On Me, Electricity, Autumn's Child

Bluesy, jangly, has a real late 60's sound, Airplane etc, the lyrics are cynical for the times. 'I'm Glad'is a bit of a goof on R&B.

Trip friendly. 70s before 70s. Very weird panning but very cool and great all around.

# 224 : I don't love it. I don't hate it, it is ok but it's not particularly exciting and doesn't have anything catchy enough to make me want to give it a second listen. Yawn.

Ended up listening to this twice as I enjoyed this so much. It's very stylish and I think true to the style. Varied and kept it interesting

This is a name I've known but can't say I really know who they were. This was good though, really enjoyed it.

many people know this guy, me included for trout mask replica, a really infamous avant-garde/outsider music album. this one is definitely a lot more cohesive, really mellowed out yet really trippy rock. early panning experiments. is that a thermin?

bom

Wel flink beter dan dat andere album van ze, beetje blues achtig. Verder niet heel veel aan dus een lage drie sterrren.

Voelt een beetje alsof dit een verzameling is van een hele hoop bekende bands, maar dat de nummers dan net allemaal net iets slechter zijn

Oh god, low expectations on this one. This is fine. It’s actually a lot closer to great.

Sure nuff - just your average blues with a steel guitar and rockabilly sound. 3/10 Zig Zag - 60s with raspy vocals. 3/10 Call on me - more freeform than the first two. 6/10 Dropout - psychedelic dance with a decent riff. 6/10 I'm glad - slow crap. 1/10 Electricity - 6/10. Decent music, nothing special Yellow Brick Road - crap. 1/10 ...that's enough. 2 star

the yellow brick road one was a big no no

it started off as a 3/5 then i fell asleep and woke up to two thirds of the way throguh the penultimate song and got to listen to the rest pf that and the last song. it got wacky im confused. i dont jnow hwloe any of it happened

Long and boring and felt very pretentious

Fun but could have leaned into the wackiness a bit more

Good mostly

Really good!

A lot of fun. Experimental blues. And like make experiments, there are varying levels of success. Some of the material on this record is genius, but it's too inconsistent. Three stars.

years ahead

Blues rock, garage rock, rhythm & blues, acid rock. Rollo.

Taj Mahal played on this album. 5 stahs

Classic

Truly groundbreaking stuff, but not easy to listen to. 3/5

I liked the mix of it being experimental and also solid in terms of songwriting.

This is a million times better than Trout Mask. Why didn't they expand upon THIS?

This is easily Beefy's most accessible record, and in my opinion, a more entertaining effort than later albums (not you Trout Mask, I promise). But it's far from an immediate hit for most listeners. This one is a grower, and I only like it now because I've been around it it a few times. I wonder if that's how my wife feels...

Uniquely adventurous and uncompromising in its approach to avant-garde, psychedelic blues.

4.5 I like

Might revisit

every song slaps, fantastic collection of (weirder than normal for the decade) 60’s psychedelic rock and blues rock, with flourishes of soul and rnb in the mix too. close to a 5 star rating

some cool ideas but falls flat on many songs mayb 7/10

Some very clearly blues-inspired rock to be found here, with some more quirky tracks such as Electricity. Admittedly it feels a little barebones at points but overall its a good listen.

This one felt like work to get through

Listened to the whole album but wondered why I left it on the whole time by the end. This album was ok but nothing special.

A playful romp through the genres, they do a bit of blues soul RnB psych pop surf garage and more - bringing an off kilter but charismatic vocal and a sardonic sensibility to it all. Not as intentionally alienating as their other stuff, it ends up being a kind of fun tongue in cheek 60s tribute act by a talented troll.

its ok

Never heard of them but the song I'm Glad reminds me of songs by two other groups. Very easy to listen to.

Some nice songs

Couple tracks

strang e

Weird

Hmmmm...

more to be admired than enjoyed

For a second was scared it was Trout Mask Replica - then realised this is the record I like - it’s stellar start to finish. Love this album.

Blues rock, garage rock, rhythm & blues, acid rock. Rollo

Don’t ever put this shit on again

Cha tiene su par de bangers pero está muy acido para mí. 4/10. Podría ser 5/10 pero me pasaría de generoso.

Pretty darn good.

Important stuff, but not that fun to listen to. Trout Mask Replica is better.

Pretty fun, a bit too long and too much instrumental/repeats or whatever

Some of it was okay, and some of it is just a bit too experimental/weird for me

I kind of like Yellow Brick Road, Abba Zaba; I kind of like the instrumental section at the end of Safe as Milk (Take 5)

Having heard Trout Mask Replica before this album, this one seems almost genteel with something resembling conventional form for a lot of the album. You can see the demon horns of experimentation start to peek its way in right from the beginning, but hasn't gone off the deep end until Frank Zappa's guidance with Trout Mask Replica. Heavily blues influenced, with some R&B variation thrown in. Some of it feels like it could be Psychedelic but it lacks the reverb-spacey sound for the guitar. Among my faves: I'm Glad sounds almost doo-wop/50's soul.... Yellow Brick Road sounds kind of like CCR... Autumn Child sounds the most like a psychedelic song... The 3 instrumentals: On Tomorrow, Big Black Baby Shoes, and Dirty Blue Gene, as well as Trust Us, all start showing that going off the deep end that was greatly explored in the next album.

I could appreciate their musicianship. But I’m never going to listen to this again

Fun and quirky blues album.

I enjoyed the weirdness and the guitar action this album. 2.6

I love the guitar

3.5

Mad fun

I dunno

Decent album. Feel like it was on the verge greatness but fall short

Okay well… hmmm… no

I've probably prematurely dismissed Captain Beefheart after hearing Trout Mask Replica many years ago and finding it pretty painful. However, I found a lot of good stuff in Safe as Milk and kept it in rotation for a few days while deciding between a strong 3 and a scraped 4. But every time it comes on I enjoy its bluesy vibes and variety so I'm going generous.

Ah. Good ol' Captain Beefheart. The absolute mad man who somehow got TROUT MASK REPLICA to exisit. And this is two albums before that. Y'know, only knowing Beefheart from TROUT MASK REPLICA, it really surprised me how... Compartively normal this album is. Sure, a bit of that weirdness is still there, particularly in the lyrics, but you compare, say, "Abba Zaba" to "Frownland", it's damn night and day here. And I actually like this lot. Like, yeah, this is pretty standard Delta blues compared to what Beefheart would later be known for, but he's got a great voice for it, and, I'unno, I jus' like me some good blues music sometimes. I mean, I only had to listen to this thing one time to understand it, so that's gotta be worth something, eh?

A nice and chunky-sounding blues album from the eccentric who went on to make Trout Mask Replica.

It’s a 3.5 that I think I have to round down to a 3. This album is weird. Not like Morrissey-style weird where something just felt unappealing and unnatural, but like, properly weird. There’s appealing stuff on this album, and I liked a lot of it. I think it’s just kind of disjointed to me; sometimes the vocals clash with the lyrics and vice-versa, sometimes the instrumentation doesn’t quite fit the lyrical vision, or at worst, sometimes it’s just kinda boring to me. I don’t know if there’s necessarily a bad track on this album, but it’s a really diverse record that I honestly think doesn’t go far enough with its bolder choices. If you’re gonna try to be this innovative for 1967, then go all in, because it feels disconnected in a way that doesn’t melodically marry everything quite right to me. Certainly not bad though; I feel good with a 3.

Wasn't much of the first CD, but the second with the instrumental tracks were good. The first CD was filled with a lot of tracks with that stereotypical 60s sound that sounded like a bad recording. 2.5/5

I'm not a huge fan of Cptn Beefheart, but this is a much more approachable album from him/them. I do really enjoy this more than the other stuff I've heard from them and will probably revisit this in the future. 3/5

una verga

UNA VERGA

Definitely a product of the times. Don't hate, but probably will never listen again.

Interesting album. I liked the bluesy kind of stuff a lot. But some of the other songs were not things I like.

Not good, not bad.

Not nearly as weird as Trout Mask Replica, but still delightfully quirky and energetic. A nice melding of genres.

I expected weirdness, and Captain Beefheart absolutely delivered. Not a chance at me fully digesting & appreciating something this out there on first listen, but it was a good start.

Not a fan of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band

How can a band go from a like of crap like dropout boogie to something as beautiful as I’m glad. I’m glad is doing a lot of work here. sometimes the nonsense babbling and growling works sometimes it doesn’t

I know nothing about this album and it was ok. But I didn't exactly want to know more. Ok listening.

Okay at times

Captain Beefheart in his most coherent form, aided significantly by the guitar contributions of Ry Cooder.

Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes, I do: 2/10 the music is ok, his voice is horrible imo Zig Zag Wanderer: 5/10 Call On Me: 3/10 Dropout Boogie: 1/10 I'm Glad: 3/10 Electricity: 1/10 i can't listen anymore Not my cup of tea, I also think it's pretty bad 1/5 star

This is a quintessential psychedelic rock album; I just couldn't enjoy it as much , sober.

Didn’t know Ry Cooder played guitar on this weirdo masterpiece. Respect

It’s 60’s indie rock. Nothing for me.

I don’t know if “Safe as Milk” means that you’re safe or unsafe

Mostly a tough listen

Safe As Milk would be a sick band name

I love the blues! And by that I mean I like being sad. This music is fine

don't get quite how people see this guy as the godfather of modern rock/punk, actually preferred the madness of the other of his albums on this list

God Damn its bad

I have been a Beefheart fan for a long time. I came across his album Doc at the Radar Station while in college and just thought it was great. Very weird. But great. I then tried Trout Mask Replica but honestly it was too weird but it was lauded by almost every critic. I never went back and listened to Safe as Milk but it is actually his most “normal” album. Some really great lyrics and some unique instrumentation.

It was good - never heard this band.

This is my first experience with Captain Beefheart. Based on Trout Mask Replica's reputation, I expected this to be pretty out there. But you know what, it was just weird enough! I like '60s rock that isn't afraid to experiment, without becoming *too* out there. And this scratches that itch perfectly. A quirky, bluesy listen that doesn't reject soul in the search for strange. I'll be back to this one, I think.

Didn't know milk was safe for Ramadan. Tried the stereo version, regretted it 15 seconds in. Not what I expected. Tbh I was in the mood for whatever mess Trout Mask Replica was so I got disappointed. Safe indeed.

not good but not bothersome

I'd heard of this band but never heard them. They were a bit Beatles, a bit Rolling Stones and started off too shouty and loud. I would be unlikely to listen to this again.

Geen slechte muziek, maar ja ga ik het ooit nog luisteren

Hm nee, te eentonig en oubollig voor mij sorry

Opzich best aardig toch

Interessant - vollständig hören!

Listening through this album almost made me feel like it was the early evolution of what would become grunge. Maybe thats just me.

Listened to this and a few other albums by Captain Beefheart. A few songs hold up. This was a group that hard-core rock and roll enthusiasts listened to. They didn’t get a lot of rotation on the big mainstream radio stations back then, but so few alt groups got air time when you heard, maybe, 8 songs per hour. And those eight songs were mostly bubble gum rock. Glad to see people discovering Beefheart—and liking his music—in the listener reviews.

I've listened to Trout Mask Replica before, and this is significantly better. That is too say at least there's a few songs that are halfway decent. Still nothing great.

Decent album. Will listen again

4 stars - starting to grow on me. had only listened to TMR before

Not a band I'd listened too much, but this was a really good album.

I was not expecting to think this lesser than the listenable case of Stockholm Syndrome that is Trout Mask Replica, but this album is far more dull than anything that album came up with. Replacing odd time signatures and recognizably talented instrumentation is boring bluesy rock 'n' roll with a singer who doesn't have a great voice, and nothing more. There isn't anything overtly ironic about this record compared to Frank Zappa's band at the time, and even if there us I'm not picking up on it. This record is probably a solid enough time if you follow the garage rock scene from the era, but this feels more like "predictable as milk."

You know, since I’ve already been served Trout Mask Replica I was expecting this to be a similarly rated experience but I was pleasantly surprised and impressed that this kept true to its rock and blues roots. It’s still extremely weird (I’m looking at you, Electricity) but the sound and musicality of this isn’t too far off from other bands in the time period and genre.

This one was weird, probably need to give it another listen

My first exposure to Captain Beefheart. Mixed feelings on this. Although there’s some interesting playing musically on this, there’s also a fair share of noise and the vocal parts can be stupidly annoying at times

Not that safe. Or that decent

I can see why this album was so influential at the time. i liked a couple tracks.

After the song Grown So Ugly, the album descended into some really weird stuff. Up until that point, it was a fairly solid blues rock album, similar by times to The Doors style of psychadelic blues rock. I must admit when I first saw the band name this morning, I got nervous of what I was in for because of the notoriety around the strange album Trout Mask Replica, however, the first song on this record: "Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes, I Do", was a fantastic Delta blues number. Seems like this album was founded in good music, but the psychadelic drug use and experimentation just went too far, and things just kind of descended into a weird mess. It's a Shame, because the album started with so much promise. Favourite songs: "Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes, I Do", Plastic Factory, Zig Zag Wanderer, Where There's Woman, I'm Glad, Yellow Brick Road Least favourite songs: Electricity, Autumn's Child, Safe As Milk, On Tomorrow, Big Black Baby Shoes, Dirty Blue Gene, Korn Ring Finger 2/5

Ça s'écoutait mais ça ne m'a pas tellement marqué. J'ai déjà oublié comment l'album sonnait. 6/10

Weird acid swamp rock

It was cool 60s. Sounds were a little varied from song to song. Only got one listen. Nothing specific stood out.

You know, there's some gritty stuff in here but overall it feels too chaotic, unstructured given its potential. Was Beefheart changing up his band too often?

I have been down this rabbit hole once in the past going in with an open mind. I’m not going to listen to this album today. Once was enough.

Liked this one cover to cover. Timely tempo changes and the singer’s raspy voice kept me listening)

Classic

Far Out Delta Blues.

Interesting

Only listened to a few tracks. Sad we didn’t get Trout Mask Replica

Damn, I wish my Dad was still alive to talk to him about this album. This is right smack in his favorite decade of music and it *feels* like the music he would play occasionally. I didn't recognize a single song and yet it felt familiar. I loved it as a whole and not necessarily any specific song.

Not really my thing. Appreciate the authenticity though

I've never heard of these guys, but dig it. Some good, some not great.

Debut from the Captain. Swamp rock mayhem that sounds way ahead of its time.

Not bad, a couple good tracks but all-in-all a little repetitive sounding

Didn’t finish but enjoyed what I heard.

I was introduced to Capt Beefheart in college through Trout Mask Replica, which I anticipate seeing in this list. Weird, challenging album. Entirely unique and honestly haven't heard it in ages. I was introduced to Safe as Milk about a year afterwards (2005 or so). I was shell shocked by how much more accessible the album was and truthfully genius. You can clearly here where the band is going and where their influences came from. A wonderful blues album that gets slightly more acid laced psychedelic as it goes on. The CD reissue tracks are clearly unfinished but if you wrap the album up after the Autumns Child you have a wonderful and cohesive 12 song run. The Grown So Ugly cover also inspired me to listen to the Black Keys, which is definitely a positive for the early Black Keys work. Top Tracks, Zig Zag Wanderer, Where there's woman, Grown so ugly

What. A. Ride. Did not expect what came through my headphones when I put this on. I’m a sucker for a steel slide guitar and a gravelly blues voice. Loved how the songs seemed to grow organically, like they all sat down and someone came up with a riff or had a little fragment they were fiddling with and suddenly there’s a full blown jam session. 5/5 magic beefhearts

Old but nice :)

The is album is definitely a little different but on the whole I’ve enjoyed it. It opens with something that sounds very much like a classic blues song, but it’s a bunch of young white guys. Which led me into a tangent to see if any *actual* classic blues records are included, but it seems that the list doesn’t start until the mid-1950s. Fair enough. But I think people should check out Blind Lemon Jefferson or Leadbelly before they die. Love Abba Zaba but the album goes on too long and drifts into ridiculousness.

Very very nice. Still no boo radleys 4.0

I was expecting something very different based on the what I've read about Captain Beefheart. Now almost everything I know of his reputation seems based on either Doc at the Radar Station or, especially, Trout Mask Replica, both of which I've never heard. But Safe as Milk actualy sounds pretty accessible to me. And as far as blues based rock I like this album better than most. Flaming Groovies and Stooges both sound like they were influenced by this album. All in all a blues rock album that I really enjoyed listening to and will absolutely return to. 4 stars

Okay, eclectic. It is 1967 after all. Nothing I’d want to repeat but tolerable.

I enjoy this earlier, normie iteration of Beefheart. It's bluesy and adventurous and stylistically diverse, while staying fairly grounded musically. It fits in with the garage rock sensibility of its era, but with little flashes of weird brilliance that tell you these guys are heading somewhere completely different. A lot of fun. Fave Songs: Electricity, I'm Glad, Zig Zag Wanderer, Abba Zaba, Yellow Brick Road, Call on Me

I really liked it at points but ultimately a bit too weird for me and not really my taste in music

A downward spiral

It's more Captain Beefheart. You can hear the transition into more wackiness in this album.

Fun if you need a mix of bluesy 70’s grindy-voice feel that descends into the bizarre, and then clingy rock. It has its moments.

#109. The first half of this album is pretty good. Some kinda bluesy psychedelic rock thing. The second half is some meandering Phishy jam band type nonsense that I don't particularly enjoy. Never heard of them before so I didn't know what to expect, and it turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag. 3/5: stick to side 1 Song added to playlist: Surely 'Nuff 'N' Yes I Do I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

Weird, not a huge fan.

What a blast this album is. Putting this on high rotation for sure. Fave track is easily Electricity. Zig Zag Wanderer, and Abba Zaba are highlights too. I can see why people seem to be into I'm Glad and I'm sure it'll grow on me.

Oh man, I really tarred this with the "Trout Mask Replica" brush and have barely listened to it, on the assumption it's avant-garde AF. It's actually really accessible and I'm digging it a lot! Will definitely be revisiting. Fave tracks - "Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do" and "Zig Zag Wanderer" are great openers. "Electricity" and "Abba Zabba" are the true highlights though.

surprised i liked some of them. most were not my thing

Dreadful

This was a whole lot less "weird" than I expected it to be, given Beefheart's reputation. It turned out to be fairly run of the mill blues rock. I actually liked the more off-beat tracks best, like Abba Zaba. Maybe I'll love Trout Mask Replica once we get to it.

Zanimljiv kantri zvuk

Tedious!

This is one of my favourites, I had already heard this plenty of times, but it's so delightfully off-kilter, him being best mates with Frank Zappa means Beefheart is more than a bit out there in his musical approach. This is classic 60s avant-garde rock, but don't take that to mean it's hard to enjoy, the music is fantastic all the way through.

Amazing album I never knew existed. Reminds me of Ty Segall or KGLW

Maybe it's cuz I got this one right after Jeff Beck, but it seemed pretty generic. Did get me a nice nap, though.

Good shit

favorites: zig zag wanderer, i'm glad, electricity

Now this is the kinda music ppl in the 70s did drugs to. Captain Beefheart's Wikipedia page is an interesting read, he was an eccentric guy and a musical innovator. 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. I'm Glad ❤️❤️❤️ Electricity💜💜 Zigzag Wanderer 💜💜

Weird, don’t like his vocals at all but some of the jams could be good I just wasn’t in the right headspace for it

That was actually pretty interesting and good.

True psychedelic rock album. Although quite long, it gives certain, original vibes nowhere to be heard.

I have to be in a certain mood to listen to Captain Beefheart. Fortunately I was in the right headspace and I thoroughly enjoyed re-listening to this weird gem. Even spent part of the day revisiting and discovering other albums of his. 4/5

Im not sure what I just listened too It felt like a frog on an acid trip for some songs,and then they throw out a song like “im glad” in the middle of the mix, to make you ask yourself if you’re actually the frog on the acid trip… anyways, I liked whatever it was. 3.5

Weird

gar nicht mein Stil, und vor meiner Zeit

Musste abbrechen, treibt einem in den Wahnsinn...

Startet erfrischend mit R&B, aber wird dann teilweise zu psychadelisch einzelne Songs gefallen aber das Album weniger

First captain beefheart record I’ve listened to. Not what I was expecting, but overall a pretty solid blues album.

Better than the previous captain Beefheart but I still can’t forgive them for that one.

I first ‘got’ Tom Waits’ weird period one evening in Uni when I was doing some shopping in town. It was winter, it was raining and I was cold, tired, pissed off and wet. I don’t know what initially possessed me to put on Swordfishtrombones, but I did and it was perfect. The ragged creaky bones of a Jazz band playing nightmare blues stories about down on their luck prostitutes, gamblers, dwarves, and general fuckups fit my mood to a t. I’ve never looked back on my love for Tom Waits. I wasn’t quite as pissed off today when listening to Safe As Milk, and I think that affected how much I enjoyed it. I’ve listened to Trout Mask Replica before, and was expecting something more like that. Trout Mask Replica I can defend as a great work of art. But although there were instances where I thought Safe As Milk came close to the weirdness of Trout Mask Replica, it was mostly fairly typical Blues Rock. Not unpleasant, but not as groundbreaking as his later work. It probably played better in the 60’s but now that the influence has been filtered through it seems less remarkable than something like The Velvet Underground, where the influence runs so deep that it still has stuff to give.

I'm glad this was the introduction to captain beefheart instead of trout of mask replica, because I've been putting that off for a very long time. I feel like it's a taster of things to come. Key tracks: Dropout Boogie, I'm Glad, Electricity

Not feeling it

Kinda odd. Kinda dug the first half but lost me in the second half. Very 60s. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Sure ‘Nuff ‘n’ Yes I Do Rating: 3

Rien de magique à mes yeux

I was wondering when this album was going to pop up. Captain Beefheart can get kinda weird (see "Abba Zaba"), which is probably why I associate him with Zappa—despite the fact that Zappa's weirdness is on another level. But Beefheart's also got some great blues-influenced stuff (like the album's first track, "Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do"). One thing's for sure: he does his own thing. This is probably a 3.5, but I'm going to round up for once.

I like this weird early psychedelic bluesy album. It's interesting & unique. I listened to it twice.

Strange and weird, but not really my kind of weird and strange. Always wondered what Beefheart was all about. Still wondering.

Just the right amount of weird and funk.

On the surface, it can seem like this album is solid blues inspired rock. A closer listen will reveal experimental rhythms, chromaticism, and avant garde lyrics. This album feels like a joyous fever dream and is very much a product of its time. Having said that, I think this album is brilliant. Its grooves pull you in and its, melodies and rhythms keep you there. I'm not sure what to make out of much of the lyrics, but I suppose that's the fun of avant garde music.

Van Vliet's voice is front and center in Beefheart, and enough to freak the blues even without compositional hijinks. Safe As Milk is, in fact, fairly safe as it glosses a few subgenres. Happily off-kilter, neither particularly danceable nor brain-hairy.

Great listening to this again, as it's one I return to now and again but it had been a while. He's pulling a lot of influence from different places, but has a sound of his own. The band seems really on point, and works so well with Beefheart's voice. The arrangements keep the listener on their toes. Did not know Ry Cooder was on this! As an aside, I knew that Don Van Vliet (a.k.a. Captain Beefheart) did paintings as well, but I didn't realize it became a full fledged successful career for him - nor did I know that he was a child prodigy sculptor. What a character.

I definitely prefer when they're doing the 60s psychedelic thing than their twisted take on Howlin' Wolf. Captain Beefheart is an energetic powerhouse of sorts, but even still, this album manages to lose its steam towards the end. The recording quality is rough too. Sounds like it could use a good remastering. I respect Captain Beefheart and all, he was a weird motherfucker, and he had some shit to work out on these early records that was considered innovative, but which I don't find particularly enjoyable. I much prefer his album "Clear Spot" from '72. On that album he was able to maintain his weirdness, but figured out how to package it in actual grooves. It might not be considered as innovative as this one or "Trout Mask," but man I'd much rather actually listen to it.

Pretty insane debut. Already a very strong sound, I assumed this was their 4th or so album in but as a debut it’s pretty impressive. Another one that doesn’t have a standout track, but rather is a true album listen. Wouldn’t wanna hear it all the time, but respect.

Okay this sounds really good, i dig it, i can listen to this while in a car or in a train, it also sounds like surrealistic pillow by jefferson airplane but I don't mind that and the fact that the two albums released on the same year is also pretty evident why they sound familiar with each other.

Well, I don't hate this album, which is more than I can say for Trout Mask Replica. It feels a lot more like he's trying to do his thing here, and not trying to show everyone how weird he can be. This album may be less interesting than Trout Mask Replica, but it is definitely a lot easier on the ears 3/5

Better than the other one we had to listen to. But still shite.

Inconsistent

Listened to this on the day my son was born, it was an odd listen

i like it

3.5

Weird album, but a fun listen

considering we had him just about two weeks ago and it was one of if not the worst album I’ve heard I could say that this was 1000% improvement given saying that it wasn’t my favourite album. Obviously some of the music was a cool vibe and the lyrics did make me laugh sometimes, all in all better than I expected.

Two Captain Beefhearts. TWO. And in just 2 weeks' time. Well this ain't Mike Trout Mask Replica that's for sure - honestly, this is not terrible. Once you get by his voice a bit it all sorta fits. Maybe my bar was so skewed as I'd only heard the aforementioned album and his complimentary work with Zappa that I wasn't expecting a relatively straightforward ("relatively" - it's not straightforward at all, just compared to his other work) bluesy-rootsy+psychedelic 60s album. At the same time, it's not really in my wheelhouse but might be a mood album, setting a definite time and place. Good to hear it and I gave it a few spins today but won't make a permanent rotation. 5/10 3 stars

Complex, dynamic almost graphic instrumentally. Did not appreciate vocals except for a couple tracks like “Im Glad” The album tells a musical history, above my head 8/10, 4/5

different - even to itself it's wildly different within this album. and good fun 4

Rock un tanto psicodélico, con toques country. Se puede escuchar como algo diferente, pero no aporta nada.

Weird 60’s bullshit, inject it in my veins. Wacky voices, inserted speaking lines, vague stabs in the direction of a cohesive genre, the gang is all here.

Can't believe this is actually good after listening to trout mask replica.

There were some really intriguing songs on here, and some very standard and boring blues rock. The good songs though seem to have been ahead of their time. Would listen again for sure!

What the hell did I just listen to? I can't tell if this is parody or a serious attempt at music. When the vocals aren't being super weird, the music is pretty decent.

This is the only Captain Beefheart album I thoroughly enjoy. Stuff like Trout Mask Replica is too experimental for me. I like him more when his weirdness is tethered to traditional form. Here he’s still strange and unique and unpredictable, but he’s matched with songs that are catchy and flat out rock. This is one of my favorites of the Nuggets psychedelic garage rock era.