my usual tactic for someone who hasn't heard the captain and his magic band is to play some rather than try and describe their music. if i had to describe it, though, it would probably be along the lines of psychedelic blues.

this album, which is a 1999 release of the original master tapes by buddha records, is a gem. the recording imperfections add to the grit of the sound, and enhance the ability for the listener to imagine how much fun it would have been to witness these recordings.

the recording opens with "tarotplane", a lengthy, catchy tune that wanders around with harmonica and blues and typical beefheart lyrics that sweep through a range of bizarre imagery and seemingly subconscious ramblings. in other words, captain beefheart is beck's musical grandfather.

this release includes an alternate take of the classic "safe as milk", one of the beefheart greats. if that song don't make you shake, you're broken.

rather than give a breakdown of the album, beefheart, or the magic band, i'd simply say pick some up and start wandering.

the captain, don van vliet, retired in 1982 to paint full time. since then rumours abound that his health has deteriorated seriously, but fortunately he's still hanging in their doing his strangeness.

he seems to create without compromise, making him one of those rare people who deserves to be referred to as an 'artist'.

the best place for beefheart info is the captain beefheart radar station.