Doc At The Radar Station (2006 Remaster) - Captain Beefheart

Advantages: None that I can see...
Disadvantages: Unrepresentative and very very pointless indeed.

...Don Van Vliet (aka Capt. Beefheart) was a unique and very eccentric musician and always was a tricky blighter to compile but this release doesn't exactly help. I mean, it's a good compilation as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. It leaves out anything from 'Trout Mask Replica' altogether (surely his most (in)famous recording?) but mixes in the lacklustre stuff from the mind-numbingly poor Bluejeans & Moonbeams/Uncondtionally Guaranteed era. As an intro to the good Captain and his output, it is misleading and unrepresentative. Beefheart fans will have all of this on the full and proper albums anyway and will find it irrelevant and it sure as hell won't win any new converts, if that's what it was released for. If you really really need to get into Beefheart as a newbie, then you'd be best looking for the budget... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Very mellow, laid back album
Disadvantages: Not much like other Beefheart albums

...This is one of my faourite Captain Beefheart albums - it's not much like his other recordings, and I understand it's not well liked by many fans - which I think is a shame. As an album it can be judged on its own merit. I find this to be a pretty good party album - most people seem to like it, regardless of what music they like or dislike - it's mellow, and very easy on the ear, so therefore is a good choice for new Captain Beefheart followers as some of his other work can be a little hard at first. This album is very chilled and great to have on in the background when you have friends visiting, and are having a couple of drinks or similar - equally it's good just to listen to while you chill out. Also very good as a warm up to get in the mood for a party or night out. I highly recommend the songs: Observatory Crest, Pompadour Swamp... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Total Groundbreaking Art
Disadvantages: It Should Have Six Stars

......Is Fast And Bulbous Strictly speaking this should be credited to Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, I'll email Ciao about it. I was amazed to find this as I browsed the rock artists section of Ciao. No I've not lost my marbles , but am about to educate you about one of the greatest albums by one of the greatest artists of all time. The title is an extract from the lyrics from the said album , so as you may guess, Hear'say it ain't. The cover features a guy in a stovepipe type hat wearing a trout mask. You know you're in for something out of the ordinary. This album is available from Amazon for a very reasonable 7.99 GBP, is available on the Warner Brothers label , catalogue number 7599271962 . ~~ Some Background Don Van Vliet was a friend of Frank Zappa's and had made several groundbreaking albums before this, such as "Safe... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful