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Product Description
2006 remastered reissue of the highly acclaimed return-to-form 1978 album.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I grew up with my older brother bringing new, interesting and sometimes disturbing or challenging sounds into our house. The good Captain fell into the later category but although it was challenging to my young ears I absorbed it and began to really like it. The problem really lay in the fact that it was HIS music and not mine.
Later, after the ironically titled Unconditionally Guaranteed and Bluejeans and Moonbeams seemed to signal the Captains decline I came across this, Shiny Beast on its release. This was my own Captain Beefheart album and it was terrific!
It kicks off with Floppy Boot Stomp and story about a hick farmer competing with the devil for his soul. In other hands this theme has produced rather cheesy result but Beefheart infuses this song with menace, although it is clear who will win as the farmer nonchalantly brings his floppy boot down to the ground.
Harry Irene were a couple who ran a canteen, apparently and a very casual and laid back song it makes too.
Candle Mambo is a lovely gentle song that creates a warm feeling that sets up the next song beautifully. Love Lies is about betrayed love that packs a real emotional punch.
The climax of the album is Suction Print which is a real stormer.
Shortly after getting this album I saw it in the Children's' Section in John Menzies, I had a vision of a small child emerging from his bedroom with horns and a forked tail after he had been bought this album by an unsuspecting parent.
I really love this album so much so that it took me years before I warmed to his final two albums although I now really like them too. Buy Shiny Beast, you just have to own it!
Later, after the ironically titled Unconditionally Guaranteed and Bluejeans and Moonbeams seemed to signal the Captains decline I came across this, Shiny Beast on its release. This was my own Captain Beefheart album and it was terrific!
It kicks off with Floppy Boot Stomp and story about a hick farmer competing with the devil for his soul. In other hands this theme has produced rather cheesy result but Beefheart infuses this song with menace, although it is clear who will win as the farmer nonchalantly brings his floppy boot down to the ground.
Harry Irene were a couple who ran a canteen, apparently and a very casual and laid back song it makes too.
Candle Mambo is a lovely gentle song that creates a warm feeling that sets up the next song beautifully. Love Lies is about betrayed love that packs a real emotional punch.
The climax of the album is Suction Print which is a real stormer.
Shortly after getting this album I saw it in the Children's' Section in John Menzies, I had a vision of a small child emerging from his bedroom with horns and a forked tail after he had been bought this album by an unsuspecting parent.
I really love this album so much so that it took me years before I warmed to his final two albums although I now really like them too. Buy Shiny Beast, you just have to own it!
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A truly amazing journey.
Possibly, I repeat, possibly Beefhearts finest hour.
A mesmerising ride through the highly original sounscapes of the Captain.
Great Band playing great music.
Go on, open up and let it get you.
Possibly, I repeat, possibly Beefhearts finest hour.
A mesmerising ride through the highly original sounscapes of the Captain.
Great Band playing great music.
Go on, open up and let it get you.
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
the single minded, satellite guided, genius of don van vliet a.k.a. captain beefheart! originally described as a psychedelic/ blues/free jazz artist with a totally unique voice, the good captain had three distinct periods in his musical career.
1. the aformentioned psychedelic blues (a&m) origins.
2. the bulk, and probably best of his output, the reprise catalogue.
3. the virgin years.
to appreciate what this album represents you need to know the underlying history, so here goes...
frank zappa owned the original bat chain puller album and insisted on remuneration for the release of the tapes. beefheart, at this time, couldn't afford to release what most affictionados consider his ultimate album from (paymaster) zappa (his old buddy?). bootlegs of the original album exist and are incredible listening.
virgin stepped into the captains' career, this album was the first result, it's a shiny beast indeed! most of bat chain puller appears (re-recorded) here, although, i have to report that the overall experience of this album is a very different "beast" compared to the original concept.
surrounded by probably the best "magic" band ever (the best batch yet), coupled with the best recorded sound ever, don was arguably at his musical zenith around this period.
indeed some of his very best work can be found on virgin, unfortunately though, his only commercially orientated, poor releases make up a lot of virgins' beefheart catalogue. shiny beast provides insights into (mostly) the very best, but also the worst aspects of this true genius. a couple of albums later, (van) vliet retired from the music world to concentrate on his art and poetry. if you're new here (the virgin years) jump one album ahead to doc at the radar station, a monster of a record that's definitely countable amongst his greatest works, also containing elements of the ill fated bat chain puller project (or go to the reprise releases if you're really new to the man; clear spot, spotlight kid, lick my decals..., trout mask, etc!). also, check out the a&m years, then come back to THIS (but DO come back).
don van vliet has a uniquely wonderful way with words, music, and art. shiny beast encapsulates high art, brilliant poetry, and incredible, inspiring, unique music. once touched by beefheart you'll remain smitten.
1. the aformentioned psychedelic blues (a&m) origins.
2. the bulk, and probably best of his output, the reprise catalogue.
3. the virgin years.
to appreciate what this album represents you need to know the underlying history, so here goes...
frank zappa owned the original bat chain puller album and insisted on remuneration for the release of the tapes. beefheart, at this time, couldn't afford to release what most affictionados consider his ultimate album from (paymaster) zappa (his old buddy?). bootlegs of the original album exist and are incredible listening.
virgin stepped into the captains' career, this album was the first result, it's a shiny beast indeed! most of bat chain puller appears (re-recorded) here, although, i have to report that the overall experience of this album is a very different "beast" compared to the original concept.
surrounded by probably the best "magic" band ever (the best batch yet), coupled with the best recorded sound ever, don was arguably at his musical zenith around this period.
indeed some of his very best work can be found on virgin, unfortunately though, his only commercially orientated, poor releases make up a lot of virgins' beefheart catalogue. shiny beast provides insights into (mostly) the very best, but also the worst aspects of this true genius. a couple of albums later, (van) vliet retired from the music world to concentrate on his art and poetry. if you're new here (the virgin years) jump one album ahead to doc at the radar station, a monster of a record that's definitely countable amongst his greatest works, also containing elements of the ill fated bat chain puller project (or go to the reprise releases if you're really new to the man; clear spot, spotlight kid, lick my decals..., trout mask, etc!). also, check out the a&m years, then come back to THIS (but DO come back).
don van vliet has a uniquely wonderful way with words, music, and art. shiny beast encapsulates high art, brilliant poetry, and incredible, inspiring, unique music. once touched by beefheart you'll remain smitten.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
In my opinion - The Captain's BEST!!!!!
I could go on and on raving about this album, but if you've never heard anything by Captain Beefheart and you fancied checking out some of his stuff, START HERE. Read more
Published 1 month ago by RUNTLESTUNT
Mental, but in a good way.
I agree with one of the other reviewers on here, this could be Beefheart's finest album. It's almost like being part of a deranged, fantastic sounding, ritual, if that makes any... Read more
Published 23 months ago by ZIMZIM
Beefheart in my Beefy Heart
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band is essentially an act for rock theorists, loopy wordsmiths, far-out outsiders, former fans of the Fall, and those who saw him live back in the... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2009 by Mark J. Nicholls
Excellent as expected
Up to expectations which were understandably high. There is still no beating 'Safe as Milk' so, if you haven't got that, get it first then give this a whirl (that is if you haven't... Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2009 by Mr. D. P. Carter
Another Beefheart masterpiece
This was the Beefheart comeback album after the, so I've heard, disappointing `Bluejeans and Moonbeams'. Read more
Published on 25 July 2007 by A. Weaver
back to his best
Lost his way for a while, but this shows the captain his back. traces of trout mask / zappa. If you like beefheart / zappa , this is for you.
Published on 20 Jun 2007 by Miko
Beefheart at his best
This is a seminal beefheart album. It has some of his most influential material in it, his use of instrumentation, his bizarre counter-melodies and his legendary lyrics still have... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2007 by Daniel Harle
joyful
I played this through a number of times in two days feeling more joyful each time. It is interesting to note that this album was first released the same year as London Calling by... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2005 by John
Psychedelic - New Wave - Folk Classic
From the pseudo-Tarot card album cover, to the mystic lyrics and out-jazz, marimba/madness music, this is one album that I find playing when I need a jolt of excitement and am... Read more
Published on 11 April 2002
TASTY BEAST!
It's hard to describe the music, but this is his most accessible album for me. There's so much: the strange poetry and buoyant jazzy music of Floppy Boot Stomp & Tropical Hot... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2000 by Pieter
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