Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Why the negative press?, 11 Nov 2006
As a Beefheart fan, I jumped at the thought that Branson was going to re-release brand spanking new remastered cds of the Captain's Virgin years. I had not heard this album before the remasters as it always recieves thumpingly bad reviews from music critics who claim this is where Beefheart 'lost it' etc. In truth, it is not a staggering masterpiece but at the same time it is in no way awful either. Any album that has 'Observatory Crest' on it can't be all bad. 'Party Of Special Things to Do' is one of the Captain's more accesible funky freakouts opening with the classic line 'The camel wore a nightie'. Snap open any of the recent write ups in music mags on these reissues and we get 1 star reviews for this album. Come ON guys!, it's not that bad...Go ahead and call 'Trout Mask Replica' a masterpiece [i'd agree its pretty special], but in many ways this album and its companion 'Unconditionally Guaranteed' are better introductions to the uninitiated. Beefheart's sincere blues voice is still very much in evidence here and the songs are accessible with a hint of insanity within. My favourite Beefheart album is 'Clearspot' and 'Shiny Beast' is very good also. Give this one a go and if you find the arrangements a bit sickly sweet or dated then stick on some 'Clearspot' or 'Safe As Milk'. 'Observatory Crest' [ covered by Mercury Rev] and 'Party Of Special Things To Do' are pretty peerless in the Captain's repertoire. The synth sound on the title track is disgusting, I have to admit.....
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Good album (as always)and different to beefhearts reputation, 26 Nov 2000
By A Customer
On purchasing this album, my first by the captain, i expected a wave of surrealism and new 'noise'.Instead bluejeansandmoonbeams is a mellow bluesy album, which is generally rather good.The standout tracks on this are tracks 1 and 3, the first for beefhearts particularly brilliant husky howl of a voice (genius) and the third (observatory crest)for the voice (again) but more the beauty of its melody.I expected nothing like this from beefhearts reputation and was surprised and relieved i hadn't wasted my money.This isn't 'classic' beefheart but its an album that you grow (fins-ha ha!) to like because it shows beefheart from a different, quieter angle, combining blues and sweet sweet melodies that contrast, for example his early troutmaskreplica and late icecreamforcrow albums.This seems to be an album that is in between his trademark surreal eras and the result is a more commercial album. Despite this,it definitely is the captain. The voice and those jangly guitars may be in "reflective" mood (some say uninspired) but it is still worth getting.The title track, to finish off the album, is a masterpiece of horn sounds and guitar with a gentle beefheart voice leading to the close of a nice recording.Although every good fan should have all captain beefhearts work- this album should be put in your fine collection sooner than some of his other work.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
The softer side of Beefheart, 30 Jul 2006
Along with Frank Zappa, The Captain really pushed the boundaries of contemporary music which would alienate a vast majority of "music lovers". Here we find out what he was truly capable of. As the previous reviewer mentions, the title track is one of the most beautifully sublime pieces of crotchets, quavers and minims that will ever darken to invade your earholes. As magical an experience that you could ever have with music. Throw in the achingly wonderful Further than We've Gone (track 7) and you realise what a classic album was born in 1974. Observatory Quest makes up the trist of gut wrenching emotional experiences to be discovered in this all too short album. Repeat play are the only instructions needed with this. Buy, explore, enjoy and sit open mouthed wondering what magic the great Captain could have conjured up for us had he stayed on this musical path!!!!
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