Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Magic is back, 14 Jul 2003
This is an album for dedicated Beefheart fans, without the Captain himself being involved, although his influence runs all the way through it. A great mix of songs and if you saw the recent live shows you will appreciate it all the more. John (Drumbo) French's vocals are an inspirational tribute to Captain Beefheart, and the band, made up of musicians from various Magic Band line ups are obviously having a great time recreating the tunes, which still sound fresh and original today.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible., 11 Sep 2003
Members of various of Beefheart's Magic Bands (Drumbo and Rockette Morton from the Trout Mask Replica era, Mantis and Feelers Rebo from a later incarnation) combine here to revisit van Vliet's classic music. Musically they're as outrageous and stunningly tight as ever, capturing the Captain's manic polyrhythms and twisted words at least as well as they did in their prime.Most impressive of all is John 'Drumbo' French on vocals. He doesn't sound like the Captain - some of his phrasing and the sheer attack of his vocals echoes his former band leader, the tone is similar, but he brings his own admirably strong voice to the lyrics. This is music of stunning immediacy, power and audacity. The Magic Band sound like they're loving every minute of it, their performances are faultless, and there's a sense of urgency, enthusiasm, intimacy, and exuberance to the album. There are no low spots at all; almost everything's a joyous highlight. Hearing new and occasionally rather different versions of much-loved classics like Moonlight on Vermont or The Floppy Boot Stomp just reminds you how timeless the music is.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
The Magic Band is not a disappearing act, 16 Oct 2008
This is one of the best things I have heard in ages. I recently got hold of Mike Barnes great book about Captain Beefheart, read it, relistened to a huge stack of Beefheart and then saw this and bought it.
It basically vindicates Beefhearts choice of musician, top class, and his ability to create(I choose to avoid write as he basically gave the musicians strict instructions and examples of what he wanted in order to realise a notion that he had in his head as opposed to something that already existed) a damn good tune.
Gary Lucas and Denny Walley(ex Zappa and ex Beefheart) along with Mark Boston(Rockette Morton) and John French(Drumbo) really cook up a most potent brew. The Magic in Magic Band is totally appropriate. These guys all played with Beefheart, but not all at the same time, and it is interesting to note how well they span the range of material here.
The recording was made live in one of the last rehearsals for the brief tour they made a couple of years back and sounds splendid. It is IMHO of a better sound quality than most of the original releases. If only Rick Rubin had been around to produce the originals!
The truly astonishing performance(s) by John French are a testament to his utterly phenomenal musical talent. He can drum like a dervish, sing like Beefheart and play the tin sandwich like Larry Adler(ok, so I am exaggerating a tad here). He can also play a mean guitar, not here though, you have to go to the Doc at the Radar Station cd for that, and was responsible for transcribing Beefhearts ideas/piano noodlings and whistling into sheet music for the rest of the band.
Buy this one now!!!
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