Most here know what I mean by avante garde but let me delineate anyway: A record that is way off the beaten path, very original, and does not follow ANY of the usual pop formulas or usual musical genres.
For me the choice is very very easy because Captain Beefheart (real name Don Van Vliet) made a record in 1978 called "Shiny Beast: Bat Chain Puller".
I was 23 when it came out and I soon had it on vinyl. Progressive L.A. radio station KROQ gave it some airplay fortunately. I loved it then and my love for it has only grown exponentially over time because for me at least this record is a true Masterpiece. While not a huge Beefheart devotee, judging by other Beefheart records I have owned, Shiny Beast: Bat Chain Puller is easily the Captain's very best.
My introduction to Beefheart was in 1975 when he opened for Frank Zappa at a NY Eve show at The Forum in L.A. He struck my interest and I saw him again several years later at The Roxy in Hollywood not long after Shiny Beast was released. I was completely mesmerized at that show and of course they played most of that record that night. His band was beyond brilliant.
Shiny Beast is much more accessible and listenable then anything else I have heard by the Captain. I must admit that at times he really grates on the nerves and I would NOT recommend putting on the Captain at a party. I've owned Lick My Decals Off, Baby, Ice Cream For Crow, Doc At The Radar Station and Safe As Milk at various times either on vinyl or CD and none come close to this record.
Of course there is the trademark Beefheart growl throughout but the songs and lyrics are SO great that he never comes close to grating on one's nerves here. He even gets tender at times...........like on Harry Irene ("a couple that ran a canteen"). You can even dance to Tropical Hot Dog Night (the lone cover tune), a marvelous calypso delight. Bat Chain Puller is easily the most avante garde tune here and even that is at a minimum very interesting and most likely like NOTHING you have ever heard before. The Captain's songwriting is SO amazingly versatile on this record.......you listen waiting anxiously at what you are going to hear next. And the musicianship is stunning throughout. Bruce Fowler (Mothers Of Invention) on trombone adds spicy R&B accents all over Shiny Beast. Ice Rose and Suction Prints are stellar instrumentals.
I don't really know what else to say other than buy this record and see what you think. It will definitely take you on an educational listening journey that you have never experienced before. I predict you will end up loving it.
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, "SHINY BEAST: BAT CHAIN PULLER"
1. Floppy Boot Stomp
2. Tropical Hot Dog Night
3. Ice Rose (instrumental)
4. Harry Irene
5. You Know You're A Man
6. Bat Chain Puller
7. When I See Mommy I Feel Like A Mummy
8. Owed T' Alex
9. Candle Mambo
10. Love Lies
11. Suction Prints (instrumental)
12. Apes-Ma (spoken word)
ALL TRACKS WRITTEN BY DON VAN VLIET EXCEPT TROPICAL HOT DOG NIGHT WRITTEN BY MICHAEL BROOK AND OWED T' ALEX WRITTEN BY DON VAN VLIET AND H. BERMANN.
ALL TRACKS PRODUCED BY DON VAN VLIET AND PETE JOHNSON.
MUSICIANS
Captain Beefheart: Vocals, harmonica, soprano sax, whistling
Eric Drew Feldman: Grand piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer, bass
Richard Redus: Accordian, bass guitar, guitars
Jeff Tepper: Guitars
Robert Williams: Drums
Bruce Fowler: Trombone, air bass
Art Tripp III: Marimba, additional percussion
Here are some reviews courtesy of Wikipedia:
The album received favorable reviews. Robert Christgau declared Shiny Beast to be better than all Van Vliet's previous albums, writing, "Without any loss of angularity or thickness, the new compositions achieve a flow worthy of Weill or Monk or Robert Johnson, and his lyrics aren't as willful as they used to be."
A contemporary reviewer, AllMusic's Ned Raggett, also praised the album, writing "Shiny Beast turned out to be manna from heaven for those feeling Beefheart had lost his way on his two Mercury albums".
In the Spin Alternative Record Guide (1995), the album was ranked 73 on the book's list of the "Top 100 Alternative Albums".
[Edited on 12/10/2018 by robslob]
Excellent topic. Beefheart is phenomenal. First thought - Anthem of the Sun, for another weird original that could be found in the pop/rock section of the record store.
Lately have been listening to a lot of work by Toru Takemitsu, postwar Japanese orchestral composer, no favorite record - he did a lot of film scores, if you saw Kurosawa's Ran that was all Takemitsu. Really neat, spooky as hell.
Rob, I haven't listened to that album in ages.
Been really into these guys tonz...
I need to find Ken Nordine's "Word Jazz, Volume One," as I recall the title. I owned it on vinyl in college and just about had it memorized.
I know that much later in his career, he did an album with Jerry Garcia, and that is OK.
I don’t consider it a favorite, but I recently listened to John Lennon’s LIFE WITH THE LIONS (1968). This was his second avant-garde record. Yoko’s stuff is awful as one might expect. “Cambridge 1969” features Yoko screaming over guitar feedback and is intolerable after less than a minute. The most interesting bit is called “Baby’s Heartbeat”, which is an actual recording of the heartbeat of Lennon’s unborn child, who died prior to birth. It’s short but absolutely freaky. Try listening to it alone in the middle of the night with the lights off! It will give you the creeps!
I do like the LIVE JAM portion of SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY (1972), especially John’s jam with Zappa & Mothers at Fillmore East (1971). The other jam from the Lyceum in London (1969) features many guests and an interesting version of Cold Turkey. Of course Yoko has more space to scream and it gets tiresome.
Does anyone like the Sometime in New York City album? I actually love most of John’s contributions. It’s an underrated album.
