If Trout Mask puts you off I'd say go back to the beginning and check this out. I think it made me appreciate Trout Mask more.

I just bought this album only to discover it has the exact same songs, only in a different order, as an album called Zig Zag Wanderer I've had about 15 years. Although I do like it that I only recognised about 6 of the song titles having had it so long tells a story. Not something I'd consume every day but when I'm in the mood for a portion of blues with a side of surrealism this is where you'll find me.

Fiery whip-cracking blues-rock. This is about as enjoyable as music gets, as far as I'm concerned.

I agree, 1st half is perfect, but maybe it's the 2nd inconsistent half which makes it even more brilliant.

Very normal tracks compared with Trout Mask. I think it's just as great.

Why do all of these songs have such low ratings?

Solid. Not groundbreaking maybe, but not every album has to be. Zig zag.

Like Morrissey, a true original of popular music. Impossible to categorise. Some of his albums are wilfully uncommercial, but this one has some great tunes and riffs amonst the more experimental stuff.

Beefheart plays a damn good blues.

More closely resembling the traditional structure of doo-wop, rhythm and blues and the delta blues than Trout Mask Replica, Van Vliet plays it relatively straight. But there is enough 'cosmic' experimentation going on here to render this another Beefheart classic.