[NJ]

The name Captain Beefheart is bound to bring up debates on forums such as these; he's a very controversial figure in music history. He is known primarily for the avant-guard double LP 'Trout Mask Replica,' whose difficult, polyrythmic sounds alienates many listeners. Many listen to the album and hate it, dismissing its fans as pretentious and many have a hard time accepting that people can unironically enjoy it (they can). Many listen to it and find it funny but stupid, and while they still think it's terrible, they have some kind of ironic enjoyment. And, of course, there's the pretentious group I belong to that genuinely likes listening to the album (in fact, I'd go as far as saying that listening to it makes everything else boring and hard to listen to for a while). Regardless of your stance on the album, you're not wrong. It's a long album that definitely challenges the listener. If you don't "get it" (I hate that term, but for lack of a better one...), that's fine. The point of this post isn't actually about that album, or the extremely interesting story behind it (which you should totally read about, even if you can't stand the album). It's actually about the Captain's other albums.

Though that album is what he's known for, if you didn't know, he's released a large body of legendary albums, which you might be able to enjoy even if you don't like 'Trout Mask Replica.' His first album, 'Safe As Milk,' is a more standard blues rock album, with some great tracks on it ('Electricity' being my personal favorite). It's definitely a great starting place for his work - it's an easy listen. None of his works come close to 'Trout Mask Replica' in the difficulty department.

His follow up to 'Trout Mask Replica,' 'Lick My Decals Off, Baby,' is kind of just a sequel to the former. I wouldn't recommend it to those who don't like 'Trout Mask Replica,' but it's great for those who do. It's much, much shorter, and the production is much cleaner and more skillful. It loses a lot of the magic of 'Trout Mask Replica,' in my opinion, due to its conciseness, but it's probably to most realized expression of the Captain's style, even if it's not quite as sprawling and unique as its predecessor.

Like 'Safe As Milk,' 'The Clear Spot' and 'The Spotlight Kid' were more standard, mainstream albums (at least as mainstream as he could be), but they're still very good, and if you liked 'Safe As Milk,' these'd also be worth checking out.

After those two albums, however, the Captain hit a bit of a rough spot for a few years as he desperately tried to reach mainstream success (he didn't). For his last three albums, they were a return to form. Falling somewhere between his easier albums and his more experimental works, 'Shiny Beasts (Bat Chain Puller),' 'Doc at the Radar Station' and 'Ice Cream For Crow' are a good next step after 'Safe As Milk,' 'The Spotlight Kid' and 'Clear Spot.' They definitely represent an artist with a lot of experience under his belt, and are all fantastic albums. I know I didn't go over all his albums, but the others aren't as recommended unless you're a fan.

None of the albums are nearly as difficult and bizarre as 'Trout Mask Replica,' except for perhaps 'Lick My Decals Off, Baby,' so I think the Captain gets a poor rep because that's what he's known for. Unlike 'Trout Mask Replica,' pretty much all his other albums are very short and concise, so don't worry that you'll have to sit through another 28-song baggy epic - they're just good, often very unique collections of songs. If you haven't, you should consider checking out some of his other works. Perhaps you'll like them. He might just not be your style, but you never know until you try.

Edit: Took some of your posts into consideration and edited accordingly. Thanks for your responses!

[Jameth]

I've only listened to Safe As Milk and Trout Mask Replica. Both are absolutely incredible, so I'll second that people should hear at least those two. I already have plans to listen to the rest of his discography (or most of it), and plan on going through Zappa and The Residents alongside Beefheart.

There are multiple standouts on Safe As Milk, aside from "Electricity". My personal favorite is "Autumn's Child", which I would say sounds as if it were painted on canvas. That album (and that song in particular) has such a distinctively crazed and pagan aura to it, and I can't think of a true analog for it.

[Skinny]

Lick My Decals Off, Baby is my favourite. I don't dislike anything I've heard, though.
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[PurpleHazel]

[SleepDealer]

Safe As Milk and Clear Spot are probably my favourites. I also love all the albums mentioned by the OP.

Trout Mask Replica is okay. Probably the biggest issue I have with it is its length - I rarely love long albums.
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[50041]

I'm still trying to 'aapreciate' TMR. Even after several listenings I just don't find it enjoyable listening.

[LankyLen]

[CharlieBarley]

I prefer Safe As Milk although TMR is an interesting experience to listen to.
The only other album of his I've heard is Ice Cream For Crow.
My fav track of his, off SAM, is Abba Zabba. I love those groovy bass lines. It would be a good song to listen to if you were learning bass guitar.

[LedZep]

I really like TMR, find it funny and engaging as well as extremely ahead of its time and influential. However it’s a difficult listen, I don’t listen to it often and I can’t imagine it ever being in my top 500 or so albums. That’s probably why I still haven’t dug into his discography apart from TMR.
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2020s

[Romanelli]