Trout Mask Replica

I'm genuinely at a loss for words. I mean, I've known for a while now the mysticism of this album, and all the oddities (putting it lightly) that come with it, but I don't think I've ever been so taken aback by an entire album. I've dabbled in the avant-garde, and it hardly ever ends well, but I still went into this with pretty blank expectations for the sake of my sanity. However, this is appalling, yet appealing, like a car crash you can't look away from, even though you really want to. I spent the majority of this album with my head in hands, trying to live through the utter lack of cohesion or basic enjoyability, and at eighty minutes, that's difficult, but my brain seemed determined to find something I liked here:

"Oh, that guitar lick was nice," or, "wow, this drumming is such an odd time signature," but yet I was ready to tap out at nearly every moment. I understand this album is the complete antithesis of all other music, but I just can't listen to this like you would look at an abstract painting, it defies music itself for me, and my brain genuinely does not know how to react to it. It is not enjoyable, it is not catchy, nothing here is music to me.

Yet, I don't hate it. As I said, I hear a lick here, a still solid song here, and it makes me realize that despite defying music itself, it has those charming moments that some albums trying to be the pinnacle of music making fail to have, and I feel that makes this album somehow even better, despite being one of the worst albums I've ever heard. Its too long, many of the tracks are unlistenable, but as an album perhaps one day, I too can join the ranks of those who understand the "art" of this album. For now, it sits somewhere in the middle for me, as it represents the back-and-forth I had whilst listening.

I will note the album is kind of funny at moments, as when I remembered to tune into the lyrics I'd get such wacky, zany shit that I can't help but appreciate it in that aspect.

Talentfreies benutzen von Instrumenten gepaart mit lärmenden gescheiterten Experimenten sind das Ergebnis diese Aufnahme. Es fehlte nur noch das „Huchz (Kerkeling)“. Möglicherweise wurde das Album unter Nutzung von Rauschmitteln aufgenommen und kann auch nur nach Genuss gleichartiger Stoffe ertragen werden. Nüchtern betrachtet ist die Platte ein Zigarettenstummel der Musikgeschichte - unhörbar.

This wasn't necessarily bad, but it was pretty weird. Not something I'll likely return to. 2.5/5

Wierd as hell, like 4 bands playing 10 different songs at the same time. As close to experimental jazz as a rock album can get (probably) - but moments of clarity. Not on Spotify for some reason, maybe just too strange.

Well the best part of this album were the intermittent YouTube ads offering short relief from the chaos lmao. I might have thrown an extra star out for experimentation/originality if it were short, but damn this is way too long to be so messy. Tbf I didn't really hate anything but I also didn't enjoy absolutely any song so

Can we trade this one out for 'Safe As Milk'?

I hated this to start with, and then it suddenly just clicked into place. Insane and brilliant in equal measure; I can't think of any other album that keeps you on your toes so much.
FAST AND BULBOUS

This is so hard to rate. I don't even know if it's music. But I think it should be on the list.

I can't tell if the band is brilliant or if they're terrible or even if they're playing the same song as the other players. And the Captain sings on top of the sometimes nonsensical music a completely different song. Yet it sometimes really works.

Based on a rating scale that I've done, I think I have to go with "it's fine." I may listen to it again someday, and I think it's important. But I don't think I enjoyed it much.

Definitely one of if not THE weirdest album in this list. It's intentionally difficult, and I totally get why someone would absolutely hate it. However, the songwriting is truly next level and this album has definitely gone on to massively influence music. I real iconic album.

I didn't make it all the way through this, but enjoyed more of what I heard than I expected, given its reputation. Giving a neutral review because I don't want to fall too far behind, but definitely want to come back to this someday and give it another whirl.

One of my favorites. It just packs so much music to enjoy in one album…
Also it can be a lot if you’re not in the headspace to listen to this kind of stuff

I love beefhearts first album and even I thought this was a tough listen

What if every song on an album was a mandatory overtime style jam? Well here you are. This sounds like the musical equivalent of experiencing schizophrenia. You can hear the influence it had on later Tom Waits albums, and I have respect for the insane bravery of this chaotic experiment, but definitely not something I'd listen to for enjoyment. I prefer his somewhat more tuneful output that followed.

This album is going to be work. I hear Tom Waits in here. And there is no groove. its less songs and more every instrument floats in its own space and they sort of flex in and out of time with each other. It's anti-harmony. Wow Captain Beefheart was a terrible human. God this album is grating. She's Too Much For My Mirror is almost a song? There are several almost conventional songs but holy hannah is this an exercise in patience. The best part is when it ends.