Next in my weirdo artist list is Captain Beefheart, who I was introduced to by his appearance on Frank Zappa’s “Willie The Pimp.” Any discussion of musical weirdness must include Zappa at some point, after all. Beefheart’s distinctive, gravelly voice and quirky performance intrigued me and I became acquainted with Trout Mask Replica. Somehow, I didn’t explore any further into the Cap’n’s catalog until now. Safe As Milk, his first album, features some great blues/rock songs, as well as a decent amount of the unusual writing and performances that would characterize his later music. It’s especially interesting to see the progression of such a unique artist as they home in on their own special brand of music.
New Album A Day 