Customer Reviews

Dust Blows Forward: An Anthology

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is prime Van Vliet. I can't understand some people's "beef" with this collection. Yes, many GREAT Beefheart songs were left off the package, but I believe that's due to something called time restraints! This set ably demonstrates the eccentric genius of the good Captain. From powerful blues (Diddy Wah Diddy), afro trance-rock (Abba Zabba), free-jazz freak-outs (My Human Gets Me Blues), John Cage-ish experimentalism meets acid blues (Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop), surreal darkness (I'm Gonna Booglarize...), powerful Magic Band ensemble work (Big Eyed Beans...), smooth R&B (Too Much Time), to the twisted, brilliant visions of his later career (Bat Chain Puller through Light Reflected...), this set is authoritative.

In addition to the great music, there's a cool 48-page booklet written with intelligent insight and fairness. There's plenty of rare photos to boot. The Dust Blows Forward is a fine tribute (and introduction) to one of the twentieth-century's most noteworthy visionaries.

This is a great little box set of Captain Beefheart's original work. With a very nicely done booklet that chronicles his rocky career of the avant garde blues world. Truly in a class all by himself. What impresses me the most after listening to him again is 1. what a great vocal stylist he was. 2. The beauty and power of his words and images from dark to light. 3. I am sorry I never got to see him live.

Don Van Vliet (a.k.a. Capt. Beefheart) is rock'n'roll's Thelonious Monk--underappreciated, misunderstood, a true iconoclast who composes by his own rules. He is often described as "difficult" but even when things get obtuse, there's often a sprung blues riff or hilarious line of (off-)beat poetry to draw you back in. This two-disc anothology has been compiled and remastered with Rhino's usual loving care and is a far superior introduction to the man than last year's hit-and-miss "Grow Fins" anthology (comprised mainly of second-rate outakes, live tracks, and lots of filler). For long-time fans, however, this new "best-of" only reinforces the tragedy that the majority of Van Vliet's output, including some of his finest albums, is currently unavailable in the U.S. (except at exorbitant import prices). So, Rhino, Ryko, somebody--here's what Beefheart cultists REALLY want: "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" (1970);"Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" (1978); "Doc at the Radar Station" (1980); "Ice Cream for Crow" (1982).

You really can't go too wrong with two discs full of some obvious Beefheart cuts, as long as you have the mandatory rarities, etc. Still, the focus on the obvious skimps on some pretty indispensable items (Space Age Couple, Her eyes are a blue million miles, Son of Mirror Man, Sho' Nuff, Dr. Dark, Trust Us) while excluding all of his rare extended jams (such as 25th Century Quaker). Oh well, if anybody deserves a completist fan base, it's the dear Captain.

Speaking of which, Lick my decals off baby remains the most important disc of music out of circulation, anywhere, while there are a number of folks looking for a pristine release of the original Bat Chain Puller (currently represented by the boot leggy Dust Sucker.

i just stumbled upon this very nicely designed package when i stumbled into a small music store browsing. i dont mind saying that firstly i have always been opposed to "best of comps". i am a vinyl collector and have a very nice beefheart collection that i am very fond of. my prise in his catalogue is a white label pressing of "lick my decals off baby". this has always been, in my opinion, his most rewarding release. anyway. i saw this anthology and was pleasantly taken off guard to know that his music has been collected in a such a respectful manner. since all of my beefheart is on lp, this was one compilation i completely support and it has been added to my collection. on a final note: it took an artist of beefhearts standing to make this a decision that was easy to make. thank you rhino!

This is prime Van Vliet. I can't understand some people's "beef" with this collection. Yes, many GREAT Beefheart songs were left off the package, but I believe that's due to something called time restraints! This set ably demonstrates the eccentric genius of the good Captain. From powerful blues (Diddy Wah Diddy), afro trance-rock (Abba Zabba), free-jazz freak-outs (My Human Gets Me Blues), John Cage-ish experimentalism meets acid blues (Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop), surreal darkness (I'm Gonna Booglarize...), powerful Magic Band ensemble work (Big Eyed Beans...), smooth R&B (Too Much Time), to the twisted, brilliant visions of his later career (Bat Chain Puller through Light Reflected...), this set is authoritative.

In addition to the great music, there's a cool 48-page booklet written with intelligent insight and fairness. There's plenty of rare photos to boot. The Dust Blows Forward is a fine tribute (and introduction) to one of the twentieth-century's most noteworthy visionaries.

Good mix of tunes here, although I might quibble over the non-inclusion of "Dirty Blue Gene" and a few others. Beefheart sounds both saner and crazier as time goes by; by now lots of musicians have absorbed his innovations. I myself listen less these days to his crazier stuff and more to things like "Safe as Milk" and "Clear Spot." But the material from "Trout Mask Replica" and "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" sounds great in this context, as does the later stuff. Someone needs to reissue "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" and add on all the tracks from that era that are bound to be languishing somewhere, and do the same with "Doc at the Radar Station" and "Ice Cream for Crow," which in fact would make a great twofer a la "The Spotlight Kid"/"Clear Spot." For me, Captain Beefheart is easily as important as Hendrix, Miles Davis or the Beatles, and we should be able to get all of his work. But this anthology is a great place to start.

There's a reason that Beefheart never became a household word. This is difficult stuff to listen to. What drew me into his mayhem was his odd brand of beat poetry. Now I need to clarify something. Beat poetry is odd to begin with. Beefheart's brand is even more odd. Add choppy, dissonant music to that and you have muisic that is "Thud-Like" "Opaque melodies that would bug most people"

Some of his lyrics are hysterically funny,(The Dust Blows Forward And The Dust Blows Back) and on occasion, touching naratives.(Orange Claw Hammer). Other times, he's just having fun with words (Big Eyed Beans From Venus). I guess a good description of Beefheart would a Rock&Roll Salvador Dali. This is true surrealism, with a dash of Dadaism thrown in for good measure. All in all, a fine compilation. I didn't have any of his recordings on CD till this came along and for me, this is all I really need. I best enjoy the Captain in small doses. After all, this is muisc that for the most part, makes King Crimson's (My all time favorite band) most off the wall material sound tame. He and Zappa were influenced by each other and so many creative musicians over the last 3 decades have acknowledged him as a major influence.

The last thing I remember hearing about him in the was about 16 years ago. That he'd returned to the Mojave Desert and was living a reclusive life, sculpting and painting.

listening to this compilation makes you wonder why in the world the lp "lick my decals off, baby" isn't available in any format anymore. could somebody please answer this! all the other album are available, but "decals" - arguably his best record - isn't. very strange indeed.

Rhino has once again issued an excellent best of. While some may argue with track selection (and with Captain Beefheart it is easy to argue about what songs are his best) this is the perfect begining for new fans and those curious about the man's music to start. This anthology gives the listener a chance to hear some of the Captain's more commercial recordings as well as some of his most experimental. Trout Mask Replica should really be heard in full. You'll either love it or hate, there's really no in between.