Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974)
This is apparently the straw that broke the camel's back. Frown can tell you more of course, but Wiki tells me that when the Magic Band heard this album they all quit. This cannot be seen as a good start, and when one of the band says “Every song was worst than the last”, well...
1. Upon the my-oh-my Didn't find that terrible. More commercial certainly; I would get the impression that he wasn't trying too hard on the lyrical side but not bad.
2. Sugar bowl Bit of a blues uptempo track, slightly annoying I must say. Some good guitar but again the song seems pretty throwaway if catchy. Meh.
3. New Electric ride Yeah this is pretty neat. Like the slide guitar.
4. Magic Bee Reminds me of the tune to “Hang down your head”, though I know this is a decade before Waits cut that album. Sort of an acoustic ballad. Not bad. Goes on a bit, gets a little wearing.
5. Happy love song Like the sax on this one a lot. Pretty decent song, kind of hear Springsteen in there.
6. Full moon, Hot sun This one's ok before the harmonica kicks in then it goes Green.
7. I Got love on my mind Yeah I really like this one. There's something about the melody. I think someone ripped it off later.
8. This is the day This is just lovely. Very Knopfleresque guitar, lovely organ work.
9. Lazy music Another nice simple tune.
10. Peaches Cool rocker, a lot of fun. Brass is great
End result: I suppose if you're a diehard Beefheart fan like Frown you probably hate this, but I must say it was very pleasant and I see no reason to justify the above comments from his band, nor his own advice that people who bought the album should seek a refund. Not that anyone would give a refund for such a reason of course. But if I had this album I wouldn't be upset. If more of Beefheart's material was like this I could see myself maybe getting more into his music.
So, Love or Hate? This is surely a
Love.