Holy crap this is by far the weirdest album of all-f*ckin'-time! Beefheart pulled off this monstrosity by finding a slew of amateur musicians, teaching them to play his mad orchestrated version of Rock 'n' Roll. He controlled his players using degradation ceremonies, starvation, isolation and brainwash techniques, to the point that one guy escaped, hide stuff in nearby bushes, ran off, made it away from his captive Captain, then the guilt and confusion drew him back to the Beefheart cult.
I have to admit that I've only been able to sit through this entirely twice. I seriously don't get why this record is so revered, and I seriously don't want to!! I swear people like this music because no one in their right mind possibly could enjoy it, like you are part of a secret club, you grasp something people could never understand ... anyway if you ever see me one day, and I am screaming up and down the street wearing a trout mask, saying "this is the greatest album of all-time," please take me behind the chemical sheds and shoot me!