''Back to the Front'' is the debut album by American
experimental rock
Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, with ...
group
The Magic Band
The Magic Band was the backing band of American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Captain Beefheart between 1967 and 1982. The rotating lineup featured dozens of performers, many of whom became known by nicknames given to them by Beefhe ...
, who had previously backed
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet (; born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as Th ...
live and on record for several years. It received mixed reviews from critics.
Reception
Editors at
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
rated this album 4 out of 5 stars, with critic Sean Westergaard writing that on this recording, the band "attack" the songs, "summoning up the controlled chaos that made the original Captain Beefheart recordings such singular achievements" and finished that "if you're a fan, you need this".
In ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', David Peschek scored this release 2 out of 5 stars, stating that while the band has the ability to "bamboozle, confound and alarm", but these songs will just "drive you back to the original recordings".
Writing for
Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
, Andy Beta scored ''Back to the Front'' a 7.3 out of 10, writing that the song selection is strong and that
John French did an admirable job in the absence of original vocalist Captain Beefheart.
Track listing
All songs written by
Don Van Vliet
Don, don or DON and variants may refer to:
Places
*County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON
* Don (river), a river in European Russia
* Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name
* Don, Benin, a town in Benin
* Don, Dang, a ...
.
#"My Human Gets Me Blues" – 3:12
#"Click Clack" – 4:04
#"Abba Zaba" – 2:44
#"I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby" – 4:24
#"Sun Zoom Spark" – 2:22
#"Alice in Blunderland" – 3:56
#"Steal Softly Thru Snow" – 2:37
#"Dropout Boogie" – 2:44
#"Moonlight on Vermont" – 3:34
#"Circumstances" – 3:51
#"On Tomorrow" – 3:47
#"The Floppy Boot Stomp" – 4:05
#"Hair Pie" – 2:27
#"Nowadays a Woman's Gotta Hit a Man" – 4:00
#"When It Blows It Stacks" – 4:09
#"I Wanna Find a Woman That'll Hold My Big Toe Till I Have to Go"/"Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do" – 3:47
Personnel
The Magic Band
*
Mark Boston –
Middle Earth
Middle or The Middle may refer to:
* Centre (geometry), the point equally distant from the outer limits.
Places
* Middle (sheading), a subdivision of the Isle of Man
* Middle Bay (disambiguation)
* Middle Brook (disambiguation)
* Middle Creek ( ...
bass guitar, design concept
*
John French – Perspective drums, harmonica, vocals,
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
, design concept
*
Gary Lucas
Gary Lucas (born June 20, 1952) is an American guitarist/songwriter/composer who was a member of Captain Beefheart's band. He formed the band Gods and Monsters in 1989.
Lucas has released more than 50 albums to date as a solo artist or band l ...
– guitar
*
Denny Walley
Denny Walley is an American guitarist who was born in Pennsylvania 4 February 1943. He is known for working with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and '80s.
Career
Denny Walley spent much of his childhood in New York City before his family moved to La ...
– guitar
Additional personnel
*Ben Drury – sleeve design
*
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram Groening ( ; born February 15, 1954) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is the creator of the comic strip ''Life in Hell'' (1977–2012) and the television series ''The Simpsons'' (1989–present), ''Fut ...
–
liner notes
Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes.
Origin
Liner notes are desce ...
*Gary Lucas – photography
*Tim Sutton – photography
*
Bob Weston
Bob Weston (born 1965) is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason AnkenyAnkeny, Jason. " Bob Weston: Overview from Allmusic.com declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over th ...
– production
See also
*
List of 2003 albums
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
2003 debut albums
The Magic Band albums
ATP Recordings albums