CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND THE MAGIC BAND: “Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" (Warner Bros.) :: Inspired by the Captain’s untoward comeback, I’ve dug out all his old albums and discovered that as far as I’m concerned this is better than any of them—more daring than Safe as Milk, fuller than Trout Mask Replica, more consistent than Lick My Decals Off, Baby.