{{about|the Magic Band album|the Entombed A.D. album|Back to Front (Entombed A.D. album)}} {{use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{use list-defined references|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Back to the Front | type = studio | artist = The Magic Band | cover = The Magic Band - Back to the Front.jpg | alt = A dilapidated sign with an arrow pointing to the ground in a desert scene and a placard with the name of the album and artist | released = {{start date|2003|07|08}} | recorded = | studio = Paradoxx Sound Studios, Palmdale, California, US | genre = Experimental rock | length = {{Duration|m=55|s=37}} | language = English | label = ATP Recordings | producer = *John French *Bob Weston | next_title = | next_year = }} '''''Back to the Front''''' is the debut album by American experimental rock group The Magic Band, who had previously served as the backing band for Captain Beefheart both live and in the studio for several years. The album received mixed reviews from critics.
==Reception== Editors at AllMusic 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".<ref name="amg" /> In ''The Guardian'', 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".<ref name="guard" /> Writing for Pitchfork Media, 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.<ref name="pm" />
==Track listing== All songs written by Don Van Vliet. #"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 bass guitar, design concept *John French – Perspective drums, harmonica, vocals, production, design concept *Gary Lucas – guitar *Denny Walley – guitar
'''Additional personnel''' *Ben Drury – sleeve design *Matt Groening – liner notes *Gary Lucas – photography *Tim Sutton – photography *Bob Weston – production
==See also== *List of 2003 albums
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="amg">{{Cite web |url=https://allmusic.com/album/mw0000035458 |title=Back to the Front – The Magic Band |language=en-US |website=AllMusic |publisher=RhythmOne |accessdate=2024-03-06 |first=Sean |last=Westergaard |date=n.d.}}</ref> <ref name="guard">{{Cite news |issn=1756-3224 |oclc=60623878 |language=en-GB |newspaper=The Guardian |department=Music |accessdate=2024-03-06 |date=2003-07-03 |first=David |last=Peschek |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/jul/04/popandrock.shopping4 |title=The Magic Band: Back to the Front}}</ref> <ref name="pm">{{Cite web |publisher=Pitchfork Media |language=en-US |department=Albums |accessdate=2024-03-06 |date=2003-07-22 |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5032-back-to-the-front/ |first=Andy |last=Beta |title=The Magic Band: Back to the Front Album Review}}</ref> }}
==External links== *{{Discogs master}} *{{MBrgID}}
{{Captain Beefheart}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2003 debut albums Category:The Magic Band albums Category:ATP Recordings albums