Sorry for totally breaking my one post a week rule. Life has gotten very interesting as of late.
Interesting in a good way! But interesting in a way that has made it difficult to dedicate time to writing. Still and yet, I did manage to get one more installment of my Scrunged series up, this time looking at Bush. Take a look if you’d like to read my thoughts on one of the most forgettable multi-platinum rock bands of all-time.
Beck
Jack-Ass (Butch Vig Mix)
Devil’s Haircut (Remix By Mickey P.)
Okay, I need to rant about Beck winning album of the year at the Grammys. I know I’m late but I need to Kanye this shit.
That Beck album is garbage. Hot garbage. It’s sad bastard bullshit music for sad bastards. I’m sorry. I tried to listen to the entire thing but I just couldn’t. It’s boring, musically, lyrically, thematically, just about in every damn way imaginable. It has to be Beck’s worst album since Sea Change, another overrated piece of trash that critics have needlessly gone gaga over ever since its first release.
Beck’s best album is Midnite Vultures. I mean it.
What the hell is so special about Sea Change and Morning Phase? Both records could just be renamed Sad Man Sits In Front Of A Microphone And Whines.
Whoop.
De.
Shit.
Midnite Vultures, on the other hand, is a work of a wondrous genius. It’s Beck taking Prince and doing Prince better than 90% of Prince’s output for the past 20+ years. Taking funk and injecting it with an utterly leftfield production style and some of the strangest lyrics ever committed to tape. “Sexx Laws,” amazing. “Nicotine & Gravy,” funkified masterwork.” “Peaches & Cream,” down and dirty funk of the funkiest funkitude. And don’t even get me started on “Debra,” easily one of the greatest slow jams in history.
Midnite Vultures remains an entirely unique record not only in Beck’s discography, but in popular music. It’s a damn tragedy that it’s fallen to the wayside. First to Sea Change and now to Morning Phase.
Fuck sad beck. Funky beck for life.
Nirvana
Smells Like Teen Spirit (AV8 Remix 1)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (AV8 Remix 2)
Bootleg hip-house mixes from 2009. The first is rather standard, and just injects some added beats and an inane MC. The second is far more…well, I was going to say “interesting,” but maybe I should just be honest and go with “stupid.” It’s not even a remix as it is an entirely original rap track with the backing track of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” haphazardly plastered over it.
I mean, I love it, but I think Morning Phase is bullshit and Midnite Vultures is one of the best albums of the 20th century, so I’m obviously not one who should be trusted in the slightest.
long time reader blah blah blah…
I am so with you regarding Beck’s Grammy. I love Midnight Vultures; it’s my go to Beck disc. While the dourness of both SEA Change and Morning Phase just bum me out. There are a couple of ok songs on both discs but they are certainly not representative of WHO BECK is (at least to me). What is your opinion of Guero and Guerolito? I kind of prefer Guerolito. Anyway just wanted to chime in and say, love the site and I hope all is well for you. Thanks.
I trust ya without a doubt.
But I have to say, “Sea Change” is just one of those records that… if it lands in yr lap at just the right time in your life, it’s pretty much perfect. And the 5.1 mix of it is mind-blowingly amazing to boot.
That said, it’s not so much for everyday use, whereas Midnite Vultures and Mutations (!!) do get regular play, and alwasys have, so I feel ya on this.
I was just saying this to my wife the other day…I agree 100%. He should try to ride the wave created by Nile Rodgers, Pharrell, Mark Ronson, etc. and do some more of the funk.
I must concur. I liked Beck much more when he was batshit crazy (aka probably on copious amounts of drugs). Since he won, I’ve been revisiting his 90’s output and it was just sooooooo good. Mellow Gold will always be my favorite from that era. Just all over the place and funky. Thanks again for the mixes and all your hard work in general on here and Mostly Retro.
(hey – long time reader, rare commenter – just had to say)
totally one THOUSAND percent agree with you… “Midnite Vultures” is by far the best Beck album
the only ‘sad Beck’ album that’s any good is ‘Mutations’ … and it’s only OK
_Midnite Vultures_ is very strong among his canon, and a unique side-trip as well. My favorite moment is the combo of beatboxing, sampled guitar and sword-unsheathing sound effects at the beginning of “Pressure Zone.”
But personally, I thought _Odelay_ was the most groundbreaking and envelope-pushing record…at the time. Still sounds good as well, IMO. The sad ones just kind of float by and don’t make much impact.
“Blue Moon” I like a lot as a single, but the whole thing isn’t exactly Grammy material. I’ve just been wondering why nobody really jumped on the three fantastic (if somewhat stretched out) 12inches he put out shortly before on Fonograf ?
Especially “Gimme” in all it’s 25-minute glory stands out as a complicated yet funky track, there should’ve been a whole album of these nuggets.
Hey there- great article and blog, will be adding you to my blogroll! I feel the same way about Vultures as the rest of you all but there’s just one other Beck album that wins it for me called The Information;-) I was very disappointed in Modern Guilt but there are a few songs on it I dig. Information, Vultures, and Guero would be my top 3.
Sorry, but you’re wrong. It’s idiots like you that don’t see to get what it means to be a fan. It’s about him and his musical journey. You’re just along for the ride. Beck makes the best music he can make, and it’s not always about what you want. If you can’t accept that, then don’t call yourself a fan.
Hey, if he wants to make an album comprised of fart samples and mouth harps he can go nuts. But I don’t have to like it.
You can also ignore what you don’t want to hear without being disrespectful. Don’t like the album, don’t buy it, listen to it or comment on it. It’s that simple.
Or I can criticize like a writer does.
Judging from the quality of your writing, you should probably give it up. Wouldn’t be much of a loss.
I’ll shuffle that request in the folder of angry emails I’ve gotten from Tokio Hotel, LCD Soundsystem, Fall Out Boy and Rush fans.
Something about emo, prog and “hipster” music sure does attract people who think unpopular opinions and/or opinions they disagree with are instantly invalid.
That’s because you’re surprised to find that these artists have fans. Fans who don’t think your word is law just because you have a blog you can post your opinions to and they don’t. If you’re willing to share your point of view in public, then be prepared to expect some opposition to it.
Yes. I am aware how opinions and discourse work.
Yeesh Norton231 – do you have BECK stock or something? You sure are taking someone’s opinion personally. The funniest part is that you seem to say that anything that BECK puts out it cannot be interpreted as bad. Or more importantly invalid. How does saying that you did not enjoy the recently celebrated album make someone a non-fan? Any more than you saying that it’s about the journey makes you a true fan? I’m just confused by calling anyone an Idiot and then really just saying it’s because they are not true fans. That just seems pedantic to me.
I cannot speak for this site’s owner, but as a music fan; I go to sites just like these to explore differing opinions. But all you seem to offer is that the writer is wrong. No counter point. That’s counter productive to your argument and frankly useless. I can’t say that I always agree with LT, specifically his take down of PAW and Jesse in particular. That song freaking rocks. But that’s cool that he does not like it. It does not mean that I cannot still enjoy it or shouldn’t enjoy it.
Thanks
Thank you. I’m glad we agree on something.
Jesse isn’t that bad a song, just kinda derivative and vaguely gross.
James B., my last comment (Thank you. I’m glad we agree on something.) was my answer to Lost Turntable’s previous comment, not yours. Let’s just say I understand his point of view, but don’t necessarily agree with it. I don’t need you to clarify his position for me.
James B, I don’t need you to clarify his position for me. Let’s just say I understand his point of view, but don’t necessarily agree with it.
My last comment (Thank you. I’m glad we agree on something.)was in response to Lost Turntable’s previous comment (Yes. I am aware of how opinions and discourse work.)not James B’s comment.