Essential
mutation (1998)
Of all things, after the global hit “Odelay” this silent finger exercise. But whenever Beck performs solo performances to this day, he sings one of these 13 songs. Bossa nova, country, shoutouts to the old Kautaback drummer. Songs about hoboism, traveling without luggage, also about western duels and rescuing a girl: “Treated you like a rusty blade/ A throwaway from an open grave/ Cut you loose from a chain gang.” The only breakout is “Diamond Bollocks “, which sounds like Beck giving a concert for Martians: a garage rocker becomes the starting signal for the departure into space. Crucial is “We Live Again,” in which he sings that it’s not him, but a “lonely wind” that turns “shit into gold.” This self-image is what defines the artist, who says that one doesn’t really invent art, but rather just uses vibrations that are in the air.
The Information (2006)
In the spoken word section of the space opera “The Horrible Fanfare,” Beck and his producer, Nigel Godrich, seriously discuss the possibility of exploring the universe with a home-made exoskeleton. That sounds like an idea from stoners, but it sums up the principle of the album: dreamers sing – often in a ghost choir – about exploring unknown worlds and time travel. If you really want to hold Beck against his alleged membership of the Scientologists, then here. The sound design still deserves all the awards in the galaxy: the band echoes in menacing splendor, as if they had their instruments in the white-lit bedroom of Louis XVI. based on Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Odelay (1996)
The invention of the 90s, six years late? At least a work of art from the then ubiquitous postmodernism. The Dust Brothers were at the controls and together they worked on everything that could be quoted and could be considered retro chic. “Where It’s At” is an example of this “found shit is the best shit” philosophy, pairing samples of the rock of the Frogs with the electro-funk of Mantronix: “Got two turntables and a microphone” became the slogan of the summer.
Morning Phase (2014)
In interviews about the record, Beck explained that a back problem could mean not being able to release an album for six years and barely being able to hold an instrument. But he recovered. His comeback came with this folk dance, which was part homage to Nick Drake and part continuation of the ballad “Sea Change” from the beginning of the millennium. A wealth of melodies that you might no longer have expected. His father, David Campbell, arranged the strings in the suicide wish “Wave”, while the traveling song “Heart Is A Drum” heralded departure and happy retrospection: In the video, Beck encounters his “loser” self from 1994, but also the Grim Reaper he cheats. “Morning phase” became his greatest critical success: Award for “Album of the Year” at the Grammys.
Rewarding
Sea Change (2002)
Ten years after the start of his career, the first album that does not contain any irony or “Look at everyone!” quotes from the record box. Because Beck had to deal with a separation. “This record remains my baby,” he says to this day. He is most convincing as a prosecutor: “You are a hopeless case,” he sings in “Lost Cause.” Only occasionally does the pathos seem a bit hollow, like in “Guess I’m Doing Fine”, which features heavily exposed western guitar and lyrically plays with country clichés.
Hyperspace (2019)
The artwork is based on the very popular Japanese city pop of the 80s, but the sound is reminiscent of vaporwave: a frightening and fascinating homage to ambient-like mall music of the 90s, but electronically washed out – as if the tape machine had who plays her Muzak in the department store, caught a virus. The album was created very quickly; producer Pharrell Williams only expected an EP. But as with “Mutations” Beck often walks most safely on the target level when he writes a lot but doesn’t work on his concepts for too long.
Guero (2005)
After the moderately sold “Sea Change” the attempt at an “Odelay II”. The result is a sample album with no surprises, but with good song material that mainly revolves around the Melting Pot Los Angeles. The hellish “Black Tambourine” was used in David Lynch’s “Inland Empire,” where it accompanies the last minutes of a call girl’s life. “Girl” was an attempt to continue the Outkast hit “Hey Ya!” Only the pre-release single “E-Pro” was a mistake: the “So What’cha Want” drum sample from 1992, which was used too prominently, should be left with the Beastie Boys; Beck simply uses it too strikingly.
Supplementary
Midnite Vultures (1999)
Beck was booked as a headliner at festivals, this was his most popular year – because everyone had a new one “Odelay” had expected. Instead, they got a red light album that isn’t good enough as a tribute to Prince, but whose courage and audacity should be honored. “Sexx Laws” was the funk of a white guy who didn’t give a damn about the now-inflated accusation of “cultural appropriation.”
Mellow Gold (1994)
“Loser” was considered a “slacker anthem”. A year after Kurt Cobain’s suicide, Beck seemed to give the answer to why some people don’t want to live anymore. In any case, he established folk hip hop. As a statement, the record is big, the songs are mixed.
Weaker
Colors (2017)
Euphoric by the “Morning phase”-Grammy immediately shot Beck over the target. The mood was clearly too good. His loudest album passes for “power pop” with good will. Children’s songs like “Dreams” are the equivalent of a giant lollipop that you just don’t want to lick after two minutes. Beck raises his voice in an attempt to sound like someone who wants to be at least 20 years younger.
Movie
The Information Videos (2006)
Crazy bonus for “The Information”Album: 15 improvised videos for the songs, recorded in front of a green screen and with the cheapest camera you could find. The band dresses up as astronauts, Vietnam soldiers, bears and cheerleaders. Beck wants to provide insights into his mental life, but this “Video Nasties” fantasy is just scary.
Precious items
Cover songs, features and rarities
“Win”
The “Midnite Vultures”song “Debra” was already a homage to Bowie. Beck interpreted one of his most underrated songs with the acoustic guitar cover.
“Time Wind”
One of the best 80s pop records from 2016 was called “junk” and is by Anthony Gonzalez aka M83. Beck sings on this space new wave.
“Voyage”
He produced Charlotte Gainsbourgs “IRM”album, sang on “Heaven Can Wait” and in the background on this high flight.
“Last Night You Were a Dream”
His “Song Reader” collection of songs only appeared on sheet music and in recordings by other artists. The folk band Lord Huron provided the most beautiful setting.
“Cities”
In 2012 he composed three pieces for the PlayStation computer game “Sound Shapes”, a mixture of pingpling sounds, rave and blues rock.
“Blue Randy”
One of two songs Beck recorded in Jack White’s Nashville studio. B-side of “I Just Started Hating Some People Today” on White’s label Third Man Records.
“Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime”
It beats the Korgi original by far thanks to its fatalistic calm. Dramatic climax of the film “Don’t Forget Me”.
“Kick – INXS”
In his “Record Club” project, Beck covered an entire album per day. He re-recorded the famous 1987 work by INXS with St. Vincent.
“Raspberry Beret”
Beck was the first musician allowed to record in his Paisley Park studios after Prince’s death in 2016. An EP with this Prince hit was released in October of that year.
“Steve Throw Up”
From Beck’s folk-on-the-curb phase before his breakthrough in 1994 with “Loser”. An ode to vomiting, the line “There must have been some sauerkraut” may also allude to the person depicted on the single cover: pop singer Heino.