Beck "Mutations" 1998****

My initial impression of Beck was that he was another smart lo-fi studio artist, updating folk and rock's past with electro and hip hop influences. His "Loser" was an anthem for the slacker generation, but his nonchalant singing style wouldn't take him far. Indeed his vocals remain his biggest weakness, but over time he's proved a master of assimilating influences from various sources and creating something idiosyncratically modern. Though not devoid of studio wizardry, "Mutations" is definitely a song-based collection. Opener "Cold Brains" is a druggy folk song embellished by electronic sounds, chiming glockenspiel and a desolate harmonica solo. "Nobody's Fault But My Own" is an acid folk ballad with a prominent sitar giving it a strong 60's feel - one of his best. Radiohead producer  Nigel Godrich proves once again a master of atmospherics and Beck's vocal, however understated, conveys emotion well. The Kinks-like "Lazy Flies" is followed by the countrified "Canceled Check" with old-timey pedal steel guitar and New Orleans horns. "We Live Again", "Dead Melodies" and "Sing It Again" are more country-tinged ballads. "Bottle of Blues" is a relatively upbeat whimsical 60's number, once again reminiscent of the Kinks, while "Static" and "O Maria" sound like the work of a jazzier Syd Barrett. Bonus tracks "Diamond Bollocks" and "Runners Dial Zero" aren't bad but kinda don't really belong here, the former being a loud fuzzy piece and latter a drunken lo-fi ballad. That leaves us with "Tropicalia", the album's lead single. It's got an infectious bossa nova beat, playful trombone and funny electronic bleeps, inviting us not to take it too seriously and join in the fun. Which we can't help but do...

***** for Tropicalia

**** for Nobody's Fault But My Own, Canceled Check,  Dead Melodies, Bottle of Blues,

*** for Cold Brains, Lazy Flies, We Live Again, O Maria, Sing It Again, Static

** for Diamond Bollocks, Runners Dial Zero

Beck "Midnite Vultures" 1999***

I certainly didn't see that coming when Beck first emerged with his indie MTV hit "Loser", but as it turns out he  is one of those pop geniuses you hear about. Not that I like his records so much, but there's no denying he can write songs in any number of genres, sing, play and produce. He has released a number of well-crafted albums without, miraculously, repeating himself. "Vultures" is, apparently, his bid for the dancefloor, day-glo cover and all. He fails, of course, because he's too brainy to make authentic dance music - but leaves us with another interesting record and some songs with great hooks. Opener "Sexx Laws" is a soul groover with a horn section straight from the 60's. "Nicotine & Gravy" is another winner with its lusty lyrics and electronic funk and "Mixed Bizness" the 3rd hit in a row, another funk dynamite with prominent bass a la  Funkadelic. The momentum, however, proves impossible to sustain. The Kraftwerk proto-techno of "Get Real Paid" and rap stylings of "Hollywood Freaks" seem rather forced to me and so does the Prince-impersonating "Peaches & Cream". "Broken Train" has a pleasantly experimental vibe, like Eno producing psychedelic-era Beatles while "Milk & Honey" has 80's disco synth sounds and reminds me of Grandmaster Flash and Giorgio Moroder. Its long outro segues nicely into folk/soul ballad "Beautiful Way", one of the few tracks where Beck actually sounds like himself.  "Pressure Zone" is another mix of psychedelia, funk and proto-techno and "Debra" where the Prince obsession reaches its zenith. Beck almost gets the falcetto right and the song is actually better than most of Prince's recent output, but to me he sounds like he's trying too hard to be black, a common fault for white artists since the beginning of rock'n'roll. Some people can pull it off, but if you have to try so hard you just embarrass yourself. In any case, the album gathered good reviews and sold well, while Beck, having obviously gotten it out of his system, never repeated the effort.

**** for Sexx Laws, Nicotine & Gravy, Mixed Bizness

*** for Get Real Paid, Broken Train, Milk & Honey, Beautiful Way, Pressure Zone, Debra

** for Hollywood Freaks, Peaches & Cream