lilgish said:

I'll give you that - for Odelay. The best thing about Guero is that it's actual songs. They'd be just as good with any arrangement.

Same goes for the masterpieces "Debra" and "Nobody's Fault But My Own." I saw Beck perform "Nobody's Fault" live on this little toy synthesizer thing. PBS or something. Amazing - and the manchild can sang.
[Edited 3/30/05 14:50pm]

namepeace said:

Co-sign (again!) Beck is one of the most diverse and talented artists around, IMO. He is an equisite song-writer and a dynamic performer. I just saw him last month performing songs from Guero and I knew instantly that I wanted the new CD.

You either get it or you don't.

Because, like Prince, David Bowie, Hendrix and so many other great artists, he's taken pieces of different music styles and created his own vocabulary of music. Anyone who reinvents pop music like that is worthy of praise in my book. And he has that awkward white-boy soul coupled with humour in parts which I so dig at times.

Don't think he's been influential and/or groundbreaking? You only need look to bands like Cake and Gomez and many others to see he's a figurehead of alternative music.

DRocker said:


Indeed.

mrdespues said:


Indeed.

When I first heard "Loser" in the early-90's, I dismissed Beck as some gimmicky rocker trying to capitalize on hip-hop. It took me years to break down and buy his stuff. I'm glad I did. Similarly, my first impression of Prince (as a kid) (circa 1999) was that he was a nasty, fruity, arrogant cat who made a few good songs.

namepeace said:

funny those are exactly the same impressions I had of both artists at first. some people should dig deeper on Beck, because they might be missing out on something really cool.

Beck is cool but Bobby Conn is the man! You guys should check out the Golden Age". It rocks!!

dancerella said:

aw man, bobby conn kicks my ass. 'the golden age' is awesome...'no revolution' is like the duet between talking heads and prince & the revolution that never happened.

i saw bobby conn live once, and not only was he completely bizarre, but he had the chops live that he does on record. dude can sing.

lilgish said:

His latest stuff definitely is not cuttting it. When he first started out, people used to think his shit was cutting edge. But since, we know what to expect, its like no big fucking deal. His latest material sucks ass big time.
[Edited 3/30/05 20:52pm]

Hotlegs said:

hey until i hear you write a decent song, i'll be happy in the knowledge that your opinion is only yours. countless people who know a thing or two about music would say you don't know what you're talking about. i'm one of them.

mrdespues said:

So because you host your self-penned music on a freewebs site, your opinion is more valid. Got it.

Ya know, it's just an opinion. You don't have to be a prig about it

Hotlegs said:

i don't know about cutting edge. i like it because i think it's good. it's melodic, it's often funky, or else it's often very pretty, and sometimes he makes me laugh.

and if his new album sucks, then 'sucks' is the new 'rules'.

Anxiety said:

Actually, I like Odelay better.

Hotlegs said:

okay, that's a statement i can work with. why do you like it better?

VoicesCarry said:

sorry, but when i hear someone diss an artist I like from an armchair critic perspective, it shits me. sorry if that's priggy, but among a lot of other things it takes a lot of skill to be where Beck is at. then again i'm inclined to say who gives a fuck anyway, because it's only music.

Anxiety said:

I'll bite...because you really get a sense of play, of delighting in the ripping off shit, which is what he's always traded in. Now he just sounds a little too comfortable, except on that glorious "Clap Hands."

I don't buy when he's serious lately, cuz all I see is the cover of "Dianetics"...it's a pretty cover, all lava and shit, but it's still kind of silly sci-fi, and he doesn't seem to get that that's funny anymore.

MendesCity said:

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Anxiety said:

That's so unfair! It's not only unfair to the electronic avant-garde, but also to dead artists who no longer can do it "live". Poor Mozart, destined to remain crap in his grave...

BobGeorge909 said:

I disagree about Beck's vocals being horrible. He does actually hit those high notes on Deborah. I think his voice suits his music.

Plus, I disagree about Beck not caring what his records sound like or the mix. Yes, some of his stuff is lo-fi, but when u listen to something like Midnite Vultures there is a lot going on there and it's all been very meticulously put together.

I think Beck is brilliant. I'll be getting the new album very soon.

lilgish said:

That's exactly why I like him.

But yeah, he is one of those artists who makes more of an impression live I think.
[Edited 3/31/05 2:20am]

Novabreaker said:

i dunno if it's unfair. i like some pretty avant-garde stuff, and they all seem to be able to pull it off live. the times i've seen the residents and laurie anderson live, they've been able to translate their work to the stage. so it doesn't sound exactly like the recorded versions - good! they have the skill to arrange their work for live performance, and they do it with a sense of artistry and fun. and beck is totally able to do that. what's wrong with that as a criteria? check out bjork's vespertine live DVD - that's what i'm talking about.

minneapolisgenius said:


After first listening to his music - I was inspired to see his live show and was all the more impressed.

Check out this thread that Anxiety posted:

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/139315

It's for Beck fans... got it last night myself!
[Edited 3/31/05 9:43am]

Anxiety said:

Everything about that album/tour is jaw-droppingly, mind-bogglingly, awe-inspiringly amazing.

sorry, but whatever you all think of beck, 'black tambourine' is THE jam.

Anxiety said:

I'm totally broke, but I'm getting this album today due to your strong recommendation.

GangstaFam said:

do it. go for broke. and get the deluxe edition. you won't even realize you're outta money, you'll be too distracted.

Anxiety said:

You're hilarious Chris.

Beck takes the funnest elements of popular culture and blends them together easily, but he still challenges your intellect and never makes you feel "I've heard this before." He's artsy but not pretentious; he's pop but he doesn't pander.

My only problem is is inability to sound truly passionate on vocals, even on a serious album like Sea Change.

andyman91 said:

it's true - his vocals and sometimes even his music does suggest a bit of emotional distance, whether he intends it or not. but also, i think he's better with portraying melancholy and weariness than he is at portraying passion and anything nearing excitement (exciting though his music may sound).

Anxiety said:

His vocals always sound cool, though. Maybe he's afraid of losing that, unless it's something kind of ridiculous like Deborah.

Sea Change was an obvious attempt at distancing himself from the comical image he has, and it worked, but it was not exactly John Lennon.