Beck’s single “Loser” appeared out of nowhere, a humorous quasi-rap that showed no mercy in mocking itself. It was everywhere, and it was brilliant. Yet it seemed destined to be a one-hit-wonder novelty track, a required inclusion in every future old geezer’s ‘90s mix tape.
What a surprise that the album that followed it, Mellow Gold (1994), was so equally zany, yet excellent. Follow-up album Odelay (1996) was possibly even better. Beck, it turned out, was one of the major musical figures of the decade. (Along with Radiohead’s “Creep,” “Loser” was one of two early-‘90s shoulda-been-one-hit-wonders that never were. And the music world is a better place for it.)
Here’s some Beck. Love it, you losers.
Playlist 1
Playlist One chronicles Beck’s essential first two albums, which introduced the world to the brilliantly off-the-wall imagination of Beck Hansen.
Playlist 2
Mutations (1998) was well-reviewed at the time, but it never felt as essential to me, and it still doesn’t, although the samba rhythms of “Tropicalia” are a nice touch. To celebrate 1999, Beck got his Prince on, incorporating all kinds of funky into his fresh mix on Midnite Vultures. And the sorrowful Sea Change (2002) was another career highlight. It’s an album that is perhaps best heard on its own—when I tried to combine it with other works here, it didn’t seem to fit, and I pruned more of it than is representative of its quality. (I miss the strings on “Paper Tiger,” for example.)
Playlist 3
I suspect the potential for Beck to truly surprise us is long past, but he still puts out plenty of good music. Here’s a blend of some of his albums from the ‘00s.
Cover Art:
- Mutations: Source, Discogs.com, Fair use.
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