Beck

Beck

Beck

Few artist warrant the term ‘transcendiary’ like Beck. Though many regard 1996 album Odelay as the definitive Beck work, the only real defining feature of Beck’s work is that it escapes all labels.

1994 debut LP Mellow Gold took Beck to mainstream radio, mainly on the strength of hit single Loser. Though many saw Loser as cheap and wrote Beck off as a novelty act, Mellow Gold’s original blend of pop, alternative rock and country made it the surprise hit of 1994.

After releasing Stereopathetic Soulmanure and One Foot in the Grave through independents, Beck returned in 1996 to silence his critics with Odelay, which easily eclipsed the efforts of Mellow Gold. Linking up with production team The Dust Brothers (Beastie Boys), Beck expanded even further from his already eclectic sound, with electronic and hip-hop tangents making Odelay a unique album that achieved double-platinum sales and two Grammy Awards.

Though fans and critics alike were waiting for an equally impressive follow-up album, Mutations was anything but. The album was a laid-back folksy stopgap release designed to keep Beck occupied until the next album proper. That album came in the form of Midnight Vultures, a collection of warped pop songs dripping with innuendo. Sexx Laws and Mixed Bizness were the big hits of the album, which was nominated for Best Album at the 2000 Grammys.

When Beck returned, he once again defied expectation and released a record completely unlike all of his others. Sea Change, a dreamy, melancholy breakup album. No singles were released from the album and sales didn’t come close to the achievements of Odelay, but to fans and critics, it sits right next to Beck’s 1996 effort as one of his best.

2005 brought Guero, Beck’s sixth major label album, which hit number two on the US albums chart, his best result yet. Though it struggled to break any new ground, it fell back on Beck’s most prominent influence: Beck. After remix album Guerolito, 2006’s The Information continued that trend, pulling together the best of his previous albums into an hour-long cross-section of his career.


Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Mirror Traffic Release

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Mirror Traffic

by themhumm, 31st August, 2011

Stephen Malkmus once again proves why he is considered a god like figure in the alternative world.

Beck finished new album two years ago International News

Beck finished new album two years ago

by grattan, 4th August, 2010

Beck says that he will try and release his new album this year and that his work on Stephen Malkmus’ new record is 90% finished.

Various Artists - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack Release

Various Artists - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack

by MorningAfterboy, 1st July, 2010

Forget Team Edward or Jacob - just get on the side of this unexpectedly delightful compilation.

New Beck and Broken Social Scene songs for soundtrack International News

New Beck and Broken Social Scene songs for soundtrack

by CarrieMemphis, 22nd June, 2010

The soundtrack for the film adaptation of 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World' features unreleased songs from Beck, Metric, and Broken Social Scene.

Beck recruits Tortoise, Thurston Moore for mystery cover album International News

Beck recruits Tortoise, Thurston Moore for mystery cover album

by ComfortablyNumb, 17th June, 2010

Beck is collaborating with the Sonic Youth luminary and Chicago post-rock group Tortoise for a new cover album.

Bat For Lashes and Beck album collaboration? International News

Bat For Lashes and Beck album collaboration?

by CarrieMemphis, 1st June, 2010

After Bat For Lashes and Beck collaborated on a track for the new Twilight soundtrack it seems the pair might team up again.

Beck, Black Keys, Muse on Twilight soundtrack International News

Beck, Black Keys, Muse on Twilight soundtrack

by grattan, 13th May, 2010

Muse will again venture into the world of vampiric melodrama for the third installment of the Twilight soundtrack series.

Lidell disses Beck News

Lidell disses Beck

by FL HQ, 11th May, 2010

Jamie Lidell worked with Feist, Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear and Beck on his new album 'Compass', but he wants it known that he’s his own man.

Beck and friends cover INXS International News

Beck and friends cover INXS

by grattan, 19th March, 2010

The next release from Beck’s Record Club is a tribute to INXS’ ‘Kick’, featuring St Vincent and Liars.

Beck's covers club rolls on International News

Beck's covers club rolls on

by JackT, 22nd October, 2009

Enigmatic oddball Beck and his hip friends have been tackling 'Songs Of Leonard Cohen' in their Record Club.

Beck creates a covers club International News

Beck creates a covers club

by JackT, 19th June, 2009

What do the likes of MGMT, Devendra Banhart and Jamie Lidell do on their day off? Join Beck for a sing-along and back-pat, of course.

Various Artists - War Child Heroes Release

Various Artists - War Child Heroes

by feelingsinister, 12th March, 2009

15 music legends ask some of today's hottest artists to rework their songs - and all for a worthwhile cause.

Beck to pop album out early International News

Beck to pop album out early

by JackT, 8th May, 2008

In keeping with the recent trend of shotgun releases, our favourite oddball Beck is unveiling his album in "four to six weeks", having only recently completed it.

Outside Lands line-up announced International News

Outside Lands line-up announced

by Huzz, 25th March, 2008

The inaugural San Francisco Outside Lands Festival has just announced the first wave of acts to play the three-day music and arts event, which boasts some of the biggest names in live music.

Beck admits his lyrical gibberish International News

Beck admits his lyrical gibberish

by JackT, 8th February, 2008

Sorry Odelay fanatics - Beck has admitted that the lyrics to tracks like The New Pollution and Devil's Haircut were - œscratch vocals'. In other words, complete nonsense.

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Array.last_post[0].user.username AzraelBlack said on Thu 24th Jun, 2010
"zelda music as well. oh dear, this sounds incredible."
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Array.last_post[0].user.username grattan said on Fri 2nd Jul, 2010
"Holy shit - they're covering Yanni! http://cdn.pitchfork..."
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Array.last_post[0].user.username AussieRockFreak said on Wed 2nd Jun, 2010
"beck does a great job whoever he's working with. someday,..."
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Array.last_post[0].user.username Braveheart81 said on Mon 24th May, 2010
"I would almost put Muse ahead of INXS in terms of destroy..."
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Array.last_post[0].user.username The Great Monkey War said on Wed 12th May, 2010
"I like Guero and Modern Guilt. Don't really care for the..."