Beck

[tom_cas1]

Anyone else think he's criminally underrated?

I can't fault any one of his albums. I know a few people here (I think they're still around) think his last few albums don't hold up to his earlier work but I couldn't agree less. Every one of his albums has a different sound and each is magnificent. I first got into Beck when The Information was introduced to me by a member here who is sadly no longer around. It's probably my favourite album of his. Then a few years later Modern Guilt came out which is an absolute belter. And his earlier work, Jesus Christ. So good. But he's hardly ever talked about which is the sad thing. He produces a lot now but apparently he's working on a new record scheduled for release at the end of the year. He deserves to be talked about all the time but for some reason he isn't.

So what's your favourite album? And what do you think of his music?

For those of you who haven't heard him I really recommend you check his stuff out.

Tracks I recommend for those who haven't heard him:

Girl - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCg-3nxT8E
Sexx Laws - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQfwgzoiq4c
Elevator Music - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-QHWXFJTek
Tropicalia - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvJ4T0P2W-I

[DavidAshley]

I have a few of his albums and I think he's ok, but I certainly wouldn't call him underrated. He's immensely popular surely?

Anyway, I voted Odelay. I haven't heard anything past Guero, which I couldn't get into.

[maria-]

I think he is great. I'm not totaly familiar with all his work yet, but at the moment Guero is possibly my favourite. As for being underrated, although he seems quite popular, over here I think he is... I think that most of the people are not very aware of him or his work, beside some hits (specially Loser) or maybe it's just the people I deal with.

[tom_cas1]

He's definitely underrated in the UK. Obviously in America it's a different story but over here I find that hardly anyone knows who he is by name but instantly recognise Loser. Kind of like Blur with Song 2 in America maybe?

[Jonathas]

Never been a huge fan but he's written some absolute crackers; 'Loser', 'Pay No Mind' and 'Asshole' are my favourites. Totally lost track of him in recent years, stupidly.

[dparrott]

Loved Beck since MG, but his acoustic albums kinda bore me. Picking a best album is tough: I love MV and Guero, Info has great songs too.

More great songs:
Milk & Honey: http://youtu.be/MMit8YPadPE (probably my favorite)
Where It's At: http://youtu.be/EPfmNxKLDG4
Hell Yes: http://youtu.be/9BQliE3h0q0
Think I'm In Love: http://youtu.be/ZY4WLGd8dwg

[rizzle]

"Beautiful Way" came with my Windows 98 computer, loved him since then. Hard to say which is my fav. but i vote Guero because of Girl, E-Pro, and Go It Alone great tunes

[Ms Magic America]

I remember listening to Midnight Vultures like crazy when it came out. Its still one of my favorite all time albums. I don't know why I kinda lost interest in Beck, there was no reason, I think everyone did.

[dparrott]

Great b-side too:
This Is My Crew http://youtu.be/yGz5uFaOsGE

[fluxkit]

I've long been a Beck fan, since "Loser" came out. I loved the early stuff and got a good number of copies for early demo tapes (on cd) and some concerts. Me and my younger brother used to collect his import releases (or what you folks in England or Japan would call "singles").

For me, Mutations has always been the pinnacle. I loved that album when it came out and still do. It was strange how Geffen forced him into releasing it with them (he was gonna give it to an indie label), then they strictly un-promoted it as NOT the real follow-up to Odelay. (I guess they worried it wasn't pop enough.)

I don't much care for his new single (2 new tracks) on Third Man records. They kinda go for the loose absurdity of his early anti-folk stuff, but with slick production. It just doesn't feel right to me.

BTW, my signature is a quote from Beck's first released single: "MTV Makes Me Wanna Smoke Crack" (Not the lounge re-make version)

[getget]

Loved Beck since MG, but his acoustic albums kinda bore me. Picking a best album is tough: I love MV and Guero, Info has great songs too.

More great songs:
Milk & Honey: http://youtu.be/MMit8YPadPE (probably my favorite)
Where It's At: http://youtu.be/EPfmNxKLDG4
Hell Yes: http://youtu.be/9BQliE3h0q0
Think I'm In Love: http://youtu.be/ZY4WLGd8dwg

I agree 100% with everything said above. And great choice of tracks.
Midnite Vultures is my favourite by far. But Sea Change... nah.

[expedestrians]

Struggling to keep up with the amount of one off single he's seems to release these days but can't fault his work ethic.

Best album for me still has to be Odelay, it was the album that introduced to me.

Best show: Reading Festival 2000 - if anyone saw Beck during the Midnite Vultures show you must agree Beck was as his sexy best!

[fluxkit]

I wish he'd have toured near me on the Midnite Vultures tour. I did get to see an early performance of "Debra" on the 1998 Odelay tour, though, so that was pretty awesome. That show was great! It was his first headlining "really big venue" tour. I was 5th row. Great times.

[Westway]

Odelay > Guero > The Information > Mutations > Sea Change > Midnite Vultures > Mellow Gold > Modern Guilt

Haven't heard any of the other albums

[tom_cas1]

I wish he'd have toured near me on the Midnite Vultures tour. I did get to see an early performance of "Debra" on the 1998 Odelay tour, though, so that was pretty awesome. That show was great! It was his first headlining "really big venue" tour. I was 5th row. Great times.

He last toured the UK (well, 1 show) in 2006 just after The Information was released. That's when I really got into him and I seriously regret not going to see him now. God knows when he'll be back in England although he is releasing a new album soon so hopefully next year!