The latest release from sample-happy Beck Hanson is a toned-down, experimental offering that displays his love for simple, serene folk music. Although the disc has its share of psychedelic moments, the entire work is not built around the spacey and funked out methodology that Mellowgold and Odelay had been founded upon.
Mutations is a twisted take on his knowledge and skill with danceable beats turned around and placed within slower, more down-home tunes of old. The first song on the album, “Nobody’s Fault but My Own”, is not nearly as groovy as “Where It’s At” or “Loser”, but gives Beck fans a taste of what the future may hold for the gifted musician. “Cancelled Check” features the excitedly heady and spaced out accompani- ments that have led Beck’s music to be completely incomparable to that of others released this decade.
His songwriting talent has been his biggest asset so far in his career, but his newly found love of modest, emotional music has elevated Beck to another stage in his musical life. All eleven tracks maintain a mellow approach, but still dip into the samples and orchestrated melodies that he has incorporated into past releases. His support is ever-growing, with appearances on the album by Smokey Hormel and drumming icon Joey Waronker. “Bottle of Blues” is probably his deepest, bluesiest track to date yet it doesn’t lose any spark because of its relatively slow movement. It just adds flavor to an already tasteful album.
The disc is obviously not what we were expecting to hear after the Odelay CD took home a couple of major awards last year. However, Beck’s musical integrity is what drove him to make this, not what the mainstream wanted. He didn’t try to sell his soul to MTV or to the corporate giants. He just did what he wanted, and a folk-sounding CD is what we got. While Beck redefined music today with Odelay, he seems to have redefined himself with Mutations. He hasn’t lost anything, but has explored a side of himself that had not yet been exposed to the music world. For those who appreciate it, Mutations is a step forward for Beck and for music in general. It is an example of the diversity that many musicians possess today.
Hopefully other popular musicians will be inspired to defy the expectations of their fans and instead satisfy their own creativity and drive.
+ rick hinkson
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