Before a critic even hears a new Beck record, they seem to already be on their knees, bowing to their self-proclaimed savior. Beck has been made larger than life by the media, but doesn’t really have it as good with fans.
He has certainly gone out on a limb with his latest release, Midnite Vultures. The first single, “Sexx Laws”, is good, but not great, and it is often silly, just like most of this record. Beck is the master of getting acclaim for great melodies and orchestration, though for some reason his poor lyrics don’t seem to hurt his reputation. I almost burst when I heard the asinine chorus of “Nicotine & Gravy”: “I think we’re going crazy/ things don’t even phase me/ her left eye is lazy/ nicotine & gravy/ miracles amaze me/ she looks so Israeli/ love the way she plays me”
The ’70’s feel is nothing new for Beck, but this style is. While waiting for a disco to break out, it started to feel more like a night at the Apollo than a night at Studio 54. “Peaches & Cream” finds Beck singing like Michael Jackson before he was white. And on occasion he gets off a good Prince impersonation.
“Get Real Paid” annoyed the hell out of me the first time I heard it, but after a few listens it magically turned me from critic to fan. “Broken Train” is one of the tracks that seems left over from a previous release. This is classic Beck and much closer to his strength.
Beck has the knack for committing brilliance to tape. But Midnite Vultures isn’t even close to his best work. As much of a let down this album is, Beck is still one of the few artists that turns the music industry on its ear. Even on his worst day, he’s still more entertaining than ninety percent of the bands you currently see on MTV.
+ rae gun
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.