670 Beck - Mutations (1998)

Studio Album - Singer-Songwriter

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About the Act:

Beck is an uncategorizable artist from the USA. He has produced music in many different styles, in fact that seems to be his "thing" - versatility. He is also known for blending samples with real instruments. He plays quite a few instruments himself, and writes the songs, sings the songs and produces the songs, and produced other people's work. He has released 14 studio albums, starting in 1993 and is still active. Critics love him and his music sells well too.

About the Album:

This was Beck's sixth studio album. When he made it, he was in a contract with Geffen which allowed him to also release music through smaller, independent labels. Before starting to record this album, he got permission from them to release this album through Bong Load Records. However, when Geffen execs heard the finished album, they reneged on the deal and released it themselves - without Beck's permission. This resulted in Beck trying to default on his contracts and ended up in law suits with both labels.

The album was unlike previous Beck albums in that it was recorded quickly, and used no samples.

My History with this Album:

I have a copy, but I don't remember ever really listening to it.

Review:

Beck has this chameleonic essence, flitting between styles and genres. Even though this album is mostly of similar styles, it is has surprising shifts and changes, and also uses a variety of influences. Mostly it's kind of alternative rock, mixed with folk, mixed with a bit of country, but with sometimes analogue synths. There is one song in a Mexican style, another song has a noise soundscape ending, some songs remind me of Radiohead, but some of 70s singer-songwriters. One reminded me of the White Stripes, one of The Divine Comedy. One song shifts style several times, including a short burst of birdsong. Cancelled Check is comically Country-Blues, in a Tom Waits style. I guess so is Bottle of Blues. There's even jazz-influenced stuff here.

This sort of variety is rare in albums dating from after about 1980, or I think so. In the 70s it was possible to be a "singer-songwriter", like Elton John and Paul Simon, and your albums would be sold in record shops under the category "Male Vocal" (or "Female Vocal"). The general baseline was light rock but you were allowed to do a jazzy song and a country song and a blues song, and a ballad and something that sounded like Vaudeville, and this was expected. Beck does this, but is 20 years too late, and also therefore has more to draw on, and gives more variety. 

As an album to listen to, then, it's a bit like listening to the radio, each song is different to the last one. This is good in a world of short attention spans. I applaud variety. It does lack a bit of the "this is an album" feel as a result, but not badly so.

And the songs are about... oh all sorts of things. Some are quite introspective and melancholy, but some are lighter. Nothing really struck me as hugely significant, but not in any way unpleasant.

So, I liked it. In general it's a 7.5/10 album, but the variety and little quirks have pushed it up to 7.7.

7.7/10

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3IY3Oh7Gge0GCx7kWieEHc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhi0RXbnplb6uqwpm3KkodRy0CNt90WMD

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutations_(Beck_album)