Two turntables and a microphone - The Beck Thread

displayname

displayname

Well-Known Member
I did a couple searches, and I was surprised we didn't have a Beck thread going already. If we do have one and I missed it, we can ask mods to merge it or delete one. Now on to the fun stuff...

With Hyperspace out today I thought it was fitting that we had a place to talk all things Beck! He's had such a long career and diverse catalog at this point. I discovered Beck when I got Odelay on CD for my 11th birthday from my dad's best friend. I remember my dad saying "do you think he's going to like that?" and his friend feeling confident in his choice. Now all these years later I still listen to Beck regularly, and Odelay was my first ever VMP record.

But let's hear everyone's input!
Rank albums, rank tracks, memories tied to his works, concerts, etc.
 
MikeH said:
I would kill for a midnight vultures repress. It’s been rumored for forever and still no release date as far as I know.
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Yeah, I'm a little surprised it hasn't come out in conjunction with Hyperspace. His last round of represses seemed to be in support of Colors, but they also were more in theme with that albums tempo I think. Maybe they are holding off until he has a bit of a lull. Or maybe he has another more abstract album on the horizon that it would tie with. I'm not holding my breath on a more abstract album, but that would be cool.

I totally agree though, Midnight Vultures is one I keep watching out for. I'm sure it will come along sooner or later.
 
displayname said:
Yeah, I'm a little surprised it hasn't come out in conjunction with Hyperspace. His last round of represses seemed to be in support of Colors, but they also were more in theme with that albums tempo I think. Maybe they are holding off until he has a bit of a lull. Or maybe he has another more abstract album on the horizon that it would tie with. I'm not holding my breath on a more abstract album, but that would be cool.

I totally agree though, Midnight Vultures is one I keep watching out for. I'm sure it will come along sooner or later.
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well, the 20th anniversary was back in February.

i was under the impression that the repress was complicated by the samples Beck used in the making of the album, plus some unspecified issue with the label that originally published it.
I'm almost resigned to never see a copy of it (or rather, to never been able to afford one).
It's also my Beck's favourite album by far.
 
panino said:
well, the 20th anniversary was back in February.

i was under the impression that the repress was complicated by the samples Beck used in the making of the album, plus some unspecified issue with the label that originally published it.
I'm almost resigned to never see a copy of it (or rather, to never been able to afford one).
It's also my Beck's favourite album by far.
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I haven't been following the holdups at all, so who knows. Label issues would make sense, that seems to be pretty common problem but given that it was DGC I'm not sure why that would be the issue. Samples also might be a possibility, but it's odd that they can get it on streaming with samples but not on vinyl. I have no idea. All I know is I'm ready for it when it comes.
 
Not really sure how I feel about Hyperspace. Cringe worthy lyrics at times and some of the music is just so bland. Cant wait to move past this stage of Beck’s career.

And I don’t understand bringing Pharrell in. Seems like Beck’s personality and uniqueness was buried beneath Pharrell’s production.
 
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I’m a Beck apologist and this new one is bad.

It feels like Beck is a guest star who is, for some reason, singing lead on every track on someone else’s album.

I dig the final track though. That one seems to grasp the idea that when Beck goes slow and boring, you need layers of acoustic guitar and orchestral flourishes, not Weeknd-lite minimalist electro-hop instrumentals that could be on any other modern pop record.
 
swamp jazz box set said:
I’m a Beck apologist and this new one is bad.

It feels like Beck is a guest star who is, for some reason, singing lead on every track on someone else’s album.

I dig the final track though. That one seems to grasp the idea that when Beck goes slow and boring, you need layers of acoustic guitar and orchestral flourishes, not Weeknd-lite minimalist electro-hop instrumentals that could be on any other modern pop record.
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Yea--I gave it one listen and nothing really struck out to me. Morning Phase I think is the last album I liked of his.
 
swamp jazz box set said:
I’m a Beck apologist and this new one is bad.

It feels like Beck is a guest star who is, for some reason, singing lead on every track on someone else’s album.

I dig the final track though. That one seems to grasp the idea that when Beck goes slow and boring, you need layers of acoustic guitar and orchestral flourishes, not Weeknd-lite minimalist electro-hop instrumentals that could be on any other modern pop record.
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This sums it up perfectly for me.
 
Dark Star Boogie said:
Not really sure how I feel about Hyperspace. Cringe worthy lyrics at times and some of the music is just so bland. Cant wait to move past this stage of Beck’s career.

And I don’t understand bringing Pharrell in. Seems like Beck’s personality and uniqueness was buried beneath Pharrell’s production.
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I think they missed the boat on working together. If they would have done an album in the early aughts I think it would have been wildly different and possibly iconic. But they both are at different stages of their lives now.

I didn't think it was bad. I went in with pretty low hopes, and at times I was pleasantly surprised. I do agree the last track was good, and I wish more of the album went that direction.
 
displayname said:
I did a couple searches, and I was surprised we didn't have a Beck thread going already. If we do have one and I missed it, we can ask mods to merge it or delete one. Now on to the fun stuff...

With Hyperspace out today I thought it was fitting that we had a place to talk all things Beck! He's had such a long career and diverse catalog at this point. I discovered Beck when I got Odelay on CD for my 11th birthday from my dad's best friend. I remember my dad saying "do you think he's going to like that?" and his friend feeling confident in his choice. Now all these years later I still listen to Beck regularly, and Odelay was my first ever VMP record.

But let's hear everyone's input!
Rank albums, rank tracks, memories tied to his works, concerts, etc.
Click to expand...
The fact that the first sentence of this thread wasn't: "This is where its at" , feels like a missed opportunity to me! hahaha

Love me some Beck, and glad you started this thread :)
 
I wasn't in much of a hurry to pre-order Hyperspace or really even rushing to hear it based on the singles and going off what I'm reading in here my apprehension wasn't unfounded. I'm sure I'll listen to it at some point to make my own judgment but I'll just say that, given what an interesting time for music we're living in right now where the divisions between genres are being broken more and more, it's very disappointing that Beck has decided now to fall into the inoffensive alternative radio indie pop phase of his career.
 
My wife and I are huge Beck fans... Separately, we both collected all of the rarities (CD single bonus tracks, vinyl singles and EPs, various compilations) and we both have more Beck in our vinyl collection than anyone else ...

On first listen I enjoyed Hyperspace more than Colors... And my wife has listened to it 3 times since last night ... We're diggin it...
 
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