Reviews

Reviews

All reviews by the webmaster of Minus, Webmaster Tom unless noted!

Steropathic Soulmanure
For me, it was kind of a shock to hear this side of Beck, because I purchased Odelay before any other Beck album. All the way through, Beck expresses his creativity with songs like Thunderpeal and Pink Noise. This is what brought me back to this album several times. The way Beck began to express himself in this early album explains why he is the way he is now. Satan Gave Me A Taco is a interesting song, mainly because it may have been the first time Beck wrote a song about nothing. Let's face it, the song isnt really about much. This album would pave the way for Mellow Gold. The artwork is also kinda interesting with the stormtroopers and monkeys. All in all, Steropathic Soulmanure is classic vintage Beck.

One Foot In The Grave
This album defenitely reflects what inspired Beck to pick up the guitar: the acoustic music stylings of folk/blues musicians, Mississippi John Hurt, Leadbelly, and Blind Willie Johnson. The acoustic recordings are crude when compared to the professionality of Mutations. None the less, it still is a good album with catchy tunes, like Asshole and Girl Dreams. It has a very happy-go-lucky feel to it, but also has a slight melancholy feel beneath the surface. Its an album which shows the style that Beck played before becoming famous; When he would get gigs at parties, bars, and coffee houses.

~ review by Funk Pollution
funkpollution@hotmail.com

Mellow Gold
What can I say? Beck's first magor album on Geffen Records is definitly unique. It's different kind of melodys make ot a jewel among the treasure. From Loser all the way to Black Hole, you get a trip through Beck's artistic bounderies. From the repetitive lyrics of Loser, Beck could easly tell you a story though a thousand unrealted phrases. Pay No Mind is a real phycadellic trip in all respect. One thing I really love about F---ing With My Head is the electric guitair. Beercan and Soul Suckin Jerk are two of my all time fav Beck songs. Although Truck Drivin Neighbors Downstairs and Nightmare Hippy Girl could have been written better, Mellow Gold is all and all one of Beck's most classic albums.

Odelay
Talk about one of the greatest albums of all time. This one has got to be one of the bestin the past 10 years. The varity in Beck's second magor release is great. Every one of the 13 tracks all sound different. Thats one thing that sets this one apart. From the first few gutair riffs in the first 4 seconds of Devil's Haircut all the way to the last hit of the drum of Ramshackle, you get "hooked on a feeling" so to speak. No other artist can make a generally "happy" album like this. I really like to put this one on for parties. It also makes great dance music. I can't say I really have a favorite song on this album, but if I had to choose, I'd have to choose Minus. I don't know why, but it sounded like a great website name.

Mutations
Well, after Odelay, no one expected this. The songs on Mutations refelt on a lighter side of the Beck who produced such Generation X songs such as Loser and Where Its At. This Beck went back to his folk beginning to record a completly differnt album that he thought would never get done. From Track1 to Track 11, Beck takes you on a sort of musical journey. You get carried away from the music. From the acustic sylings of Cold Brains to the soft, artifical sound of Static and the electric guitar samples of the hidden track, Dimond Bullocks we go from medium to soft to hard beats in one album. Beck has really done it with this one. I can't wait to hear the next one.