It's occurred to me lately that this and Exile in Guyville (and, I dunno, maybe one or two others that don't spring immediately to mind) form a rarified grouping of albums from my high school years that have lost exactly 0% of their luster, with songs that I never skip when they come up on shuffle and that I never get tired of at all and which even seem to reveal hidden depths to me so many years (or, y'know, decades...christ) later.
― My mother set great store by that microwave oven! (Old Lunch), Thursday, 15 November 2018 20:53 (five years ago) link
Throw Live Through This in there too.
― I like queer. You like queer, senator? (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 November 2018 21:16 (five years ago) link
"Loser" and "Pay No Mind" are two of my favourite songs of the past quarter-century. I voted for "Pay No Mind" in Pazz & Jop, but nothing thrills me more right now than hearing "Loser" strike up on the radio or in a public setting. And I know there are people who are probably sick of it--I can see that, and I was like that a bit too after it had been around for a few months. Not anymore. It's pretty much my idea of what a strange, daring, sui generis novelty hit should be.
― clemenza, Thursday, 15 November 2018 22:21 (five years ago) link
I was sick of it for a while, not anymore. And "Pay No Mind" will get no vote if "Beercan" doesn't.
― I like queer. You like queer, senator? (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 November 2018 22:22 (five years ago) link
either whiskeyclone, sunshine or steal
when this album gets spooky it gets fucking beyond-terrifying spooky, it's one of the spookiest albums ever
― imago, Friday, 16 November 2018 00:55 (five years ago) link
Steal My Body Home, so great
― MaresNest, Friday, 16 November 2018 01:07 (five years ago) link
Come on, motherfucker! Put your clothes on, come on!
There would probably be a full five minutes of social media panty wetting if that song came out today.
― Position Position, Friday, 16 November 2018 02:37 (five years ago) link
Beck was pretty problematic throughout the 90s
― 5th Ward Weeaboo (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 16 November 2018 02:38 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoE0L8aKvyQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL_9zWmDcjs
― 5th Ward Weeaboo (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 16 November 2018 02:40 (five years ago) link
i quit my job blowing leaves
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 16 November 2018 02:48 (five years ago) link
This is maybe a top 10 album for me and it's hard for me to pick anything but "Loser"
― 5th Ward Weeaboo (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 16 November 2018 02:56 (five years ago) link
Alcohol in my hands I got plans to ditch myself and get outside Voting Mountain Dew
― calstars, Friday, 16 November 2018 03:54 (five years ago) link
I got this via BMG, when Beck was pretty much just dismissed as a novelty 1 hit wonder. I loved it and remember trying to convince people that the weird guy from MTV with the goofy lyrics actually made a really good album.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 16 November 2018 16:38 (five years ago) link
voted Mountain Dew even though my heart said Beercan
― #BreakingTheWorld (sleeve), Friday, 16 November 2018 16:40 (five years ago) link
I was in the boat with your friends, Granny. When I first heard 'Loser' I totally dismissed it as just one of the many dumb slacker anthems that proliferated in those days. And then I got into a friend's car as he was playing the album and was all 'what is THIS?!?' And it was all over from there.
I think the only song I'd toss out of the running is 'Nitemare Hippy Girl' but it's still fine.
I have no idea what to vote for, though. My favorite track seems to change every time I hear the album. 'Blackhole' was killing me yesterday.
― My mother set great store by that microwave oven! (Old Lunch), Friday, 16 November 2018 17:05 (five years ago) link
Also think "Nitemare Hippy Girl" is not as great as the rest. Voted "Sweet Sunshine," butI could have picked from 6 or 7 others.
BECK must have released 25-30 songs I love in 1994.
― nicky lo-fi, Friday, 16 November 2018 17:37 (five years ago) link
BEERCAN
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 16 November 2018 17:39 (five years ago) link
I think I’ll vote for Pay No Mind although I still remember being disappointed by the album version after watching on repeat his solo/acoustic debut of the song on 120 Minutes
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Friday, 16 November 2018 18:50 (five years ago) link
voted Beercan, but it's going to be no injustice when Loser gets 9x as many votes as anything else
― Bing The Mighty Seat (sic), Friday, 16 November 2018 19:01 (five years ago) link
120 Minutes version of 'Pay No Mind' is all-time.
Perhaps the natural follow-up to this poll is all of the b-sides and rando alternate tv performances from the same era (the classic and hilarious performance of 'Heartland Feeling' on Larry Sanders, for example).
― My mother set great store by that microwave oven! (Old Lunch), Friday, 16 November 2018 19:26 (five years ago) link
Choking like a one man dust ballFreedom rock slimeball talking in code went downLit up the shack Grabbed me a beer out of the sack
― calstars, Friday, 16 November 2018 20:54 (five years ago) link
I had the Beercan Cd single with the “Bjeck” insert and a smashing pumpkins sounding alt version of pay no mind, plus “azzkiss payback” and some noise masquerading as a song
― calstars, Friday, 16 November 2018 20:57 (five years ago) link
WHY DONT YOU CALL YOUR MOMMY
― calstars, Friday, 16 November 2018 20:58 (five years ago) link
EVERYONE WANTS TO GET YOU MUTHAFUKA
― I like queer. You like queer, senator? (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 16 November 2018 21:03 (five years ago) link
the guy who stalked me my first year of college left this album on my windshieldi don't think i ever listened to the whole thing!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, 16 November 2018 21:07 (five years ago) link
chokin' like a one-man Dust Bowl
― I like queer. You like queer, senator? (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 16 November 2018 21:09 (five years ago) link
The alt “pay no mind” is called “got no mind” and isn’t on Spotify, which is cool, but is on YT:https://youtu.be/Ez3UrTTbGo8
― calstars, Friday, 16 November 2018 21:09 (five years ago) link
Here’s asskiss paybackhttps://youtu.be/7-vvMAOkx6wSounds like he was smoking almost as much weed while recording as I was while listening
― calstars, Friday, 16 November 2018 21:12 (five years ago) link
the bmg "clean version" i initially got by accident sounded like "EVERYONE'S OUT TO GET YOU WINNEBAGO" so i still sing it like that
― andrew m., Friday, 16 November 2018 21:24 (five years ago) link
listening now, the answer is quite obviously 'steal my body home', what a staggering achievement. whiskeyclone a close second
― imago, Friday, 16 November 2018 21:27 (five years ago) link
Just noticed the clean version is on Spotify. Gave "Mutherfucker" a whirl (here called "&*$^?#%*@!#"). Worth it. Andrew M OTM, and when he goes high on the "Winnebago" line it's a real treat.
― Position Position, Friday, 16 November 2018 21:33 (five years ago) link
"Pay No Mind." i actually saw Beck in 2018, it was an interesting show.
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 02:08 (five years ago) link
fuck this is hard
― billstevejim, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 08:30 (five years ago) link
"There's a fume .. in this truck..."
Did they ever compile a disk of "Extras" ?
― Mark G, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 10:33 (five years ago) link
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, November 16, 2018 6:39 PM (five days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― L'assie (Euler), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 12:50 (five years ago) link
xpost I checked after Alfred revealed to me the heretofore unknown existence of an expanded One Foot in the Grave and the answer, surprisingly, is no! I guess there were only two singles with unreleased tracks on them, though (all the 'Pay No Mind' b-sides were Golden Feelings tracks). And, to be fair, he did put out three entire albums that year.
― 'Rock Me (I'm a Dais)' (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 12:57 (five years ago) link
― billstevejim, Wednesday, November 21, 2018 12:30 AM (five hours ago)
― alpine static, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 14:21 (five years ago) link
DRINK MY COFFEE WITH A HUBCAP
― alpine static, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 14:30 (five years ago) link
Yes! See that’s the passion and desperation that I’m missing in modern beck
― calstars, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 15:26 (five years ago) link
i mean, he hasn't had that since Odelay, has he? i wouldn't hold my breath for it to come back.
― alpine static, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 16:15 (five years ago) link
or maybe Sea Change, i guess. i didn't like Mutations or Midnite Vultures.
― alpine static, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 16:17 (five years ago) link
I'm sadAnd unhappy*shlorp*
― fgti is for (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 16:18 (five years ago) link
― My mother set great store by that microwave oven! (Old Lunch), Thursday, November 15, 2018 3:53 PM (six days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― I like queer. You like queer, senator? (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, November 15, 2018 4:16 PM (six days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
This is extremely otm!
Hey Babe just occurred to me this morning as another of that elite group but YMMV.
― 'Rock Me (I'm a Dais)' (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 16:20 (five years ago) link
(I always thought she was great but the last couple of years have been a real Julianaissance for me.)
― 'Rock Me (I'm a Dais)' (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 16:23 (five years ago) link
"Loser" is the sound of this album and it had to be track 1. Era defining single for sure. But even so it seems like a cop out to choose "Loser" since Mellow Gold is very much a "Best of early Beck" showcase.
I'll have to go with "Sweet Sunshine" because it's the most recent song to become my favorite, and that was probably 6-7 years ago at this point.
It's been on my vinyl wishlist for a while. I wish it was less expensive and easier to find.
― billstevejim, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 19:53 (five years ago) link
I've spent the day listening to the material recorded before MG and, while the perspective and lyrical conceits were already fairly well-formed and hints of depth and complexity were certainly to be found in that earlier work, I'm only just now realizing how much of a leap MG was in comparison. Like, there was very little to suggest he'd eventually be releasing an album that sounded like this.
― Fantasy Eyelid (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 19:55 (five years ago) link
Was One Foot In The Grave recorded before?
― billstevejim, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 19:57 (five years ago) link
Recorded before but released after, iirc.
― Fantasy Eyelid (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:02 (five years ago) link
One Foot was a kind of “back to basics” move after he scored big time with MG and felt a little self-conscious around his indie peers. It’s a good record though
― calstars, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:04 (five years ago) link
xpost And a very good album which I love, but the two are operating on wildly different levels imo.
― Fantasy Eyelid (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:05 (five years ago) link
an album this good I can usually only vote for the last track
― Milton Parker, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:07 (five years ago) link
I think it's equally solid with highlights that are just as good as on MG ("Asshole," "Outcome," "He's a might good leader"). It's tough to say which one I like better.
― billstevejim, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:08 (five years ago) link
difference betweeen One Foot/Grave and Mellow Gold is the difference between a great record and an all-time classic
― alpine static, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:35 (five years ago) link
the guy who stalked me my first year of college left this album on my windshield― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, November 16, 2018 1:07 PM
Joke's on you, that was actually Beck.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:41 (five years ago) link
pay no mind. such great chord changes. never could get into Beck though aside from a few songs here and there
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 21 November 2018 21:03 (five years ago) link
Give the finger to the rock 'n' roll singer As he's dancing upon your paycheck The sales climb high through the garbage-pail sky Like a giant dildo crushing the sun
This is a really good lyric!
― fgti is for (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 22:11 (five years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Friday, 30 November 2018 00:01 (five years ago) link
this is song 2 on the album
this is the album right here
BURN THE ALBUM
― alpine static, Friday, 30 November 2018 01:02 (five years ago) link
this fuckin record is all time, for real
the guy who stalked me my first year of college left this album on my windshield ― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, November 16, 2018 1:07 PMJoke's on you, that was actually Beck.― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:41 (one week ago) Permalink
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Wednesday, 21 November 2018 20:41 (one week ago) Permalink
joke's on you, you suck.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Friday, 30 November 2018 06:58 (five years ago) link
listened to this last night while we were making dinner, just a total tour de force, had forgotten how great "Sweet Sunshine", "Nightmare Hippie Girl" and "Blackhole" were.
she's cooking salad for breakfast
she's got tofu the size of Texas
― sleeve, Friday, 30 November 2018 14:54 (five years ago) link
wow, i didn't see that upthread but yeah -- it was not Beck unfortunately. At the time, I had genuinely hoped against hope that the person leaving music and notes on my car wouldn't be a disgusting creep but I was wrong (shocking, I know).
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, 30 November 2018 15:09 (five years ago) link
beercan
― the late great, Friday, 30 November 2018 20:50 (five years ago) link
I kind of wish I had voted for Beercan now, love that organ solo at the end
― sleeve, Friday, 30 November 2018 20:57 (five years ago) link
Pay No Mind is the "best" song on this record, but Truckdrivin' Neighbors Downstairs is the best song on this record.
― Fedora Dostoyevsky (man alive), Friday, 30 November 2018 21:19 (five years ago) link
― fgti is for (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, November 21, 2018 5:11 PM (one week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
lol, I love this lyric so much that I sent it to my favorite college english professor (a contrairian type who hated consumerism and pop culture, fwiw). He responded something like "Sounds like Beck is my kind of guy."
― Fedora Dostoyevsky (man alive), Friday, 30 November 2018 21:20 (five years ago) link
I almost died laughing the first time I heard those lines - they're even better with Beck's inflections and timing
― It's like an Christian pop (thewufs), Friday, 30 November 2018 21:34 (five years ago) link
Does he ever play any of these songs (besides Loser I guess)?
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Friday, 30 November 2018 22:52 (five years ago) link
For all you "Mutherfuker" fans, here's a great era B-side in the same vein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAXQgxsXIZM
― 5th Ward Weeaboo (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 30 November 2018 22:54 (five years ago) link
What band sounds the most like "Mutherfuker"/"Spanking Room"? Brainbombs? Deluxx Folk Implosion?
― 5th Ward Weeaboo (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 30 November 2018 22:57 (five years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Saturday, 1 December 2018 00:01 (five years ago) link
xxxpost last time i saw him (2012) he played Mutherfuker as part of the encore and it was very very great.
other than that, i've seen him 3 times since 2006 and the only other Mellow Gold track he played was Loser (all 3 times).
― alpine static, Saturday, 1 December 2018 01:02 (five years ago) link
I hate whole-album shows but might make an exception for a Mellow Gold tour, although I think a. It will never happen and b. Maybe it won’t make much sense to see older Beck doing these songs.
― Position Position, Saturday, 1 December 2018 02:40 (five years ago) link
i hear you on point b
― the late great, Saturday, 1 December 2018 02:43 (five years ago) link