I was suprised to find this, Beck's first album, had only been reviewed a total of seven times. So here I am to save the day again :) "Mellow Gold" only hinted at the possibility that Beck had more than a single hit to his name. "Loser," of course, was the hit from this album, but there were some other shining moments that people who don't own the album will never experience.
"Loser," nominated for a 1995 Grammy, was a great song with just about as catchy a chorus as imaginable. "Mellow Gold," on the other hand, was diverse and became a hit especially on the college airways. This is a fun album with more influences than you can shake a stick at. You hear punk, blues, and good ol' boy rock and roll. Beck, it seems, was a talent even back in 1994 when he was a very fresh and new face to the music scene. It would only become widely known that he was a musical demigod (okay, not really) upon the release of his second album "Odelay."
Here, we'll take a relatively in-depth look at Beck and his 1994 release "Mellow Gold." And, yes, there is more to this album than the alterna-rock anthem "Loser." Listen up, or step off. Be brave and listen past what you recognize...
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1. LOSER
Ah. The anthem for my senior year of high school. Boy did I feel like this song was written for me. In retrospect, it could have been. We all know the chorus..."why don't you kill me." So, here's a little sample of Beck's quick talkin' lyrics:
"Kill the headlights and put it in neutral
Stock car flaming with the loser and the cruise control
Baby's in Reno with the vitamin D
Got a couple of couches, sleep on the love seat"
Possibly the most flattering thing is when another artist samples your music as did the Butthole Surfers with the equally catchy "Pepper." "Loser" isn't full of content, just angst-ridden fun for all!
2. PAY NO MIND (SNOOZER)
This has a definite sort of sixties rock feel to it...we're talking "Woodstock" era here. Despite the odd influence, this is a good song. Okay. It's a really good song. It's not as upbeat or as commercially viable as "Loser," but it's still just as listenable. Here's a quick sample of Beck's irreverent, funny lyrics...needless to say, the content really isn't for everybody:
Give the finger to the rock and roll singer
As he's dancing upon your paycheck
The sales climb high through the garbage pail sky
Like a giant d*ldo crushing the sun
3. F____N WITH MY HEAD (MOUNTAIN DEW ROCK)
How can a song subtitled with my favorite soda possibly be bad? It's not...rather there are seemingly hints of the Rolling Stones here. In much of this album (as with this song) Beck manages to pay homage to the individuals and bands that he was influenced to be an artist by. In this case, we get an interestingly entertaining song. One in which the lyrics are again fun...
Found myself in New Orleans
With a scarecrow in my jeans
Beat my forehead through the ceilin'
Drink my coffee with a hubcap
Yeah
4. WHISKEYCLONE, HOTEL CITY 1997
This is about as bluesy as Beck can be. His voice truly isn't blues...it's not soulful enough. Fortunately, he is keenly aware of this and doesn't try to make believe that he's some bluesy singer. This is a slow, methodical, guitar driven track. Beck's voice isn't diverse...rather he's relatively monotone. Songs like this really would be depressing if the words weren't so odd and so ridiculous.
I was born in this hotel
washing dishes in the sink
magazines and free soda
trying hard not to think
5. SOUL SUCKIN JERK
This isn't very easy to listen to. It's very much a rapping Beck with almost too many drums and odd noises. There are obvious funk influences. It's funny, but to be quite honest you can't even decipher the words unless you read them on the jacket to the album. It's interesting, not great, but worth one or two listens just so that you see that Beck has some very different ideas about music. Here's a sample of those lyrics you can't make out:
I got a job making money for the man
throwing chicken in the bucket with the soda pop can
puke green uniform on my back
I had to set it on fire in a vat of chicken fat
6. TRUCKDRIVIN' NEIGHBORS DOWNSTAIRS (YELLOW SWEAT)
What is this? A funny song to say the least. We have an truck driver soundin' song here. Beck's voice is distorted to the point it doesn't even sound in the least like him. But, still, this is a good song. And like 99% of his other songs it's very funny and meant to be as such. And it's funny...I knew people like they talk about in this song growing up in a small Midwestern town...
It's just the sh*t-kickin', speed-takin', truck-drivin'
neighbours downstairs
7. SWEET SUNSHINE
This is a relatively short song, but it's also an interesting chanting song that sounds more like some sort of twisted electronica than the perscribed alterna rock category. Again, there is no question that Beck looks at the world very differently than do most other artists. There's great drums and reverb. It's a fun song and one that shouldn't be missed. Although, like the last, it's nearly impossible to understand what's being said. Upon inspection, here's what I found to be some of the actual lyrics:
Gonna break my face on the sweet sunshine
Bucket full of blood
got you on my mind
Gonna break my face on the sweet sunshine
8. BEERCAN
This track is possibly my second favorite on this entire album. It was also relatively popular back in 1995, although not so much as "Loser." It's a groovy hip hop rappin' Beck with great almost Beastie Boys sounding music. Fun song. One that demands attention. There are more irreverent lyrics and more odd sounding rhymes:
I quit my job blowing leaves
telephone bills up my sleeves
choking like a one man dustball
freedom rock slimeball
9. STEAL MY BODY HOME
Prepare yourself for this ridiculous amount of distortion. This song isn't the easiest to listen to. There are some Middle Eastern sounding influences, but to be quite honest I think this is the weakest song musically on this album. The only truly bright spot with this song is definitely Beck's rhymes and his lyrics:
The trees are fake, the air is dead
The birds are stuffed with poison lead
And the ground is much too clean
10. NITEMARE HIPPY GIRL
I love the title to this song. I think I've known girls who neatly fit into this category. That aside, this is a truly funny rock song. I'm actually a bit suprised that this song didn't make it more mainstream. Maybe it had something to do with the direct drug references, but the song is fun and catchy. Almost as much as "Loser." Here's a quick sample of what to expect with this odd little diddy.
She's a nightmare hippy girl
With her skinny fingers fondlin' my world
She's a whimsical, tragical beauty
Self-conscious and a little bit fruity
11. MUTHERFU__ER
Only Beck could get away cleanly with naming a song this and then singing like a White Zombie-induced maniac about how "Everyones out to get you M_F_! Anyway, it's really a fun song. I suppose it appeals to me because of the sheer volume of the tune. There's tons of noise. Something that I really, really, really enjoy. In fact, this song is very much in contrast to many of the other tracks on this album. I wish that I could provide lyrics in support of my claims here, but to be quite honest most of them aren't, um, appropriate for this venue. Good song. REALLY good song.
12. BLACKHOLE
With this, the last track of "Mellow Gold" you would expect that Beck would hand fans another winner. And that is exactly what "Blackhole" proves to be. There are truly gorgeous guitars and Beck's talent shines directly through. It is only in this song that Beck hints at the fact that he is more than just a noisemaker. He is, in fact, a singer-songwriter in the almost truest sense of the phrase. Sure, the lyrics are repetitive, but Beck makes them special. Great song...don't turn off this album before the last track or you'll miss out.
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Everything that Beck does is somehow uncomfortable. He just doesn't seem comfortable in his skin or in his celebrity. But, another thing that makes Beck intersting is the fact that what he does is usually done with a sense of humor. He doesn't take himself too seriously. Beck realizes that he isn't in the position to make exceptionally profound statements, rather his statements are much more hidden beneath layers of humor and sound.
For people that enjoyed Beck's later albums "Odelay," "Mutations," or the most recent "Midnite Vultures," I suggest you pick this up. Sure, the music is quirky to say the least, but it's also entertaining. Because of this album's somewhat limited appeal, I can't recommend it 100%. Rather, I'm giving it a solid B- rating and 4 stars.
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![Mellow Gold [PA] by Beck](http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/59/da/93/2001990077-177x150-0-0.jpg)
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