Beck
"Midnight Vultures"
3.5 out of 5 Meerkats
Dave Garrison, December 1999
I know that you are asking yourself, why is POTM online, a site dedicated to such "hard-core" bands as Rage Against the Machine and Korn reviewing what has been called "The party album of the year." Well, believe me, I’m asking myself the same damn thing. Being an admirer of the creativity and originality in Beck’s (Back Hanson, not Jeff Back) previous work, I was intrigued to find out what this character would turn out next. His previous release "Odelay" was a total departure from what I listened to usually when it was released, but nonetheless I really enjoyed it. So naturally, when the "follow up" was unleashed, I had to see "what was up."
So there I was at Virgin Records, fresh off a binge of old school Metallica that had kept me awake that morning on my long trip to school, looking for a new CD from Beck that I heard was out. I could not find it. Finally, when I had exhausted all options, I noticed a CD of which the cover looked like something that could have appeared on a poster for "The Cure." This funky-ass retro cover adorned in neon colors, much to my surprise, was revealed to be the CD in question. Not being a very big radio listener, I was coming into the listening session with a clear mind, I had not herd anything off of it yet. So I stepped up, placed the headphones on my ears and was met with something that can only be described as a cross between a rabidly happy Trent Reznor and Robert Smith. It was in essence a time machine, and it was transporting me back to 1982. I suddenly felt like flaring my jeans, groin’ a ‘fro, and dressing really badly (and then I realized that I really was dressed badly…).
I walked away after a couple of songs to go upstairs and look at some DVD’s, grumbling because I didn’t like it…when doncha’ know it but Virgin began playing one of the damn songs overhead. That is when Beck got into my head. I still remember exactly what I was doing (which was watching "the Matrix" on DVD on one of those promo screens). It was stuck, and so I trudged back downstairs and a little girl was listening to it. "Get outa here and let me listen!" I wanted to say, but I restrained myself. So instead I picked up one of the CD’s and paid for it.
After finding my way to the non-judgmental confines of my Hyundai, I popped it in. That was all she wrote. This CD can only be described as evil, evil with a funky attitude. Just like "Odelay," it has a very odd vibe too it and you probably will not like it at first. But if you decide to give it a chance, be warned: It will grow on you and get into your head (like those damn face-suckers in the Alien movies). It has a reclusive ambiance that sounds chaotic and psychedelic, but at the same time is musically sound. Beck uses samples excessively, but makes it work, resulting in a near perfect follow up in the terms of "Odelay." I would recommend it for anyone who feels stagnated with their music, or for someone who is just looking for something a little different. As for me, it has me and is ripping out of my belly as we speak (just like in those Alien movies