I do believe in an ultimatum for the world of music, from me to you I'll confirm it. Beck's 1996
Odelay! can and has been described with a few words. There isn't one single answer to the question of the album, since it's basically four or so albums in one. In terms of style, this is where to look when scourging the earth for that answer. Beck is
the master of style. He proves on this and several of his other works that limiting your music to one simple genre is useless when in comparison to his personal tracklist. Music is music, it doesn't matter what kind, its all noise to enjoy! So why not produce some noise that everybody can listen to? The key to
Odelay. You can't deny the godly greatness of the enchanting wizard of rythm. So finally someone realizes that genres do nothing but set up mindless borders on music, thus successfully creating mindless fanboys with mindless statements about mindless subjects mindlessly pertaining to the mindless genre they mindlessly chose over yours. Doesn't sound too fun, does it now? You don't want that. You want
music. And our father Beck is here to deliver.
What is so amazing about
Odelay! is the actual sound Beck conveys. For example, in the song 'Readymade' he backs his melodic vocals with a driving hip-hop beat. He does exactly vice versa on other songs as well, making him a master of two arts (oh...yeah, the songs are great, don't doubt that he really is a master). Beck trys too hard sometimes, I think...there's a hell of alot of texture on the album. He really knows how to combine his talents to produce a wall of sound so powerfully entertaining I didn't know what to make of it at first, which may be your reaction too if your losing your Beck virginity to this album.
Speaking of such, this could or could not be one of those things you need to let grow on you. I mean, most people who don't like Beck describe him in the same way. 'Oh, he's way too repetitive' or 'Christ, I don't think I've ever heard anything more bizarre and boring in my life'. Your going to need to stop trying to let it come on to you and just sit back, chill, and listen. Honestly, many people who dislike the guy talk about how they 'tried' to get into him, and how they 'tried' to make what they could out of the blips and bleeps. Beck is background music, in a sense; he creates things that you've never heard before and fits them in to several different mood settings.
Forging on forward through this mass of alternative power we come an important aspect of Beck's music. Remember when I mentioned texture earlier? Well,
Odelay! is overflowing with it. Not as much can be said about this album though that hasn't been said before about other texture type works, since I believe that was not Beck's initial goal in creating
Odelay. He just wanted to make excellent music. And he did, some that we all enjoy, but I have to be the prying prick and delve deeper into his seemingly simple yet advanced way of playing. On this album Beck shrouds you in a peaceful and fun atmosphere that is reminiscent of the flower era, dating back to the early sixties, and he tosses this into his concoction that is the album. Alongside the Hendrix days Beck adds the aggressive, sharp and vocal sound of the seventies. The dance epidemic of the eighties makes its way in there, but is not as influential as earlier times. Now to top it all off. The cherry on top of this mesh is the music revolution that was the nineties, which couldn't be avoided seeing as how this is
Beck and
Odelay! is in fact a nineties album.
So this is a nineties work. Theres a golden question for everything released in that time. Was Beck influenced by the grunge and pop cliche's riddled with nineties music? Well, to calm one of your fears you'd be hard pressed in finding any cliche' amongst the music. Now pop has always been second nature to Beck. Does he incorporate that into his music on
Odelay!? The answer this time, a huge, resounding YES. Then NO. This album is more a work of art than his other studio ventures, so 'Loser' isn't on here. However most artists are incapable of escaping their basis, so of course catchy riffs can be heard in every nook and cranny of the record, but they're worked out to sound mesh with the music like usual Beck. But he performs this in such a different manner, namely using several, several instruments at once to convey that one simple guitar part. Overlapping is very common on
Odelay. Its done with melody. That isn't the only thing that seperates this from Beck's other mindchildren. He accepts a much more electronica influenced style for this album, and continues with his signature acoustic alchemy in a mix. You can really dance to this album, and play along to it at the same time.
Very imperitive to Beck's work: vocals. On this album the man warps his voice into a physical instrument in itself, sounding as though he plays along with the countless instruments he takes his advantages of. This is called rythm. Familiar? Yes sir, if you've ever heard a Hip-Hop song you know exactly what I mean. And trust me, you have. Rythm was apparently one of Beck's top three focuses in production of
Odelay! He's here to tell you about the rythms of the universe. The man himself says it, so if you want a rewarding experience, listen for the
feel.
Beck finalizes his masterpiece with the simple message of feeling good. Having fun with his music I believe to be the greatest prize upon listening.
Odelay! is no stranger to that, as its packed with memorable summertime hits and excellent moody blues ballads. This album is most defenitely the most solid record I've had the pleasure to feed my ears with. Beck's
Odelay! is real brainfood.
Odelay!
Featuring...
BECK on Guitar, vocals and drums!
Mike Boito on Organ and Trumpet!
Charlie Haden on Bass!
