Beck's purple phase (Midnite Vultures - Beck)

Member Name: moronboy

Product:	Midnite Vultures - Beck
Date:	28/06/00 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nine strong songs

Disadvantages: Two duff ones

Whatever you might describe previous Beck albums as - country-rock, acid-redneck? - Midnite Vultures is an obvious change of direction. This is Beck in near-disco mood, from the uptempo strident opening of 'Sexx Laws' to the distinctly Prince-like 'Debra'. Rather like Neil Hannon's Divine Comedy, Beck is sometimes too much of a smarty-pants, too keen to show his sly sense of humour.

The result of this are parodic, clever songs like 'Get Real Paid' and 'Hollywood Freaks' which actually sound terrible. Far better are the playful lyrics and funky beats of 'Mixed Bizness' and 'Milk and Honey'. And for all the wild exotic pantomime, 'Midnite Vultures' even has a sincere, almost entirely serious song 'Beautiful Way', which shows that in the right mood, Beck can out-melancholy anyone.

It isn't the commanding assault on the senses that was 'Odelay', and doesn't have the gentle consistency of 'Mutations', but this album is brash, self-confident and distinctive, and in a world crowded with plastic girl / boy bands, that's more than enough.

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