Mutations - Beck

The next album from Beck, but in his own words not the successor to Odelay. Personally I think this is his best work. A slightly less confusion, more tuneful affair than its predecessor, (Which was still a good album) but without any obvious hit singles. It has a very acoustic, country feel with lots harmonica added for effect. Opener “Cold Breaks” is a chilled song with some lovely harmonies making it very relaxing to listen too. This whole vibe is captured throughout the record. “Nobody’s Fault But My Own” is a slow haunting song with an Indian feel that felt as if it were recorded at dusk on the horizon. You’ll know what I ...  Read the complete review

This is one weird album. You may think, when you first listen to it, that you have stumbled into a dodgy country and western club somewhere. Don't be put off though, stick with it and listen to it a few times - you'll get the hang of it. I really didn't like this album at first but now I would recommend it to any Beck fan. Its not as accessible as some of his other stuff such as Odelay or Midnite Vultures as its completely different but if you know the man you'll grow to love this. The songs are much more mellow - none of that funky disco stuff aka Midnite Vultures. It is a much more acoustic sounding album with Beck concentrating on his ...  Read the complete review

Mutations is a great album by Beck. It moves away from the grunge/rock/dub elements of Mellow Gold and Odelay! and takes a more mellow approach. It sounds like some 'easy listening' record when you first hear it, but once you notice the lyrics, you can tell it's Beck. Personally, I prefered the style of Odelay! and Mellow Gold for being more upbeat, but I would definately recommend this to anyone who likes and Beck. Especially if you prefer his One Foot in the Grave style tracks. ...  Read the complete review

Mutations is kind of a regression to old school techniques for Beck. far more emphasis on acoustic guitar ballads and obvious lyrical content than on the flashy, diverse approach of the (superior, in my opinion) Odelay. It seems to me a bit like a more mature re-working of the mindset he had when making Mellow Gold, but with higher production values, and a little less insanity. As such, this is one that could divide Beck fans - and I, for one, would rather have spent my monet on something else. I don't want to criticse the album - it doesn't deserve criticism - but as Beck goes, this one isn't really for me. ...  Read the complete review

1. Cold Brains 2. Nobody's Fault But My Own 3. Lazy Flies 4. Canceled Check 5. We Live Again 6. Tropicalia 7. Dead Melodies 8. Bottle Of Blues 9. O Mania 10. Sing It Again 11. Static 12. Diamond Bollocks 13. Runners Dial Zero It is hard to follow a classic album like odelay to easily but beck did it really well with this offering, you may not have heard many of these tracks you may not have even heard any, but there are some corkers, like O mania and Tropicalia, this should be in your CD rack, so why isnt it? ...  Read the complete review