When Kanye West went on a rant about “artistry,” directed at Album of the Year winner Beck (and the Grammys in general), it was a poorly chosen target. To be sure, Beck’s “Morning Phase” is nothing more than pretty landscape music; but that doesn’t change the fact that Beck has a 20-year-deep discography that’s consistently been forward-thinking, genre-jumping and high quality in a way that parallels West’s own career.
If Kanye (or anyone else) needs a reminder of Beck Hansen’s “artistry,” here’s a quick mix of eight career-spanning songs that show his ability to be great and weird.
“Soul Suckin Jerk”
Beck’s 1994 breakout, “Mellow Gold,” remains his masterpiece, in all of its haphazard, cut-and-paste, genre-mashing glory. “Loser” is the generation-defining hit, but “Soul Suckin Jerk” is just as silly and more deranged.
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“Debra”
If Beck looked particularly shocked upon receiving his album of the year honor, part of that was certainly due to the presenter — none other than His Purple Majesty, Prince. Beck’s 1999 album, “Midnite Vultures,” was a clear homage to Prince, no song more direct in its tribute than “Debra,” the greatest ever tale of love that begins at JCPenney.
“Fume”
Remember CD singles? The “Loser” CD single is one of the best the format has ever offered; this song, about the trouble with doing nitrous while listening to Molly Hatchet, is the highlight.
“Gamma Ray”
This surfy song about the apocalypse is one of Beck’s best efforts of the past decade. The B-side cover by the late Jay Reatard is even more impressive.
“Thunder Peel”
Around the release of “Mellow Gold” in 1994, Beck sandwiched two albums that surely confounded his new fans. One of those, “Stereopathetic Soul Manure,” was a collection of random bursts of noise, acoustic ramblings and something called “Satan Gave Me a Taco.”
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“Cyanide Breath Mint”
His other 1994 album was the all-acoustic “One Foot in the Grave,” which many Beck snobs “purists” will say is his best work. This slacker, stream-of-consciousness campfire singalong stands out as one of the best tracks.
“Lazy Flies”
Share this articleShareBefore there was “Morning Phase,” there was 2002’s critically adored “Sea Change” — and before there was “Sea Change,” there was 1999’s “Mutations,” Beck’s first (and dare I say best?) attempt at major-label melancholy.
“Sissyneck”
After “Loser,” many thought Beck was ticketed for one-hit-wonder land. But 1996’s “Odelay” established him as a career artist. “Where It’s At” and “Devil’s Haircut” are deservedly loved singles, but this spaghetti-Western-funk hybrid is one of the tracks that makes the album a classic.
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