The Beck Oeuvre #17: Arabian Nights

December 9th, 2008 by

“Arabian Nights”! Classic Beck Vultures weirdness. I wanted to point everyone to the interview Beck did with Andre 3000 and Big Boi of Outkast, where he said this song was inspired by them. I couldn’t find it on the web though: here’s the relevant part which I’d quoted over on Ghost:

“I’m gonna send you a B-side that I did a couple years ago that was very influenced by ATLiens. It’s called “Arabian Nights”.” He then said it was his tribute to them.

I’m still waiting for Beck and Outkast to collaborate!

Newtron

[15:50:58] arabian nights: i always wish this was the song from aladdin
[15:51:03] Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it’s flat and immense
And the heat is intense
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home
[15:51:16] Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways
[15:54:34] actually this song’s pretty badass as it is. just not as badass as aladdin
[15:55:14] it taught us all about lazer vizaginal rejuvination

Ghost:PICTOGRAM TIME!































Next up: “Are U Positive?”!!

The Beck Oeuvre #16: Aphid Manure Heist

November 25th, 2008 by

“Aphid Manure Heist” is that goofy karaoke thing in the middle of <i>Stereopathetic Soulmanure</i>.  I don’t know who sings it–I don’t think that’s Beck.  The music sounds canned.  Anyone have any idea where the phrase “aphid manure heist” might come from?  The lyrics are all wrong too, it’s a cover of a Waylon Jennings song called “Amanda.” Enjoy that!

Beck On KCRW Tuesday November 18 11:15am PST

November 15th, 2008 by

Beck, who has been appearing on KCRW since 1993 with just about every album release, will be stopping by Morning Becomes Eclectic on Tuesday at 11:15am. The note says he will be playing “solo and acoustic” as well as DJing some tracks. Pull some mid-90s trickery on us, Beck, and drop some brand new unheard songs!

The Beck Oeuvre #15: American Wasteland

November 14th, 2008 by

OK, sorry for the break–I was out of town for six weeks. Thought I could maybe continue to manage this at nights, but turns out, working for a Presidential campaign takes up all your time. :) Anyway, we’re back. Sort of… “American Wasteland” did not really inspire the BeckFreaks.

Vitamin.Deb:

I don’t remember which one it was, but after one of the L.A. shows earlier this year Groove asked Ghost how it was and he said “Beck played Devil’s Haircut.” I had to laugh, because although I’m sure it wasn’t his intention, in my mind his joke validated my opinion. WHICH IS. That I am sick sick sick of “Devil’s Haircut.” Yeah, I said it. I never tire of hearing Loser or Where It’s At, but for some reason I can just barely stand to listen to DH anymore, recorded or live. It’s the only song I skip on Odelay. ALL THAT SAID – I love this remix. It infuses the song with a megaboost of energy and then when it’s over – as the DJ notes – we’re ready to move on to the next song. Ohhh, yeah.

AlmostAGhost

Ha! Well I guess I have to respond to that. I do have a love/hate relationship with “Devils Haircut.” It is my favorite Beck video! It is the lead-off track on my favorite album of all-time! It is so cool. But I also like to mock it, for Beck playing it at every single show he does, and it always sounds exactly the same. And sometimes I just skip it when I listen to Odelay, just like Deb. It is always there. (“Where It’s At” doesn’t bother me at all; I look forward to it at all the shows I go to.) So I am sometimes unfair with “Devils Haircut.” And then at those Nokia shows I just went to, I’m not exaggerating… “Devils Haircut” was one of my 2-3 favorite songs of the 2nd night! Sounded amazing! Rocked so hard. The riff was so perfect, and all those little bass turnarounds. So I make no sense with the song, I’m inconsistent and a hypocrite. I hate it. I love it. Anyway I should save more of this rant for “Devils Haircut” when it comes up.

“American Wasteland”–I find this remix so mysterious. I don’t know who that is sampled at the beginning. I don’t know whose idea it was to make this song a pure punk rock blast of energy. I don’t know if a band played the song, or if it was remixed somehow on a computer to get that way. I could probably look this stuff up in the liner notes, but I like the mystery.

Ooh yea! “Aphid Manure Heist” is up next!

Club Nokia Show #2

November 11th, 2008 by

I would say the second night at Club Nokia was pretty similar in quality, but different enough in setlist to make it worthwhile. If I had to choose, I liked the second night better, even though the opening act (Jay Reatard) was completely off the mark (i.e., lame). Regardless, Beck came out and opened up with “Where It’s At” — a unique choice to open with, I don’t recall that happening before. It’s great for a show to start with those chords! “Pay No Mind” was tonight’s “Hollow Log,” a short acoustic thing Beck tossed out that was not on the official setlist. Surprisingly, “Devils Haircut” may have been my favorite song of the night. Beck introduced “Star Power” as “we’re going to cover a Sonic Youth song,” and they pretty much nailed it. He also said this was his last show of the year.

1. Where It’s At
2. Girl
3. Devils Haircut
4. Que Onda Guero
5. Mixed Bizness
6. Nicotine & Gravy
7. Hell Yes
8. Black Tambourine / Clap Hands
9. Modern Guilt
10. Orphans
11. Soul Of A Man
12. Think I’m In Love
13. Star Power
14. Missing
15. The Golden Age
16. Lost Cause
17. Pay No Mind (Snoozer)
18. Chemtrails
19. Loser
20. Nausea
21. Gamma Ray (with Jay Reatard)
22. Timebomb
23. Minus
24. Indefatiguable
25. E-Pro

Club Nokia show #1

November 10th, 2008 by

Beck has scheduled two shows at the grand opening of Club Nokia, a new club in downtown Los Angeles. Last night was the first. It was a loud, rocking show, almost ferocious in its attack. It felt like to me that a lot of people were there for the grand opening of LA’s new club, and not Beck, which was a mixed blessing. The crowd was stoked most of the time and really into it, but at the same time it seemed to lack something normal LA club shows have. Anyway, it was fun.

Jenny Lewis opened–I was never a big fan, but her band was amazing, and I’m definitely more interested in her now. I actually would love to hear Beck with a band like that sometime.

The sound quality of the show was maybe a little bass heavy, but I like that myself, and overall thought it sounded amazing. Some of Tron’s keyboard effects sounded brilliant, in a 3D way, they were like circling my head. Because of that, and the crowd response, the Gameboy tracks (“Hell Yes”/”Black Tamborine”/”Clap Hands”) were a total blast. (I generally hate all those songs!)

During “Nausea,” Beck’s son came and stood on stage next to Beck for a bit. Beck didn’t notice at first, but when he did, he laughed and smiled and pointed at him. Then his son was taken back, and given a maraca to shake.

“Orphans” was done full electric, faster… last time I saw Beck, they did it with a mix of electric and acoustic, sounding like the album. “Sunday Sun” was a surprise. “Hollow Log” wasn’t on the setlist–Beck just said “you guys want to hear some fingerpickin’?” and busted it out.

And finally Beck introduced “a very special guest,” and everyone’s favorite dancer, Ryan5000, came out to dance for the 3 encore songs. Welcome back Ryan!

1. Loser
2. Nausea
3. Girl
4. Soul Of A Man
5. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
6. Novacane
7. Think I’m In Love
8. Modern Guilt
9. Youthless
10. Que Onda Guero
11. Hell Yes
12. Black Tambourine / Clap Hands
13. Devils Haircut
14. Orphans (all electric!)
15. Sunday Sun
16. The Golden Age
17. Lost Cause
18. Hollow Log
19. Chemtrails
20. Where It’s At (inc. High 5)
21. Gamma Ray
22. Timebomb
23. E-Pro

Gamma Ray video

November 8th, 2008 by

Go here for a new, colorful “Gamma Ray” video starring Chloe Sevigny!

Beck Radio on Sirius

October 10th, 2008 by

BECK TO TAKE OVER SIRIUS MUSIC CHANNEL

SIRIUS’ Left of Center (channel 26) will become “Radio Beck” for the entire weekend beginning Friday, October 10 at 3:00 pm ET and will air through Sunday, October 12. Beck will play songs from his new album, Modern Guilt, and his entire catalog, as well as songs by various artists who have influenced him throughout his career.

Additionally, SIRIUS listeners will hear a live recording of Beck’s performance at the Austin City Limits Festival from September 27, 2008. The live performance will air on Saturday, October 11 at 12:00 am, 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm; Sunday, October 12 at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm and Monday, October 13 at 2:00 am, 12:00 pm, 8:00 pm and 12:00 am (all times Eastern).

For more information and to sign up for a FREE 3-DAY TRIAL, go to: http://www.sirius.com/leftofcenter <http://www.sirius.com/leftofcenter> .

The Beck Oeuvre #14: American Car

October 3rd, 2008 by

“American Car” is not a Beck song, per se, but a song by Bean. Beck sings back-up only. It’s a fun track, kinda goofy.

Here’s a note from Steve Moramarco (Bean), who, yes is the guy who threw up.

Bean:

Well, first thing is that it really isn’t a “Beck song” but merely one where he lends his vocals to the bridge… I had an acoustic duo called Hill Of Beans (we have a song “Satan, Lend Me a Dollar” which was the inspiration for “Satan Gave Me a Taco“) and my partner in the band was out of the country living in Spain. Beck and I were friends, doing the folk scene together and our friend Gus [Hudson] (who put out Beck’s Stereopathetic Soulmanure and the Bean/Beck 7″ [“MTV” –ed.]) was doing an album of car songs. Beck recorded a tune, and I asked him to sing on “American Car” as well, which he obliged.

Newt:

:Right off the bat – I don’t really like Beck’s part in this. I think it’s kinda the worst part of the song. BUT the song PERSEVERES.

This song is by far the best one on A Hot Wild Drive in the City. For one thing, most of the songs on the comp are, if I may say so, just terrible. Beck’s song ‘Put It In Neutral’ is pretty cool and dark and awesome, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the rollicking fun and excitement of ‘American Car’. ‘AC’ is the type of song that gets stuck in your head for three or four days and you don’t even mind. Those honking car horns, handclaps, and angry yet happy vocals just get me — wait for it — all revved up.

Ok, so speaking of car puns / metaphors, I have a story to tell. One time in high school I was in this Media class and we had a project for which we had to watch a number of related movies and write / present an analysis of them. I analyzed a bunch of movies that were written and/or directed by Don McKellar. The main theme that came out of them was one of journey, and a couple were actually road trip movies. When I had to do my presentation in front of the class I felt like being cheeky, so I tried to include as much car imagery and metaphor as possible. Every other sentence was a pun or a cliché. To me, this was absolutely hilarious. Unfortunately, nobody else in the class noticed and I just looked like a boob who was giggling for no reason.

Sorry that story was kinda lame. I’m a little drunk now, maybe I could have told it better sober. It was funny at the time, I swear.

Zigga zigga wow wow wow.

Vitamin.Deb:

This song reminds me of my college days, of too much time spent then with males who were neither boys nor men, and who were both infuriating and endearing.

Up next: “American Wasteland”!

Beck in Japan in March 2009

September 30th, 2008 by

According to my friend Yukari:

Beck Japan Tour!!! March 18 Zepp in Sendai, March 19 Zepp in Nagoya, March 22 Zepp in Osaka, March 24 & 25 NHK Hall in Tokyo

Reports of Beck never touring again are apparently grossly overestimated.