Midnite Vultures - Beck

Advantages: funky party album
Disadvantages: some people don't understand the joke

This is the first beck album that i bought and it made me want to go back and buy all his previous stuff. Yep it's that good. Beck appears to be able to go in any musical direction and this time he's aiming for some funk, with some R&B, rap and some good old rock along with some other stuff. This is a great party album and is great to dance to with friends or jump about in your bedroom to. The lyrics (as usual for beck) are nothing like the usual ...
...from this album are Nicotine & Gravy, Milk & Honey and Debra. I think that the concepts of these songs if completely misunderstood could make some people dislike the album. A lot of it is just making fun of people around beck (Hollywood Freaks is a good example) now that his life has changed since he first started out as a musician. A least that's what i think, i don't think that anyone can fully understand beck's lyrics but i think that everyone ... Read review

Advantages: You couldn't cram in any more musical sounds if you tried
Disadvantages: None

...all i can say about Midnite Vultures. Its combination of worldly music combines to create an aura of extreme sounds. Becks singing over masses of music makes you wonder if he can cram anymore music into one tune. Surprises on the album come in the form of a new found soul which finds itself rapping and almost crying down the microphone. Beck has experimented with different cultures music and different sounds to the extent that every time you listen ...
...track. Very refreshing and very entertaining, i'm just gagging to see him perform this album live as I'm sure it would be an amazing set. The lyrics in his songs never fail to amaze me. Each song feels deeply but you can never quite grasp what he actually means. As a result if you like your lyrics deep and meaningful, you may either like the challenge this album gives to interpret them or you may end up confused. Regardless of lyrics, the music ... Read review

Advantages: the way forward? hope so.
Disadvantages: not for everyone.

...down and prepare for the midnite vultures. just to illustrate my point about beck's unfathomableness: "I think we're going crazy Things don't even faze me Her left eye is lazy Nicotine and gravy Miracles amaze me She looks so Israeli Love the way she plays me I think I'm going crazy" the thing is, it really doesn't matter, whatever beck does, it turns to gold, and not necessarily mellow gold either. the adrenaline boost frmo the opener, "sexx ...
...least tapping their feet. the highlights of this album are very numerous. "sexx laws", "mixed bizness", "nicotine & gravy" and my favourite, "peaches & cream", in which beck harmonises with himself, provides a vocal rhythm, and screams over the top of it all. it's one of the songs that i just can't get out of my head, and if i were to make a movie, i'd get it on the soundtrack just because it's so good. (the other one would be "the house song" by ... Read review

Advantages: True originality
Disadvantages: None apparent

...answer. Beck said Midnite Vultures was "an album for the millenium", and you'd better believe it. "Eclectic" is an adjective often applied to Beck, and as on previous albums, it's completely fitting. He continues flirtations with hip-hop on Hollywood Freaks (hear his old friends the Dust Brothers scratching) and electronica (Get Real Paid) and also manages to show his more reflective is intact on Beautiful Way. However, Beck's biggest debt on his ...
...& Honey but his playing is hardly present, which is a bit disappointing. Tony Hoffer's funky wah guitar on Mixed Bizness softens the blow slightly. Truly, Midnite Vultures, is a musical adventure. But only what we've come to expect from on the most creative musicians of the last decade. ... Read review

Advantages: A big, cheesy, funky party album.
Disadvantages:

This is the album on which, many people will try to convince you, Beck tries to be Prince. Apart from a couple of tracks (the sleazy, squelch of Nicotine & Gravy, the falsetto wailing of Debra) I can't really see it, myself. Anyway, no self-respecting artist would admit to ripping off Prince these days. I must admit I was quite surprised at how popular Beck has become, judging by the number of copies this record has sold, as I had always thought ...
...obviously have better taste than I previously gave them credit for, because this record is excellent. Beck has obviously been taking singing lessons because his vocal range has improved immensely, and the funky beats and suggestive lyrics prove impossible to resist. This is Beck's cheesy seduction record, so buy it and play it to someone you wanna do the wild thing with. ... Read review

Advantages: SEXX LAWS ALONE IS A BECK MASTERPIECE.
Disadvantages: SOMEWHAT OF A BEWILDERING ONSLAUGHT!

..., with a song sung with plastic emotion, by what seems to be an ousted preacher, highlighted by such fantastic lyrics like " I wanna get with you, and your sister, I think her name is Debra". Class! Between the tracks I mentioned are 9 tracks constructed from a bewildering array of sounds, instrumentation and vocal diversity. You could bee forgiven for missing the 'Midnite Vultures' train, when it's bonkers track/s lead to oblivion. Try and take the LP one track at a time, and absorb each song in it's own individual groove. Not his strongest album by far, but certainly worth checking out. P.S all the faint hearted out there, beware the short secret track.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: it's Beck only more mellow
Disadvantages: You can dance to it....except Tropicalla

...This album, not the official follow up to Odelay is more of a side project. It doesn't have any of the over produced and mixed sound of either Odelay or Midnite Vultures. Beck's influences come out here more obviously than ever. You can here the country singer in him, with his folk song and modern blues. It is very mellow and relaxed, perfect soundtrack to a lazy afternoon - that is if you don't go too deeply into the lyrics which are more personal on this album than on any of his other albums. Beck is a man of many talents, and this album is not one that should be left on the shelves.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beck is a genius!
Disadvantages: For fans of Midnite Vultures this may disappoint.

...Sea Change is the latest album from the legend that is Beck Hansen. This man, as well as being absolutely gorgeous (hmm..just me then?) is a musical genius and everyone should listen to him. Even if you don't like Beck, at least one song in his vast repertoire will appeal. Anyway, Sea Change. If the Prince-like 80's sound of Midnite Vultures is what makes Beck appeal to you, then you may be disappointed with this album. If you stand with many other people in the proclamation that Mutations was Beck's worst album, then you will also be disappointed with Sea Change. It follows on from where Mutations left off. A folksy, bluesy, disillusioned-with-the-world style, although a little less melancholy and suicidal! I think the man is amazing, especially live. If you like a little bit of the obscure and strange, then Sea Change might just... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful