Odelay

I fully agree with those that say this album is one of Beck's best. Although this album has an overwhelming amount of `a' words (which I sure ain't a fan of), the sampling skills of Beck are colossal, with harmonica patterns, echo-drums, funky voices, and soulful saxophones being blended into his music. The song that I like most on Odelay is actually not one of the three hits, but one called "Hotwax". This song features a lazily played string instrument, distorted harmonica noises and vocals, the famous senseless Beck lyrics, a piece from what would seem to be a 40's movie, and other neat sampled rhythms. This album has a lot of variety, from country to hard rock to laid back peaceful melodies. I would recommend this album to Beck fans especially, but also to rock fans. Odelay is a very well constructed C.D. in my opinion and is certainly worth checking out.
I recommend:
Devil's Haircut
Hotwax
Lord Only Knows
The New Pollution
Novacane
Where It's At
Minus
Sissyneck
Readymade

Well, what can you say about this album? It is possibly the quintessential Beck album. Typically strange lyrics, with imaginative instrumentation and samples. Mellow Gold had his biggest hit, "Loser", but this album is more cohesive than that one. If you want to experience Beck, this would be a good album to start with.

Beck's debut, Mellow Gold, was a glorious sampler of different musical styles, careening from lo-fi hip-hop to folk, moving back through garage rock and arty noise. It was an impressive album, but the parts didn't necessarily stick together. The two albums that followed within months of Mellow Gold -- Stereopathetic Soul Manure and One Foot in the Grave -- were specialist releases that disproved the idea that Beck was simply a one-hit wonder.

But Odelay, the much-delayed proper follow-up to Mellow Gold, proves the depth and scope of his talents. Odelay fuses the disparate strands of Beck's music -- folk, country, hip-hop, rock & roll, blues, jazz, easy listening, rap, pop -- into one dense sonic collage. Songs frequently morph from one genre to another, seemingly unrelated genre -- bursts of noise give way to country songs with hip-hop beats, easy listening melodies transform into a weird fusion of pop, jazz, and cinematic strings; it's genre-defying music that refuses to see boundaries.

All of the songs on Odelay are rooted in simple forms -- whether it's blues ("Devil's Haircut"), country ("Lord Only Knows," "Sissyneck"), soul ("Hotwax"), folk ("Ramshackle"), or rap ("High 5 (Rock the Catskills)," "Where It's At") -- but they twist the conventions of the genre. "Where It's At" is peppered with soul, jazz, funk, and rap references, while "Novacane" slams from indie rock to funk and back to white noise. With the aid of the Dust Brothers, Beck has created a dense, endlessly intriguing album overflowing with ideas. Furthermore, it's an album that completely ignores the static, nihilistic trends of the American alternative/independent underground, creating a fluid, creative, and startlingly original work.

Countless musicians will release that one awesome record that puts them on the map and/or being a huge critical and fan favorite. Fleetwood Mac has Rumours, Motorhead has Ace of Spades, and Nirvana has Nevermind. Well Beck in 1996 released Odelay!, since became a big favorite and although its merits might be a bit overcooked, no denying there is a great record here.

Devil's Haircut: One of my favorite guitar riffs, even if it's so damn simple. Has his trademark Beck-style rapping and his odd lyrics. A more bluesy-rock number and finishing with him screaming the chorus over guitar feedback. Excellent opener. 10/10

Hotwax: Best way to describe this is one of those country songs after a big drug binge. Has usual odd guitar noises, slide guitar and a spanish chorus. Lots of stuff going on but weirdly listenable. Favorite sound effect is after the first chorus. 9/10

Lord Only Knows: Weird screaming starts it before it's a country-esque number with what sounds like a beat up tuba in the background. The chorus is ok and the song as a whole is just simply ok. Neat folk guitar ending though7.5/10

New Pollution: Here we go, getting to some good stuff. Pretty funny intro until it becomes a funky-style number and a nice catchy chorus and some saxophone thrown in. One of the hits. 9/10

Derelict: Beck must've visited the Middle East and the Orient because it definately sounds like that. Not much of a song though. 7.5/10

Novacane: Another funky number with heavily distorted guitars, almost sounds like a pre-Limp Bizkit song without the lameness. Probably good live but on stereo it's just ok. Bit too long outro. 7.5/10

Jack-Ass: It's a very slow song yet for some reason I love it. The banjo and that weird echo-y guitar and that melodic-yet-monotone singing that Beck does. Might not last past 10 listens but first couple listens it's nice. That donkey at the end just sucks though. 8/10

Where It's At: One of the most well-known Beck songs yet I can't stand it for some reason. Good keyboard line but that chorus has a shout-it-out quality yet I don't feel the urge too. Too long also. 7/10

Minus: Big punk-style song driven largely by the bass and rather fuzzy guitars. It's pretty short and there's nothing a lot to say about it but good guitar work. 7.5/10

Sissyneck: The opening whistle might get stuck in your head. Funky bass(or is it guitar?) song and it's pretty good although it probably won't be a big favorite. 8/10

Readymade: I like that robotic voice in the beginning. It's a more sonically interesting song than an actual song with saxaphones, echo-y guitars and quick keyboard notes.

High 5(Rock the Catskills): A very strange track with rapping, turntables and bullhorn vocals. I hear even Beck doesn't like this song and it just sounds too cluttered like they went overboard with the sounds. 6/10

Ramshackle: An effective closer with the acoustic guitar at the forefront. Kind of like a pre-cursor to the Mutations/Sea Change stuff. The chorus is nicely sung. Runs a bit too long though but still good. 9/10

It's funny reviewing a record that gets several 7's and even a 6 yet it's 5 stars but the sum is more impressive than the parts, which is usually a typical Beck album anyway.

When this album came out in 1994 it was groundbreaking in its merging of rock and electronic epherema. While it has been overrated and blown out of proportion in the last 10 years, this is indeed a great album and probably Beck's crowning moment. The opening salve of Devil's Haircut, Hot Wax, and Lord Only Knows stand along with Beck's masterpiece on this album, Where It's At, and go with his punkier numbers like High Five, the odd Derelict, Ramshackle, and Novocaine. From front to back this is just a great album and one that should be your starting point if you're just getting into Beck.