"Modern Guilt" 2008
Beck and Danger Mouse. Together. Meh. I wasn't
excited for this when it came out. It didn't help that the
lead single was the snoozer, "Chemtrails."
Best track: Gamma Ray
"Stereopathetic Soulmanure" 1994
This is the randomest (and least good) of Beck's three 1994 albums.
But it still shows wild Beck lighting up the magic that was the possibility
of alternative music in the 1990s. Even though no radio station would go
anywhere near anything off of this record.
Best Track: Rowboat
"The Information" 2006
The whole There-Goes-Rhymin-Simon-Choose-Your-Own-Album-Cover
idea was pretty mediocre. Beck explores some interesting sounds here,
but overall, this record doesn't leave much of an impression.
Best track: Cellphone's Dead
"Morning Phase" 2014
A gorgeous record companion to Sea Change. The problem
here is that while Morning Phase matches the shine and
production of Sea Change, Beck is unable to recapture the
emotion that drives Sea Change's songs.
Best track: Country Down
"Midnite Vultures" 1999
Beck's end of the century party album has grown on me.
But it still lives here. Middle of the pack.
Best track: Get Real Paid
"Guero" 2005
This was supposed to be Beck getting back to Odelay.
He didn't get there, but still a strong batch of songs.
Best track: Earthquake Weather
"Mellow Gold" 1994
Beck's breakthrough success. This is alternative nation.
This is the 1990s.
Best track: Beercan
"Mutations" 1998
I'm running out of things to say. This is a superb album.
Not a bad song on here.
Best track: We Live Again
"Sea Change" 2002
One of the most beautiful, moving, break-up
albums ever. A Blood On the Tracks for
Generation X.
Best track: Guess I'm Doing Fine
"One Foot in the Grave" 1994
Some might think I'm crazy, or just trying to be difficult,
by saying this is my second favorite Beck album.
But I'm not. And it is.
Best Track: Asshole
"Odelay" 1996
Poor Beck. He will never make anything better than Odelay.
But he shouldn't feel bad. Not many other people will even
come close. It's the perfect incarnation of post-modernism
on the turntables, mixing everything that's great about American
music and spinning it into something immaculate. And new.
Best album of the entire 1990s? Maybe.
Best track: Jack-Ass