Mutations [LP]

by Beck

Overview

Whether he's got two turntables and a microphone or just an acoustic guitar, Beck's no loser, baby. Mutations may not be quite as quirky as Mellow Gold or Odelay, but that's not to say any of these songs are old hat. Even when he's writing a seemingly straightforward tune, Beck doesn't shy away from strange harmonic twists and ornamental electronic arabesques. With influences as diverse as Dylan and Djavan, Mutations turns out to be just as varied as its predecessors -- and it's even hummable. Release date: November 2, 1998

Product Details

Release Date:	10/27/2017
Label:	Interscope / Polydor
UPC:	0602557034882
Rank:	28559

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Static
2. Cold Brains
3. Nobody's Fault But My Own
4. Lazy Flies
5. Canceled Check
6. We Live Again
7. Tropicalia
8. Dead Melodies
9. Bottle of Blues
10. O Maria
11. Sing It Again

Disc 2

12. Diamond Bollocks
13. Runners Dial Zero

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Beck   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Glockenspiel
David Campbell   Primary Artist,Viola,Conductor
Smokey Hormel   Guest Artist,Cuica,Quica,Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Roger Manning   Guest Artist,Organ,Piano,Keyboards,Percussion,Harpsichord,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Larry Corbett   Cello
Justin Meldal-Johnsen   Bass,Percussion,Double Bass,Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Elliot Caine   Trumpet
Joey Waronker   Drums,Percussion,Electronic Drums,Synthesizer Drums
David Ralicke   Flute,Trombone
Warren Klein   Sitar,Tambura,Tamboura
Beck Hansen   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel,Slide Guitar
Elliott Caine   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Justin Meldal-Johnsen   Mixing
Beck   Composer,Producer
John Sorenson   Assistant Engineer
Robert Fisher   Art Direction
Nigel Godrich   Mixing,Producer
David Campbell   Arranger
John Sorensen   Mixing,Assistant Engineer
Autumn de Wilde   Photography
Charlie Gross   Photography
Beck Hansen   Mixing,Composer,Producer

Editorial Reviews

According to party line, Beck never intended Mutations to be considered as the official followup to Odelay, his Grammy-winning breakthrough. It was more like One Foot in the Grave, designed to be an off-kilter, subdued collection of acoustic-based songs pitched halfway between psychedelic country blues and lo-fi folk. Once Beck became an international celebrity -- shortly after Geffen's hitmaking machine began to dry up -- it was impossible for him to release an independent record, so Geffen snapped up his Bong Load contract, releasing Mutations in the fall of 1998 while stressing that it was not the official followup to Odelay. The presence of producer Nigel Godrich, the man who helmed Radiohead's acclaimed OK Computer, makes such claims dubious. Godrich is not a slick producer, but he's no Calvin Johnson, either, and Mutations has an appropriately clean, trippy feel. There's little question that the blues, country, psych, bossa nova and folk that comprise Mutations was never meant to be a commercial endeavor -- there's no floor-shaker like "Where's It's At," nor does it trade in the junk culture that brought Odelay to life. It's a small, spacey, low-key album that is a world away from the dense kaleidoscope of sound that has distinguished his previous Geffen work, yet it unmistakeably bears his signature stamp. Mutations has shambling folk as its foundation, as most of his albums do, but it's more elastic, trippy and self-contained. Recording with his touring band -- marking the first time he has entered the studio with a live band -- does result in a different sound, but it's not so much a departure as it is a side-road that is going in the same direction. None of the songs explore new territory -- Beck test-drove the bossa nova of "Tropicalia" on "Deadweight," his unjustly overlooked contribution to the Life Less Ordinary soundtrack -- but they're rich, lyrically and musically. There's an off-the-cuff wit to the songwriting, especially on "Cancelled Check" and "Bottle of Blues," and the performances are natural, relaxed and laid-back, without ever sounding complacent. In fact, one of the nifty tricks of Mutations is how it sounds simple upon the first listen, then reveals more psychedelic layers upon each play. Beck is not only a startling songwriter -- his best songs are simultaneously modern and timeless -- he is a sharp record maker, crafting albums that sound distinct and original, no matter how much they may borrow. In its own quiet, organic way, Mutations confirms this as much as either Mellow Gold or Odelay. -- All-Music Guide

Stephen Thomas Erlewine