Beck

Last week, Beck quietly released his 15th studio album with "Ride Lonesome."  It's been a few years since his last full-length, and on the new album he's digging back into those sad Beck sounds, akin to the lush and melancholy vibes of "Sea Change" or "Morning Phase."  Check out the gentle "In the Night" below and get the LP here.

Beck - Ride Lonesome

Beck released a new song earlier this week with the lush and wistful "Ride Lonesome," a track that would easily slide right in with the vibes of 2002's "Sea Change" or 2014's "Morning Phase."  Check out the video for the track below.

Daily Jam - Ramona

It's my wife's birthday today, so here's a love song by Beck.  Listen to "Ramona" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Nausea

Wild to me to think that '00s Beck is now two decades old.  Here's a fun track from 2006's "The Information."  Listen to "Nausea" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Sweet Sunshine

Starting the week off with a weird and noisy one from Beck.  From 1994's "Mellow Gold" LP, listen to "Sweet Sunshine" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - We Live Again

Beck is one of those artists who for years, if you didn’t care for an album, you could simply wait for the next one, because it was bound to be a complete 180 from what preceded it, an exploration of and combination of different genre tropes in an attempt to create something brand new. After a career spanning over three decades, he has kind of begun to settle into one of two different modes: sample-laden, hip-hop-inspired Beck and string-accompanied, somber Beck. They both have their distinct charms, though I’m still holding out for a honky-tonk, country punk rock Beck someday in the future (as evidenced by the fantastic “I Just Started Hating Some People Today,” a one-off single recorded with Jack White a few years ago).

Preferences aside, when he’s good, he’s good, and on 1998’s Mutations, Beck defied expectations, offering a collection of songs that pulled from folk rock, psychedelia, and bossa nova that was equal parts Serge Gainsbourg and Os Mutantes. It was a definite turn from the party sampler collage that was Odelay, but it solidified Beck as an eclectic artist, and made his subsequent releases events for a time.

While it’s hardly my favorite record by the man, the dreamy and wistful “We Live Again” is an absolute gem, a lush and gorgeous track featuring production by Nigel Godrich. The sorrowful tone therein reveals levels of the artist that had only been surface scratched before. Lyrically, it sounds like the lament of a man who has lost too much, searching for meaning in the meaningless, and eventually finding a form of acceptance in the inevitable and universal heartache of life. Paired with the airy and dreamlike music, warm strings and gentle harpsichord, “We Live Again” is a lovelorn lullaby adrift on an endless sea of memories.

“The end of the end. We live again. Oh I grow weary of the end.”

Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Rahill Featuring Beck

Rahill Jamalifard is a member of New York psych pop outfit Habibi.  In May she sets out on her own with new solo album "Flowers at Your Feet," but brings along a familiar voice for some backing vocals on new single "Fables" with Beck.  Check out the hazy bounce below and pre-order the record here from Big Dada.

Beck - Thinking About You

Beck dropped a new acoustic track a few days ago, a melancholy lament that would fit right at home on "Mutations" or "Sea Change."  Listen to "Thinking About You" below.

Daily Jam - Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997

You ever wake up and just feel kind of off?  That's me this morning.  And i can't tell if i'm just really, really tired, or if it's more of a sense of creeping dread.  Whatever it may be, Beck's "Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997" feels like the right thing to listen to.  It's kind of off too.  Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Nicotine and Gravy

I went back and listened to Beck's 1999 album "Midnite Vultures" recently, and it's still and astoundingly fun party album.  Here's "Nicotine and Gravy," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Mutherfuker

Tuesday mood.  Here's Beck with "Mutherfuker," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Lonesome Tears

While i prefer weird, anti-folk Beck myself, sad Beck can sure write a beautiful song.  Here's sad Beck with "Lonesome Tears," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam (October Edition) - Satan Gave Me a Taco

Satan!  It's the month for songs about Satan...even the silly ones.  Here's Beck with "Satan Gave Me a Taco," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Broken Drum (Boards of Canada Remix)

Though it's got a couple of great songs on it, I've always found Beck's "Guero" LP, along with its remix sibling "Guerolito," to be some of the lesser output from the artist.  But the Boards of Canada remix of "Broken Drum" is lights out.  It sounds like walking around lost in a big city, but taking it all in.  Check it out below, our Daily Jam.

Natalie Bergman and Beck

Natalie Bergman is one half of the brother/sister duo Wild Belle who released her debut solo album "Mercy" earlier this year, and Beck is...well, Beck.  The two just teamed together for a cover of Dutch psych rock band Lion's 1975 track "You've Got a Woman."  It's a cool and breezy, laid back jam.  Check it out below, and be on the lookout for a 7" from Third Man Records.

Daily Jam (Covers Week) - Gamma Ray

Here's Jay Reatard's version of Beck's "Gamma Ray."  I miss that guy.  Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Blackhole

Beck's "Mellow Gold" will always be one of my favorite albums, it's blend of lo-fi anti-folk, warped hip-hop production, and all around punk weirdness pretty much cementing itself to my brain, heart, and soul as an impressionable 15-year old.  Listen to album closer "Blackhole" below, our Daily Jam.

Beck - Uneventful Days

As much as i am probably going to be eternally pining for some kind of mutant country and western record from the man, smooth and sleek synth pop Miami Vice Beck is still something i can get behind.  New album "Hyperspace" is due later this month on Capitol, but in the meantime, check out the Dev Hynes directed video for "Uneventful Days" below, featuring Tessa Thompson as "Devil's Haircut" Beck and Evan Rachel Wood as "Sexx Laws" Beck.  It's pretty cool.

Daily Jam - Asshole

Lo-fi, anti-folk Beck has probably always been my favorite Beck.  I wish he'd make music like that again.  So, from "One Foot in the Grave," here's "Asshole," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - I Just Started Hating Some People Today

A few years ago, Beck released a single for the "Blue Series" on Jack White's Third Man Records.  The song was a wonderful mix of old country, bar blues, and then some punk and all out weirdness to end it all.  It was the best thing he'd done in years and i pine for a whole album of this kind of thing someday.  I mean, his pop party and sad bastard records are great and everything, but this mutant country and western hybrid thing is where my heart's at.  Anyway, Beck's "I Just Started Hating Some People Today" is our Daily Jam.  Check it out and love it below.