#96...

Beck - Midnite Vultures

Listening to this album makes me think, "Of course! Beck is actually the brain behind Flight of the Conchords!" He even sounds like Jermaine on "Peaches & Cream", and don't even get me started on "Debra", which has never been a more direct inspiration for the shepherds-turned-musicians' classic, "Jenny".

And with that, 'crimping' - Messrs. Barratt and Fielding's (apparently) original way of yarning a verse or four - also seems so ten years ago when you plug in and entertain your lugs with "Nicotine & Gravy", "Hollywood Freaks", and "Milk & Honey". It seems the man loves an ampersand too.

But seriously. The man has about as much funk in this album as the late, great James Brown..okay, so maybe that has overstepped the mark, but I first listened to this album on my laptop speakers, and I thought that it was good. But you plug those headphones in, and my God, does that bassline stick out like the thumb of an Ent who's bad at hammer work.

Key Tracks: "Sexx Laws"; "Hollywood Freaks"; "Milk & Honey"; "Debra"

Goofy Piety And Ambiguous Intent: Pitchfork's review of Midnite Vultures contained this phrase, applauding his ability to mix Prince, Talking Heads, Paul's Boutique, 'Shake Your Bon-Bon' and Mathlete. It's just a shame he couldn't keep up the funktastic fun of this album on his next offering, Sea Change. But hey, man's gotta move with the times. Even though he's from every time as well as no time at all on #96.