Beck's 1994 smash, the quirky slacker-rap known as "Loser," had one-hit wonder written all over it. Sure, "Loser" was so oddly brilliant that it was destined to be a '90s classic, but I think most people, myself included, were shocked that he returned with more hits only two years later. Turned out that "Loser" wasn't the only classic he would release, as 1996's Odelay would launch Beck well beyond one-hit wonder status and set him up to become a well-respected artist for years to come.

The song that drew me to Odelay was its first single, the sample-filled, funked-up party track "Where It's At." A logical follow-up to "Loser," this one continues Beck's use of strange, rapped verses, though this time with a more laid back dance groove. Its refrain of "Where it's at / I got two turntables and a microphone" is much more lighthearted than "I'm a loser baby so why don't you kill me?" but just as memorable for those of us who grew up in the '90s.

Beck takes several more opportunities to deliver his quirky raps throughout Odelay. "Hotwax" mixes the hip-hop with some rock and country to deliver a strange but cool tune with head-scratching lyrics: "I can't believe my way-back-when / My Cadillac pants going much too fast." Some tracks show Beck spitting his raps more emphatically and with heavy effects to create some of the album's most intense numbers like "Novacane" and "High 5 (Rock the Catskills)."

Those songs are all great, but Beck really shines when he dabbles in other styles such as the infectiously upbeat lounge act known as "The New Pollution," which brought the saxophone back to modern rock radio at least for a brief time. He mixes some folk-country with alt-rock and turntablism on tracks like "Sissyneck" and "Lord Only Knows" while numbers such as "Devil's Haircut," "Minus," and the slow but bouncy hidden gem "Readymade" give us a more straight-up rock sound, though with plenty of Beck-style experimentation mixed in to keep the songs from sounding like anything you've heard before.

The Odelay amusement park ride takes a few dips into mellow territory but remains inventive and enjoyable every time. "Derelict" is a dark track that looks through the eyes of a homeless man: "I dropped my anchor in the dead of night / I packed my suitcase and threw it away / I fell asleep in the funeral fire / I gave my clothes to the police man." "Jack-Ass" is a bit more lighthearted with its drifty folk vibe and catchy chorus while "Ramshackle" closes the album on a more somber note without, however, diminishing Odelay's overall feel-good groove.

Though Beck throws plenty of oddities our way, no song is so complicated that it can't be enjoyed by just about anybody. That's what makes Odelay so great: it's universally pleasing to the ears despite all its experimentation and downright craziness. Odelay works on so many levels, the most important one being establishing Beck as a creative genius.


Also from Beck:

Mellow Gold
Midnite Vultures
Guero
Modern Guilt


Recommended: Yes