Beck
One Foot In The Grave
Geffen Records
After the folk-hop tune "Loser" had become one of the biggest singles of the century and the major label bidding war over his services had been concluded,
Beck checked out, went up to Olympia, and made a stripped-down, introspective album on
K Records with a group of Northwest indie luminaries that included
Calvin
Johnson (
Beat Happening,
Dub Narcotic Sound System).
Sam Jayne
(
Lync,
Love as Laughter),
James Bertram (
Lync),
Scott Plouf (
The Spinanes,
Built To Spill),
Chris Ballen, and
Mario Prietto. It turned out to be some of his best work. Featuring the Delta blues-inspired "He's a Mighty Good Leader,"
One Foot in the Grave is a contemplative (mostly) quiet beauty, with none of the recycled soul and junk culture pretensions of his other records.
Beck went back to his roots in making this record; it's a kind of homage to the music he loved first: folk, bluegrass, and Delta blues. His warm, gentle, slightly stoned take on these classic styles is incredibly endearing and eminently listenable. The record's lo-fi production keeps your attention right where it should be: on
Beck's sleepy man-boy voice and whimsical, off-kilter lyrics. The melodies are simple, intimate, and memorable.
One Foot in the Grave isn't about jump cuts or musical bricolage, and it's not about TV or cellophane-wrapped products, either. In short, it's not about the 1990s. It's a classic, a timeless piece of music that will always be relevant.
Jesse Ashlock
last updated:
10/10/02
