Other Mixes By Rob Conroy
CD
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Single Artist
CD
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Mixed Genre
CD
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Mixed Genre
Cassette
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Single Artist
They've got plastic in the afterlife.
| Artist | Song | |
| Beck |
Loser 
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| Beck |
Pay No Mind (Snoozer)
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| Beck | Fuckin with My Head | |
| Beck |
Cyanide Breath Mint
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| Beck |
Hollow Log
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| Beck |
Asshole
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| Beck |
Where It's At
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| Beck |
Hotwax
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| Beck |
Jack-ass
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| Beck |
Readymade
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| Beck |
Cold Brains
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| Beck |
Nobody's Fault But My Own
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| Beck |
Tropicalia
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| Beck |
Diamond Bollocks
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| Beck |
Sexx Laws
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| Beck |
Beautiful Way
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| Beck |
Debra
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| Beck |
The Golden Age
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| Beck |
E-Pro
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| Beck |
Girl
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Comment:
After realizing that I have CDRs of most Beck albums (none of which I listen to with any kind of frequency), I decided to put this mix together. I don't have any b-sides, nor do I have Stereopathic Soul Manure, so there's not much out of the ordinary here. What I *did* discover, however, is that (to me, anyway) Beck's albums are very, very patchy (yes, that means all of them, including Mutations and the much-vaunted Odelay, which are my favorites) and that it was difficult to find 80 minutes' worth of material that I really, really liked (although I did and actually had to cut the few tracks that I'll list below). I've always said that I like Beck well enough for a guy who sells three million copies of his albums, but now I'm beginning to think he's a little more overrated than I initially thought (especially because one of his records, Sea Change, is one of the dullest things that I've ever heard). That said, I think that most of this material holds up well enough and it was worth compiling (if only so I can permanently box my dubbed copies of his records). And for the record, I really do like "Devil's Haircut"--it was THE proverbial last track cut, followed by "Go It Alone" and "Lazy Flies." Those were narrowly edged out by "Pay No Mind" after much debate.Feedback:
A. No Devils Haircut & No New Pollution!
B. Odelay and Mellow Gold patchy!Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but to say an artist is overrated whose had a pretty good record for putting out quality recordings (two of which are well deserving of accolade) is, IMHO, a tad of a stretch.
B. Odelay and Mellow Gold patchy!Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but to say an artist is overrated whose had a pretty good record for putting out quality recordings (two of which are well deserving of accolade) is, IMHO, a tad of a stretch.
Why am I the only person on the site who is not entitled to have an opinion? Those albums are patchy to me, with Odelay certainly being the better of the two (it only has a couple of tracks that I actively dislike). And whether you think his string of recordings is "quality" is *your* opinion. I disagree, but I wouldn't bother to post something on a mix of yours about it.
You're well entitled to your opinion. And, I don't mean to dismiss it. Additionally, if you posted you're dislike/opinion/corrections regarding mixes I post, I wouldn't mind...I might disagree, but I wouldn't mind. Actually, I'd prefer it if that was what you felt.
You have began what I feel is a pretty decent conversation regarding the merits of certain popular acts, such as Beck. Why is the participation in conversation seen as negative? I'm not Beck (I swear), so your opinion about his work doesn't affect either way, personally, but I am intrigued by commentary regarding how people rate music.But, you've raised another interesting point. If you only dislike two out of thirteen tracks on a particular album (an album commonly reviewed as being of merit, such as Odelay), than how do you rationalize that album as being patchy?Having said that, is it not a common opinion that both albums I've noted are critically acclaimed? If so, than my comment regarding quality is not so much my opinion but the basis for the conversation regarding quality.The only opinion I state, here, is that I am not seeing how you perceive overall quality. Something I am even more "grey" on, considering your comment regarding you're perception on Odelay.
You have began what I feel is a pretty decent conversation regarding the merits of certain popular acts, such as Beck. Why is the participation in conversation seen as negative? I'm not Beck (I swear), so your opinion about his work doesn't affect either way, personally, but I am intrigued by commentary regarding how people rate music.But, you've raised another interesting point. If you only dislike two out of thirteen tracks on a particular album (an album commonly reviewed as being of merit, such as Odelay), than how do you rationalize that album as being patchy?Having said that, is it not a common opinion that both albums I've noted are critically acclaimed? If so, than my comment regarding quality is not so much my opinion but the basis for the conversation regarding quality.The only opinion I state, here, is that I am not seeing how you perceive overall quality. Something I am even more "grey" on, considering your comment regarding you're perception on Odelay.
I guess the provisional answer to your question is that, due to deadline pressure, I don't have time to debate the quality of or analyze Beck's output in print today. :-) Perhaps another time... and I'm not too keen on other tracks on Odelay (beyond the three--"High 5," "Derelict" and "Novacane"--that I actively dislike), so that makes it a spotty album to me. If I can argue that 5 or 6 of an album's 13 songs don't "do it" for me, then that would be patchy...
Its a bit lively around here today. Anyways, I hear what you are saying about Beck, personallyI couldnt have done a single artist on him without Sissyneck and Devils Haircut and yeah New Pollution but then again I think Sea Change is a solid album if a little darker than his usual fayre so there is no accounting for taste. Love your choice of opening three here.
Well Rob, as it usually goes with you and I, i would have had a hard time getting a Beck comp DOWN to 80 minutes. Interesting discussion going here, made me consider how many discs I own that wouldn't qualify as "Patchy". Even the best of them rarely hit 100%.
Don't know much about Beck - what I have heard I've really enjoyed. I'll use your experience to guide me further. Nice job.
Rob, I'm with you on this one. I wasn't very impressed with Mellow Gold, loved Odelay (but haven't listened to it in years), and have been increasingly unimpressed by his output since (yep, Sea Change is a real bore). I would have included Devil's Haircut but otherwise like your picks.
I'm perplexed as to why you consider "Sea Change" dull, as I've seen many people liken it to Nick Drake, an artist I know you like. Anyhow, I did a two disc retrospective of Beck many years ago and if I anthologized him these days, it'd probably have to be three. This guy's incredibly prolific. I have a good chunk of his b-sides but nowhere near a complete collection. (His non-LP tracks have to be somewhere up around 100 tracks or so.) Anyhow, Beck's one of the only modern artists I feel like I can depend on, and I'll buy a new album of his without hearing a note (although "Guero" was relatively weak, IMHO). The only thing I truly feel is overrated is "Odelay," a record I adored when it came out and that confounded everyone's expectations but now sounds somewhat average to me. By the way, I'm a complete oddball, as "Midnite Vultures" is far and away my favorite Beck album. That's one of those "start-to-finish" discs for me.
it's funny. i think that "mutations" is dull in the same way you think "sea change" is dull. i don't think you're missing much without "stereopathetic soul manure". listening to beck does require a certain amount of indulgence, so i'm impressed that you managed to make 80 minutes of stuff you really liked.
Hmmmm... I always thought Odelay vastly overrated and really hasn't aged very well. Sea Change is my favorite Beck album followed closely by Mutations. The selections on my mix would be very different than this post but that's what we're all about around here.
i've always been a sucker for mutations. its kind of frustrating at times, but there's so many interesting things going on, "cold brains" is a masterpiece.
I enjoy listening to Beck-Ola and Truth...oh wait wrong Beck.
My Top 3 Beck albums for what it's worth. 1) Midnite Vultures 2) Odelay & 3) Mutations. Having said that my favourite track by him is The Golden Age from the supposedley dull Sea Change. That's not really enhanced the argument but it's my tuppenceworth anyway.
I'm with George. Viva debate!
Intriguing.For someone under a "time" crunch, you certainly seem to devote a fair amount of time updating/editing your comments and monitoring/deleting feedback.And, since editorials are the rage...on the topic of posting opinions: for the record, using the term, "overrated", infers you are comparing your opinion (rating) versus the opinion (rating) of others...and have deemed the opinion (rating) of others as lacking merit.Either way, I shant opine ever again, so as not to burden you with taking time out of what must be a jam packed schedule. Time much better served compiling mixes of "overrated" artists, I am quite certain.Farewell,Gnome
Nice mix. As with many, I bemoan the exclusion of Devil's Haircut (my personal Beck fave), but am pleased by the inclusion of Sexx Laws and Debra. From what I can tell, we share similar feelings about Beck - not bad, but not someone I listen to with any frequency. I would probably benefit from compiling my favorite of his stuff onto one disc as well. Nicely done, and good idea.
My opinions: He's made some great songs, many of them here, but no really great albums. I like 'Mellow Gold' and 'Mutations' a lot though. As for 'Sea Change'- Drake?? No, Gainsbourg. But 'The Golden Age' is lush.
The "single artist" mix -- a category I would recommend avoiding. Although it always leads to "lively" debate; and I, invariably, make some comment that offends someone's sensibilities. Not today, oh no, you won't catch me with my trousers...However, whilst on the subject of Beck, let me point you in the direction of "Beckoning" by Shunn789 mix id: 96603. This is a personal favourite of mine. More fuel to the fires perhaps...
Wow. I'd have to say Musicgnome is perhaps the most aptly named poster on this entire site.
While Mr. Conroy and I have intermittently disagreed on music, I am totally 100% with Rob on this. While I don't dislike Beck, I've always found the critical fawning to be rather bewildering, and often had a sense that he was such a critical darling that being critical of his work was frowned upon -- the Emperor's New Clothes indeed. IMHO, Beck is the perfect candidate for a single artist mix -- a handful of superlative singles, a few worthy album tracks, and the balance largely filler. (My own Beck cd's are sitting in a box in the closet. Echoing Rob, Sea Change is boring as all get-out.)
Of course, as is often the case, my own Beck faves aren't all here (Devil's Haircut, New Pollution), so at some point I'll probably whip up my own version. In fact, I started one about two years ago, and the fact that I never got around to finishing pretty much says it all.
Of course, as is often the case, my own Beck faves aren't all here (Devil's Haircut, New Pollution), so at some point I'll probably whip up my own version. In fact, I started one about two years ago, and the fact that I never got around to finishing pretty much says it all.
Own but Odelay & haven't played that in years. 'Loser' was the anthem tune for the greatest pub I ever frequented - the original 'Purple Turtle' in Reading, UK(Oh the memories -well those I can remember anyway!) Nice to see a good bit o' discussion going on though.
Hmmm! I like Beck from time to time...Loser great song.
I quite enjoy Beck, I think the recognition is deserved...and I love Sea Changes as well! Nice mix , Rob.
I love Beck
Beck has a lot of filler in his catalog, but when he hits with a winner, he hits big. I should make a best-of myself, becasue I don't like any of his albums enough to play them all the way through.