Peter Mavrik\'s Clubbin' Tip #2: Bitter folks go away, don't come back another day. If you're full of attitude, get a job like Simon Cowell that allows you to throw shade. If you're having a bad day, or if you're just generally a bitter person, don't bring it to the club. It makes you look ignorant. Nobody likes rude people. Either get some therapy or get some happiness. Your choice.
Beck is back with his latest CD called 'Guero' which means 'white boy' in Spanish. I'm still a little puzzled over the choice of title, but this album is definitely one for the Beck fans out there. A more appropriate title might have been 'Return To Beck'.
This is good old classic Beck ( if there is such a thing... ) . Full of gritty guitars and vinyl loops, fans familiar with his early work will definitely enjoy this latest release. It's down to earth and hauntingly Beck throughout every song. There are 70's harmonies in 'Rental Car', bright bubble-gum pop strains in 'Earthquake Weather', and that very Beck flavored trip-hop in 'Hell Yes'. He even sings a ballad on 'Missing'. The alternative flavor of the first track, 'E-Pro,' sounds very flashy with a grungy guitar loop, while the second track 'Que Onda Guero' leaps into the spoken-word world of Beck. He's definitely back, doing what he does best.
But it's not like Beck has anything to prove. Since he's virtually been there and done all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips, this time around he's decided to resurrect the Beck sounds that most of us fell in love with back in the day. I actually felt a little nostalgic during my first tour through the disc.
Unfortunately, the only thing really missing from this album is his incredible voice. He sings a lot, but for the most part he's pretty restrained. In fact, as wildly as he bounces about with styles on this disc, he's still pulled way back. Call it maturity as an artist, or call it mellowing with age. I'm not sure, but in any case, 'Guero' is 100% Beck and it'll leave you with a smile on your face.
In my spotlight is 'Go It Alone', a Southern flavored track with a spare drum loop, a funky guitar, and low, soft vocals. The hook builds up into some great harmony, showcasing those really amazing pipes Beck has. Something about this track makes me want to pour myself a large lemonade and sit on a porch in the heat. Perhaps I'm just longing for some real Summertime. Who knows...
A quick shout to all those who've e-mailed me their musical blunders ( see my column from the week of April 20th ) . Thanks! And for those of you who haven't yet made it to your hotmail account to holler, I want to hear from you. Tell me about some awful music that somehow crept into your shopping cart.
Always with you in 4/4,
Peter Mavrik
peter@windycitymediagroup.com