Beck Hansen, better known as simply Beck, has been making music since the mid '80s, but most first became aware of him in 1993 following the massive success of his single "Loser."
Since then, Beck's remained a prominent name in alternative music, with a total of 11 studio albums. He's built a name for himself as an unusually eclectic artist whose albums, when put together form an amalgamation of genres where one album might sound nothing like the next.
His is a career that's difficult to pin down, but we're going to give it our best shot. Beck plans to release his first new album since 2008's Modern Guilt, titled Morning Phase in February 2014, so it seemed appropriate to celebrate. Here, for your reading pleasure, are our top 10 Beck songs.
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10. Guess I'm Doing Fine
Morning Phase is being described as a follow up to Beck 2002 effort Sea Change, which might be accurately called Beck's bummer album. Inspired by a recent divorce, Beck wrote and recorded his saddest bunch of songs, creating one of his best, most personal albums.
"Guess I'm Doing Fine," one of the album's singles, is a good summation of the album. It's downtempo but never uninteresting, as the lush production lends it a sort of feeling of soaring. Couple that with strong melody and soul-crushing lyrics, and you have one of Beck's best.
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9. The New Pollution
Odelay is often considered Beck's best album, and one of his best efforts to merge all his influences into one set of songs. Although the album contains elements of folk, hip-hop, and funk, "The New Pollution" is perhaps best described as psychedelic dance music.
There's a catchy chorus supported by a rollicking drum beat, saxophone solos and funky keyboards. Although the single didn't manage to make the charts, it's easily a standout from possibly Beck's best album.
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8. Cold Brains
After the success of Odelay, Beck took a big risk by releasing Mutations, a huge departure that took most of its cues from Americana-style music rather than the hip-hop rock stylings of Odelay.
It wasn't quite as successful, but Beck made it clear that he didn't want to be tied down to one sound. Nor did he need to be, as the excellent "Cold Brains" demonstrates. It starts as a folk song and then grows into a sort of alternative roots rock song, filled with encompassing lyrics and melodies along the way.
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7. E-Pro
Beck's 2005 album Guero was his return to the genre melding dance music style of Odelay, and is his highest selling album to date. "E-Pro" was its first single, and it reached number 1 on the modern rock chart, his first since "Loser" 11 years before.
It's not hard to see why, as the subdued verses, full of the nonsense lyrics Beck frequently employs, gives way to one of his catchiest choruses, complete with an instantly recognizable riff and a "na na na" refrain that anyone can sing along to.
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6. Pay No Mind
Following an unexpected hit like "Loser" is no easy task. Beck, always opting for the unexpected, chose a mostly acoustic song as his next single, complete with lyrics about "a giant dildo crushing the sun."
It was never going to reach the kind of commercial heights of "Loser," but the lyrics, though cryptic, are interesting and rewarding, as is the mid-tempo melody. Beck has always had folk soul, and "Pay No Mind" is a perfect song to show how he combines his own slack sensibilities with classic Americana.
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5. Sexx Laws
The lead single from Beck's 1999 Midnite Vultures, Sexx Laws is indicative of the album's funk and R&B influences. Of course, since it's Beck, there are such strange choices, such as the pairing of bluegrass banjo and a loud brass section, that make the song totally its own.
It's a grand, funny song with an infectious refrain from one of Beck's most underrated albums.
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4. Where It's At
Another from Odelay, "Where It's At" is arguably the epitome of what made the album great. It's impossible to classify into any one genre, featuring Beck rapping over an iconic keyboard riff, alternating with an infectious chorus full of guitar feedback and tape hiss and electronic instrumentation.
Often cited as his best, "Where It's At" is a good introduction to the unique blend of accessibility and unapologetic experimentation that makes Beck great.
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3. Loser
Although the song that made him big isn't my number one choice, it comes awfully close. Although Beck himself thought the song was just mediocre, listeners became attracted to the unintelligible rapped verses, marked by lyrics like "in the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey," juxtaposed with the classic slacker chorus.
Like most of his best songs, Loser is impossible to pin down, full of strange touches like samples and a catchy sitar riff. Few artists could turn such strange choices into an overnight hit that became one of the defining songs of the '90s.
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2. Lost Cause
The best song and promo single from Sea Change, "Lost Cause" is an unrelentingly sad and poignant ode to a dying relationship. It's rare to hear an artist like Beck bearing his soul so frankly. And it's a shame because "Lost Cause" transcends some of his most experimental material simply because of some great songwriting.
The song has a wonderful chorus, relateable lyrics, and a shimmering guitar part. If Morning Phase approaches the greatness of "Lost Cause," there's plenty to look forward to.
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1. Girl
Although it may not be his most sonically interesting or poignant song, I'd argue "Girl" is Beck's perfect pop song. The song was the second single from Guero, but in my mind it beats out "E-Pro" for the best of the album, and the best of his career.
Distinguished by an unapologetic upbeat chorus, acoustic guitars, and rocking drums, "Girl" is so hopelessly catchy that I can't hope to get it out of my head for at least 24 hours after listening to it. Despite the upbeat melody, the lyrics make me interested enough to come back each time, as they're much darker than the instrumentation might have you believe.