Beck to re-record VU & Nico

[bobbldr]

Well, yes, I agree, ol Dougie did use (abuse?) the VU name for a bit too long, diminishing his credibility with a bunch of horrible songs. Really, can anyone listen to "Squeeze" without wincing? Nonetheless, he is a very talented musician. As far as the VU getting a record deal, sure, they were riding Andy's coat tails, but look at their first effort- brilliance! As for Beck, I stand by my opinion of him- a hack. Having a "big hit" does not equate talent. Come on, look around at the current musical landscape...so much dreck...

[calaminehello]

you're certainly welcome to your opinion....but,

if beck is responsible for the current musical landscape, i'd call him hugely influential. but he's not responsible for the current musical landscape, disney is.

he wrote a hit that got him a record deal...wasn't luck. writing a hit may not equate to talent, but he's written more than one hit, and has had more than one huge record. now, being popular doesn't equate to talent either, but talent is just a natural ability toward something...and who doesn't have that?

as for being a hack...maybe it's just the wrong word. if you don't like beck's music, that's one thing. but to say beck is a person who produces banal and mediocre work in the hope of gaining commercial success in the arts........

ok, maybe he's a hack.

[MJG196]

Beck is one of the VERY few musicians to come out of the early-90s American music scene and STILL have his career intact. Every album is different from the next, some great, some not-so-great, always willing to experiment, acoustic, electronic...

Sound like anyone we know?

I don't know how you guys are defining "hack," but if you mean joke/imitator, then I really can't figger out who he is imitating.

[velvetfan]

There she goes is up. Sounds like pianosaurus. Anybody remember them? odd but better than Heroin

[calaminehello]

Beck is one of the VERY few musicians to come out of the early-90s American music scene and STILL have his career intact. Every album is different from the next, some great, some not-so-great, always willing to experiment, acoustic, electronic...

Sound like anyone we know?

I don't know how you guys are defining "hack," but if you mean joke/imitator, then I really can't figger out who he is imitating.

you're right, MJG196. he's only a hack if you believe that he's creating banal and mediocre work in order to make a buck.

i don't think he creates banal and mediocre work, but that's just me. he is, of course, out to make a buck. or at least he was moreso before he got super rich. now i'm sure money means a lot less to him. he's ditched all ties to any record company forever. he ain't never goin back. i think this is cool. he's always been about creative freedom first i think, and now he has it.

i think their version of "heroin" was banal and mediocre.

i think their version of "there she goes again" is terrific. if pianosaurus makes music like that, i need to hear them!

[bobbldr]

Maybe I mis-spoke. According to the Urban Dictionary, a hack is described as- " A cheap, mediocre, or second-rate practitioner, especially in the fields of journalism and literature". That may be a bit too strong. Let me just say that Beck is not my cup of tea. As far as these covers of the VU&N lp, I do not care for any of them. Sorry, it's like a store brand cola trying to taste like Coke to me.

[iaredatsun]

Maybe I mis-spoke. According to the Urban Dictionary, a hack is described as- " A cheap, mediocre, or second-rate practitioner, especially in the fields of journalism and literature". That may be a bit too strong. Let me just say that Beck is not my cup of tea. As far as these covers of the VU&N lp, I do not care for any of them. Sorry, it's like a store brand cola trying to taste like Coke to me.

I accept that Beck is not everyone's cup of tea but I think it's easy to forget how fresh and innovative he was when he made Odelay and then Midnight Vultures. He seemed to have his ear to the ground and his finger on the pulse ? there really wasn't much to touch him at that time. With respect to what he's doing here I think that some artists need producers and record labels to keep them on their toes.

[modboy]

I like Beck. I"m disappointed he put up thoughtful versions of some tunes (Sunday Morning, All Tomorrow's Parties), and shambolic silliness for others (There She Goes Again, Waiting For My Man). I've always disagreed with hipsters who infer VU invented noise-rock, i.e. Sonic Youth. John Cale, as we all know, is classically trained, and Lou Reed had some experience as a teeny bopper songwriter. They were trying to make, and did make, beautiful music. It was a new aesthetic, that's all, and it pulled from some of the great rock and roll that preceded it (i.e. Sun Records, Bo Diddley). So, as a musician and a VU fan, and a Beck fan, I'd say to Beck: get real. Give us some love if you're gonna have a go at Waiting For My Man. That version is a little flip, no? A little emperor's clothes? You have some responsibility to the groovy hipsters to get these things right. But, that's just me.

[velvetfan]

I'll be your Mirror is up. This is pretty nice, they took a bit of time and care with this one!

[dfmb]

I'll be Your Mirror is by far the best one he's done so far UNTIL! that woman comes in near the end to sing the refrain, what a god awful voice she has!

To join in the debate, I reckon Beck's the most important mainstream American artist in the last 15 years. Who else sells as many records and to both underground heads and to Top 40 kids who'd be happy to hear Loser all day? and actually makes interesting music at the same time? Jack White maybe, but that's another argument...

BUT this cover project isn't working in my opinion. There's a bunch of hacks in there (Nigel Godrich included, great producer but not a talented musician) and they're blundering through this very special album.

The questions has to be "Why bother?"