It's unfortunate how much attention has been paid to how this album was recorded--quickly, without the same level of studio fuss that marked Beck's breakthrough album, Odelay. That's a shame because our favorite chameleon has pulled the neatest trick of all: he's dropped the lyrical schtick that sometimes marred his sonic wizardy, leaving listeners to wonder if he even believed in the music he was playing. That's not an issue here. At times, he sounds like Ray Davies updated for the ês, stripping himself bare with lovely, simple songs that linger long after they've supposedly ended. Beck may have made his initial mark with "Loser," a clever but insincere admission of inferiority; he's more likely to be remembered for the similar but more heartfelt confession of "Nobody's Fault But My Own."--Keith Moerer

uuid:	B8D8200C-2747-42D9-9D5C-9752FFB66A4D
upc:	0720642530924
tracklisting:	Cold Brains Nobody's Fault But My Own Lazy Flies Canceled Check We Live Again Tropicalia Dead Melodies Bottle of Blues O Maria Sing It Again Static/Diamond Bollocks (hidden track)
title:	Mutations
rating:	4
purchase date:	09-05-2005
published:	03-11-1998
price:	$13.98
net Rating:	4.5
last lookup time:	137387760
genre:	Lo-Fi Indie Rock
fullTitle:	Mutations
currentValue:	$3.98
created:	137387744
country:	us
aspect:	Audio CD
asin:	B00000DHYK
artist:	Beck