One Foot in the Grave

by

Beck

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People, people, people... A word of caution: this is a mostly ACOUSTIC record. It doesn't have the hip dance beats and sample-heavy tracks like "Odelay." It is also VERY lo-fi and sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom. However, this is a masterpiece. It may seem a little weird and unaccessable after the first few listens, but when it clicks, be prepared to be blown away. The songs have genuine emotion and are extremely well-written. I have yet to find a more honest song than "Girl Dreams" in my life that sums up the feelings of rejection without resorting to "f you" and the sorts... If you liked "Mutations," you should enjoy this album. Listen to the sound samples on amazon for chrissakes, then decide if it is something you might enjoy. "One foot in the grave" is one of my favorites, and the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because everything on amazon gets 5 stars. I feel that this imho is not on the level of the best records of all time, but a worthy addition to the collection of anyone who loves music.

You may remember that 1994 was the year Beck broke big and issued not one, not two, but three albums: Mellow Gold, Stereopathetic Soulmanure and in the Fall of 1994 this album. In its original release, this was a low-key album of 16 tracks. 15 years later the "anniversary" reissue came upon us.

"One Foot In the Grave (Anniversary Edition)" (32 tracks; 73 min.) obviously brings the original 16 tracks and then brings a whopping 16 bonus tracks from those same recording sessions. The original tracks, but for a couple of exceptions (such as "Burnt Orange Peel"), are simply Beck on acoustic guitar. This is indie-folk music, with a Beck-twist to it, priod. The bonus tracks are more of the same, although "Teenage Wastebasket" has an actual melody to it, along with a couple of additional instruments, it is by far the most essential of all the bonus tracks. In the bonus tracks there are other more non-acoustic tracks, where Beck plays (often distorted) electric guitar, mostly by himself, at times with tepid other instrumentation.

In all, where the original album was kinda quirky and short, the "Anniversary" reissue now becomes a marathon and makes it almost unlistenable at all of 73 min. I preferred it when Beck included one or two such tracks on the "Loser" (namely "Alcohol") and "Beercan" (namely, "Totally Kunfused") maxi-singles from "Mellow Gold", to be honest. The "Anniversary" reissue of "One Foot in the Grave" now to me is a curiosity at best, and way, way too long!