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Beck

Guerolito

Interscope | 2005 | Album

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Beck Hansen aka Beck has always been somewhat of an innovator. Come on we all think "Odelay" is one of the greatest records ever made. With each album Beck always pushed the boundaries of his fans. Going from experimental funk to low down folk then back to somewhere in the middle. Guerolito though is anything but innovative. It is a remix record of Guero so from the start do not expect much. And that is what you get, not much. Guerolito is lackluster and sounds unoriginal. What happened to the Beck we all fell in love in with? I bet it was Tom Cruise and his Scientology nonsense.

The Octet remix of "Girl" starts off with promise, but then goes downhill when the vocals are jumbled and becomes unbearable. Ex-Unicorn project Islands take on "Que Onda Guero". All of it sounds mashed up, just add a few blips, boops, and beeps, and you have remixed a song. Well that doesn't make it any good. Beastie Boy Adrock makes a noble attempt at "Shake Shake Tambourine (Black Tambourine)". But all Adrock adds is a few scratches here and there, and they occasional "What!".

Not all is bad here though. The Air and Boards of Canada remixes live up and surpass their originals. Air remixes "Missing" and adds some breezy synth work and soothing echoing drum beats. Boards of Canada meanwhile play with "Broken Drum". Their take reminisces of Beck's past work Sea Changeish with depressing vocal sounds mixed with ambient sounds coming from all directions.

Do us all a favor Mr. Hansen go into the studio and try to capture that something that you use to have. Do not rehash your old albums, give us something new and fresh. Until then Beck fans dust off "Odelay" and put it on repeat.

Mike Pea