I am Kyle's self-indulgence

According to Beck.com, today marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Midnite Vultures. The site promises videos and rare B-sides, in addition to the inclusion of Vultures on the developing Collected Works page, where you can stream the full songs.

Over time Midnite Vultures has emerged as one of my favorite Beck albums, and quite unexpectedly. I liked it pretty well at first, but as I've grown older I've learned to appreciate it on multiple levels. There's the satirical aspect of it, much of which I didn't really get until after I learned a bit more about funk and R&B.

It's not all satire, though. I think a lot of the music is a sincere tribute to those musical genres, and Beck pulls it off superbly. This is my favorite album to sing along to, because a lot of the lyrics, as delightfully absurd as they are, have a great cadence to them that just roll off the tongue. Check out this verse from Hollywood Freaks (to get the full effect listen to the song while you read them):

People look so snooty
Take pills make them moody
Automatic bzooty
Zero to tutti fruitti
Sex in the halls
Niagra Falls
Local shopping malls receive
Anonymous calls
Hot like a cheetah
Neon mamacita
Eat at tacoria
Pop lockin’ beats from Korea
Looking like jail bait
Selling lots of real estate
Looking like a hot date
Banging like a 808

I think Beck is at his best both musically and lyrically when he's being playful.

Then, of course, there's Debra, which is the silliest and most satirical song on the album. I read once that this song dates back to the Odelay period, but that Beck didn't feel it belonged on any of his albums until this one. I can certainly understand why: it would be easy to dismiss it as a novelty song. I love it, though. Beck captures the cheesy R&B slow romantic song that's really just about getting a girl in bed. He gives it a slightly more humble setting for hilarious effect. This part makes me grin every time I hear it:

I pick you up late at night after work.
I said, "Lady, step inside my Hyundai.
I'm gonna take you up to Glendale.
Yeah, gonna take you for a real good meal."

So give Midnite Vultures another listen to for old times' sake. And if you don't own it, take advantage of Beck.com's streaming audio.