A decent album with pros and cons. This version takes out a few of the curse words Beck was known for using in his earlier pre-Odelay days. A fun album, lots of different styles, probably his most diverse album from 'Golden Feelings' and 'Western Harvest' to 'Sea Change'. Includes 'Loser,' one of the few songs that changed much of pop music in the nineties being one of the first to mix the pop formula with hip-hop (just about any big pop star in the nineties was either influenced by this song or by the post-grunge movement or both). The clean version isn't better or worse to the listener, just cleaner. I guess one could say that you're not listening to it the way the artist intended, but to average listeners the music holds up the same.

I enjoy artists like Beck. When he created this CD he clearly didn't care what was popular and what would sell. Instead, he did his own, often quirky, sometimes amusing, and nearly always enjoyable, thing. The range of styles is interesting. On this CD are elements of thrash ("Sweet Sunshine"), blues ("Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997" and "Pay no Mind", where he also sounds a bit like Dylan), progressive ("Blackhole"), and grunge ("Loser"). There are even hints of pop, hillbilly and folk. Beck chooses elements that fit his concept for a particular song and I suspect he cares little whether a particular listener likes or does not like a particular song.

I can see how some listeners might not like this CD. The styles are too broad for people with a narrow range of tastes, or for those whose definition of cutting edge music is limited to one genre. Beck has a relatively mellow style on this CD, as the title suggests, that might also put some listeners off. However, while the style is generally mellow, there were enough pace changes to hold my interest from beginning to end.

The lyrics owe more to blues than to pop or rock. Beck nearly always seems to want to tell a story or make a point. That doesn't mean that Beck sings the lyrics in a blues style, only that Beck likes to have a purpose to his lyrics, which is a characteristic of blues. Some listeners may object to the lyrics because this CD is the so-called "clean" version. The "explicit" version contains four-letter words. Artistically the "explicit" version was Beck's original intent. You should choose the version that meets your sensibilities.

The music itself is wonderfully bizarre. The range and combination of instruments I can barely begin to guess at because Beck combines electronic effects with various combinations of instruments and frequently bizarre vocal effects to create a complex mix of sound that challenges my ability to decipher. Beck combines this mixture with the previously mentioned combination of styles to synthesize quirky, yet interesting sounds. For an example of what I'm talking about, listen to "Truckdrivin' Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)." The principal instrument in this song is an acoustic guitar, but the vocals range from a falsetto to a bass in a bizarre combination. This last song might have been something that Frank Zappa might have sung, though without the four-letter words.

Perhaps the best-known song on this CD is "Loser," which received a fair amount of video airplay on MTV and VH1. The video was every bit as experimental as the remainder of the CD is musically. With elements of grunge and no real plot or theme, the video is impressionistic, and has more of a theme than a story. However, given the range of music on this CD, do not judge the CD by "Loser," because it is the only song like it on the CD.

"Steal My Body Home" sounds like psychedelic rock. Cool song, very slow, interesting electronic effects. Turn on the black lights! I had to mention this song because I like its combination of retro-psychedelic sound with grunge and other elements. The next song is "Nightmare Hippy Girl," which seems to fit with the psychedelic song just previous, but the styling of "Nightmare Hippy Girl" is more folk-rock than psychedelic rock. Yet, it fits.

My favorite song is "Blackhole." The progressive elements have tinges of The Moody Blues from the time of "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" and "Seventh Sojourn," but of course Beck has made this in a style all his own. At about five and a half minutes into the song, the music stops, and when it restarts it is no longer music, it is a bizarre combination of sound effects a la King Crimson, but sped up and with a greater range. It sounds weird, but interesting.

This CD is so weird that it may be inaccessible to some listeners. However, it is this wonderfully strange and weird music that drew me to progressive music in the first place. Beck is a music artist, experimenting to create the unusual. He certainly does that here. I recommend this CD to those who like music as art, particular for those who like mellow progressive rock.

As I noted above, this version is the so-called "clean" version. Be sure you choose the version that you think is best for your needs. Good luck!

An exceptional album to say the least! Inventive rythmes and pictoral lyrics make this album great. You'll appreciate the clever ways he edits out the profanity. Overall a four star effort!

rockin! beck is so awesome in this album it's not even funny. muther f__ker is the most awesome raw man-powered punk-metal song i have ever heard.loser contains phat rap grooves and one of the best lyric lines ever.beercan and f--kin w/ my head are great grooves to dance to.it's all good.

rockin! beck is so awesome in this album it's not even funny. muther f__ker is the most awesome raw man-powered punk-metal song i have ever heard.loser contains phat rap grooves and one of the best lyric lines ever.beercan and f--kin w/ my head are great grooves to dance to.it's all good.