This will be the first in my series of brief reviews spanning Beck's major discography. Technically, "Stereopathetic Soulmanure" was an indie release set to accompany "Mellow Gold" in 1994 as part of Beck's innovative contract with Geffen, which allowed him the privilege of putting out records on independent labels alongside his "major" albums. This arrangement would collapse in 1999, after one such indie effort, "Mutations," was considered by Geffen so good as to warrant a widespread release - naturally, lawsuits and general nastiness ensued. But, in the beginning, all was well and in 1994 Beck virtually exploded on the alt-rock scene with the Loser single. Fans were treated to three albums coming out in the span of one year, of which "Stereopathetic" is certainly the weirdest, most varied, and ultimately head-scratching offering.

The album was recorded over a long period of time, consisting of various demos, experiments, and a few finished songs of stunning quality. As such, it is a mere patchwork of "best-of" goodness from Beck's vault. Other albums, such as the early "Golden Feelings" and demo tapes such as "Fresh Meat + Old Slabs" (put together for Beck's mom's birthday) are also out there, and may be more thematically and temporally consistent, but I will not consider them and focus instead on the few moments of genius found on "Stereopathetic." Beck-ologists could spend hours talking about the stories behind each piece of tape ever uncovered, but this is not the place.

So, one of those stunners that immediately hit the listener with the kind of force that accompanies the birth of a major artist is Rowboat, a classic country song that is so woeful and mourning it even made a fan of Johnny Cash, who covered it a few years later. The superb pedal steel that anchors Rowboat and the album's best track, the dusty travelogue ballad Modesto, elevate the two songs to the sublime. There is a tender, windswept elegance to Beck's delivery that flies in the face of his descriptions as a "slacker," "Gen. X icon," "indie prankster" etc. He is being, or if not, he damn well sounds, deeply sincere. This Hank Williams-inspired character would show up later on "Mutations" and especially on his magnum opus "Sea Change," but the world took little notice when shades of this future were already apparent on "Stereopathetic."

I also have to mention "Puttin' It Down," a rejection-themed acoustic piece that is perfect in its conciseness. Beck's defiant, assured tone and the fuzzy, powerful strumming makes for one of those songs destined to become lost gems.

Finally, it is a bit strange for the smallest and most obscure work in Beck's official discography to produce two of the most popular songs among fans, but so it is. One Foot In The Grave is a raucuous harmonica stomp, presented here in a murky live rendition, which has somehow found its way into almost every one of Beck's shows thereafter (for almost twelve years now, when the harmonica comes out fans go wild, and the improvisations on this song have been endless and remarkably creative).
Satan Gave Me A Taco could almost merit its own review, although, unlike One Foot, it is notable in its subsequent elusiveness. Along with Beck's debut 7" single, the brilliant MTV Makes Me Wanna Smoke Crack, it's the one song a Beck fan would die to hear live (and such events are rare). A story-song of uncommon hilarity and wild inventivity, it unfolds with a slowly developing surrealist twist on the wackiest of ideas and images. Oh yes, and a banjo starts playing. Beck's talent at free-flowing writing (in the purest sense, apart from musicianship) is exercised at various degrees and with various forms of success throughout his career. But Satan Gave Me A Taco is a perfect example of Beck's creative potential when untempered.

As is, in fact, "Stereopathetic" as a whole. There are many interesting moments, and a few extraordinary highlights, but it must be ranked 8th out of 8 in terms of official albums because of the simple fact that, by comparison with all his other efforts, even with "One Foot In The Grave," 1994's other independent release, there is little unity and little polish (ironically, the most disjointed album besides "Stereopathetic" is his latest, the best-of-collage-type "Guero"). As a starting point, it is however a revelation and an unending source of interesting and promising material.

From the opening, screeching note of "Pink Noise" to the last second of deranged feedback on the bonus noise, "Stereopathetic Soulmanure" truly isn't just "Mellow Gold II" or a prequel to it or whatever. I honestly wouldn't rather listen to anything else more than this-a cult classic which I consider Beck's masterpiece. However, you shouldn't take my word for it. "Odelay!" fans probably just won't get the older stuff. Don't get me wrong-I still think the new stuff is pretty cool (all of his stuff is) but there is just something special captured in his early work that can never be repeated. So if you love anti-commercial efforts like I do, than grab this record-which is practically the king of that musical style. Watch out for bluegrass boogies like "Today Has Been a !@#$%^ Up Day" and "Satan Gave Me a Taco". There's even time for senseless spoofs like "rollins power sause" and pure blues like "One Foot in the Grave"-it doesn't more classic than this. I say leave the "Midnite Vultures" praise to it's own page. I also must add that I think "Thunder Peel" kicks @$$ and that it would have made the perfect single if this stuff had dared to venture that far into the mainstream. Strangeness, comedy, etc.-this one has it all.

I'm surprised this CD isn't 5 stars yet. This captures Beck's finer expirements. "Rowboat" and "Satan gave me a taco." On Johnny Cash's '96 album "Unleashed" he did a pretty darn good cover of Rowboat. That just is a sample of how royal Beck is.

There is no other album i have ever heard like this. Not even close. Some will think its a joke. Some will think its garbage. Some will say, "I could go out and make an album like this! Where is the talent?". If you are a big beck fan though, and you like beck because of what kind of guy he is and what kind of humor and weirdness he is capable of, then you will find this album to be priceless. This is the definitive Beck. On this disc, Beck will make you enjoy, and appreciate, country music. His lyrics on here are some of the funniest. And of course, theres some stuff on here thats just plain scary! And its just so well put together. This album isn't as much about the songs by themselves, its more about the album as a whole. It's a great album to listen to from start to finish when you are in a really weird beck kinda mood. If you don't really like beck though, you could easily hate this album.

I picked this CD up only after I was prodded to do so by my wastoid friends. Fresh out of college, I wasn't impressed much by this song "Loser" I kept hearing on the radio. In 1994, I was much more interested in Soundgarden and Nirvana to care. A buddy made me listen to this "alternate" CD that Beck released simultaneously with "Mellow Gold." We smoked out, and the journey began...
What people don't understand is that Beck enjoys playing two definitive styles of music. There's "disco" Beck (Mellow Gold, Odelay, Midnight Vultures) and then there's "bizarro" Beck (Stereopathetic, One Foot in the Grave, Mutations, Sea Change). Unlike many pop stars today, he chooses NOT to mix all of his influences together to make one watered down, radiio friendly CD. He'd rather allow the music to stay pure, almost as an homage, and address his listeners with his amazing versatility. This man can play the piano, guitar, lap guitar, banjo, drums, and countless other intruments! He presents a tune from a familiar genre, and accentuates it with fantastically crafted, witty, hilarious lyrics, to which any young, lost liberal can relate. I am 32 now, and I still love blasting MODESTO, SATAN..., ROWBOAT, OZZY and THE SPIRIT... for my neighbors. I've played this CD for my buddies who like country music, and they really DON'T dig it--which is fine by me. This is not a country CD! There are a number of "folk" tunes, I'd say, with that undeniable Texas influence. You will never experience another CD like this one....I promise. If your metal head friends don't get it, blast PINK NOISE for them...all that late 80's hard core and speed metal come alive again! Listen to this CD, and you'll realize why Beck sings, "MTV makes me want to smoke crack." Apparently, he DID, and this may be the fruits of his "labor." A must have.