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.

Months ago I was talking up this album to a few peeps who missed it in its first run. One Foot in The Grave by Beck is one of those rare gems of an album that always remains under the radar. I picked up this album on the cheap years ago on LP and expected just another odd ball collection of Beck basement tapes. What I got was a timeless classic of an album, easily in a class of its own compared to the rest of Becks unique and varied catalouge and probably one of my top five favorite albums either from the nineties or amomgst the folk blues giants of old. Brilliant lo fi blues and folk, this is his talent in its rawest and purest form, free from the synth, broken game boy, drum machine vibes that swarm all of his other titles (even the other folk albums like Sea Change or Mutations cant match the atmosphere on this bit).

One Foot has been out of print for some time, leaving it only for the memories of us kids who were fortunate enough to find it accidently sometime in our high school haze... now its back. Twice as stuffed and just as good. The original sixteen tracks have been expanded to thirty-two, and the bonus cuts are just as rewarding as the originals, including a few coffee shop cut takes of songs that would be found on later albums. Its ccol to see that Beck still has this style in him. While I've always enjoyed the frenetic space race beats, and manic feel of the production on other Beck materials this album manages to bring all that feel to the table with nothing but soft twangs, sideways harmony, and bizarre yet poignant commentary of the world as he see it. It never finds itself ever disjointed like his other underground discs, song for song its a flawless portrait. I say this one still remains his all time best. Get it now while its still visible.

I've probably listened to this album more than any other album in my collection (and given the number in my collection, that's impressive)--Why do I like it so much? This is the album that came out of Beck's younger days when he was homeless and wandering the streets of LA--this speaks of concrete jungles, aimless drifting and minimum wage jobs--it's about the simple, universal things in life--its written in Beck's semi-nonsensical way, but I feel it is really the most emotionally direct album that he's made--every album since this one has had emotional tones, sure, and have even been about personal things (notably Sea Change)--but the production and sound of his later albums are the production and sound of a musician who's made it--attends fancy parties, works with big names, is called a genius by the critic community--One Foot in the Grave was made by a kid in his 20's, been homeless, drifting--doesn't think the album is ever gonna be heard by anyone--doesn't care--just making music to get it out of himself--to let out all those tumultuous feelings that barrage him day after day in a world that doesn't care unless you're somebody--he wasn't a somebody when this was made--he was just a lonesome guy straggling through the polluted streets of LA, wondering if anyone cared, following his muse on a path that he didn't see the end of

1 Foot is a record w/ a lot of soul that should appeal to a lot of people & not be pigeonholed as 'merely an indie record' not worthy of promotion. Largely acoustic except for the more electrified stomp of Burnt Orange Peel ["I got work to do" 1 minute, "I got time on my hands" the next] & the squeal of Ziplock bag. Sleeping Bag, Painted Eyelids & Girl of My Dreams are all as charming as any other song ever written. Cyanide Breathmint is an especially beautiful view of life, "when they want you to cry leap into the sky, when they suck yr mind, like a pigeon you'll fly, I know I know it's the positive people running from their times looking for some feeling" seemingly unrelated to the title. A couple of the tunes here, the opener & I've seen the Land Beyond are actually traditional folky tunes which sit well w/ Bek's originals. The title track is of course not here but a highlight of the more chaotic but equally worthy Stereopathetic Soul Manure. I recommend both albums & Mellow Gold & if you can find it the It's All in yr mind single from these same sessions. Other players here include Calvin Johnson, Sam Jayne & Chris Ballew. swingin' in yr swing...

I am a huge Beck fan and a fan of the Olympia, WA music scene, so for me this is a must-own album. Of course I've owned it since its initial release, so really I was buying this for the new tracks. They are great and fit well with the rest of the album, which I always felt was too short anyway.