Beck Hansen's most accessible disc to date all but defies comparison. It's a little Donovon, a little early Bowie and some Beatles' white album tossed in for good measure. But these similarities do not overpower - they wash in and out with the ebb and flow of one genre morphing into another. For Mutations, Beck has put aside the discordant hip-hop of Odelay! and goofy Gen-X snicker-snicker of Mellow Gold. Languid vocals and a hypnotic mood prevail over rich layers of acoustic arrangments, twang, psychedelia, synths, sitars and even bossa nova. Like a travelogue into his subconscious, Mutations tours Beck's psyche, his influences and varying moods. Songs like "Bottle Of Blues" and "Canceled Check" are catchy, hummable ditties, while "Cold Brains," "Nobody's Fault But My Own" and "We Live Again" mesmerize with their introspective meanderings. Seems that America's most adorable geek has grown up. Lest you think he takes himself too seriously, Beck's grotesque imagery and clever musings sting with irony. Somehow, though, he still maintains a sincerity that distinguishes himself from the hipster wannabes out there trying to smirk their way onto a Rolling Stone cover.

I can't believe the consistency with which Beck shows his ability to manipulate so many types of music. This is a great example. You know how there are those CDs where you listen to a few tracks, but you skip the rest? Well, this is not one of those. This is one where you listen all the way through and love it. Beck's gotta be credited as one of the greatest musicians today. Who else comes up with an album on a yearly basis? And don't say Backstreet Boys, cause that's crap. I'm talkin' about people who write their own music and lyrics, and actually put themselves into it. Beck is obviously influenced by such greats as The Beatles, Bob Dylan and others, and he's not ashamed to show it. If you liked Odelay, this may not be your bag, but if you like Beck, you'll love it.

Years ago I heard Beck perform the dreamily concocted, beautifully sung "Nobody's Fault But My Own" on Saturday Night Live. Played onstage, I recall the song sounded even more harrowing and drawn out than I later thought it was on disc, but in any case, I remember really loving its intensely resigned and tuneful sound and vowed to check out the CD "Mutations" later on. Well, it's much later on and I can relate that "Mutations" is definitely worth owning. Funny enough, "Nobody's Fault" is definitely one of the more serious-sounding, somewhat anguished songs on this CD; the rest are mostly breezy gems that would be right at home on a windswept beach with a cool beverage in hand. In fact, much of this album reminds me of what Syd Barrett might be writing and singing if he were a young working artist today.

Even on his low-key songs, Beck is always so brilliant at adding in cool harmonica, keyboard, slide guitar and all sorts of unique instruments that the rest of us have never heard of. Though he's a whiz at inserting hip-hop beats and a slew of electronic trickery on his albums, this one is refreshingly stripped down. The poppy "Lazy Flies" reminds me of a Syd Barrett tune -- right down to the slight British accent Beck employs in the vocals -- but better and more focused. The lazy country twang of "Canceled Check" reminds me a bit of the song "San Tropez" on Pink Floyd's

(a post-Barrett record), while "Tropicalia," as its name would imply, is a feel-good summer song that anybody could enjoy.

There is also a retro, fairy tale-esque sound to this CD on such songs as "We Live Again" and "Dead Melodies," which, to me, are reminiscent of Floyd's

-era material. Gentle acoustics, elegant harpsichord, a touch of country, close vocals and an overall easy-flowing vibe -- "Mutations" modestly has it all. Weirdly, this CD made me want to reach back to past Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd compositions, while simultaneously attracting me to Beck's succeeding work. Like Barrett, Beck is a wildly experimental musician who's ahead of his time. By being less musically splashy than is the case on most of his other CDs, "Mutations" is itself quite an experimental creation by Beck.

Note: some pretty cool and loose rock `n' roll ends this album after "Static" as a hidden track.

Good gravy, this Beck fella's talented. And I don't mean merely in the lyrics department--my feeling is that he's still learning to control his tongue. Even the music on this disc is enough to get you hooked. I can't stop singing and/or humming these tunes. They go everywhere, it seems. To call this album "folky" (see below) is to miss the point. This goes way beyond "folk" (I'd like to meet the "folk" who dabble in this strange hybridity). Bonus: the Japanese version gives you two extra tracks that are *maybe* as good as anything else on the disc. "Electric Music and the Summer People" has a surfy, sixties, party feel to it, while "Runners Dial Zero" has an eerie, driving-late-at-night vibe. Outstanding disc, all told. I only wish he would've played some of these songs when I saw him live several months ago. This is a CD I won't even leave at my girlfriend's house.

guero? nah. this ones the best. guero just got more mainstream airtime. this is the beck album that you probably have seen in stores and said to yourself, "i never heard any of these songs on the radio," after checking the tracklist (as i did). but dont worry about that, just buy it and enjoy.

everything meshes perfectly on this album. the solos, the music, the strange spacey effects, becks awesome voice, becks amazing lyrics.

theres a lot of imagery of alcohol, infidelity, longing, and all the good stuff you'd see in a sappy western love movie, which fits the music perfectly.

it sounds like bob dylan kinda. if you like great songwriting, buy immediately.