Beck - Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Our Price: $29.98
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.60 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: BeckEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued
CD Release Date: 2000-10-03
Music Label: Flipside (Revolver)
Soundtracks:
- Pink Noise (Rock Me Amadeus)
- Rowboat
- Thunder Peel
- Waitin' For A Train
- The Spirit Moves On
- Crystal Clear (Beer)
- No Money No Honey
- 8.6.82
- Total Soul Future (Eat It)
- One Foot In The Grave
- Aphid Manure Heist
- Today Has Been A Fucked Up Day
- Rollins Power Sauce
- Puttin It Down
- 11.6.45
- Cut 1/2 Blues
- Jagermeister Pie
- Ozzy
- Dead Wild Cat
- Satan Gave Me A Taco
- 8.4.82
- Tasergun
- Modesto
- Silent
- Silent
- Bonus Track 1
Music reviews of Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Music Review: Beck Album #1, Released 1994, Ranking: 8th
Rating: 4 Stars
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.
Alternative Rock CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Alternative Rock CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $149.98
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $99.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.50
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $202.44
Similar CDs
![Guerolito [Vinyl] Image](/images/Guerolito-Vinyl-B000BYKAY6-X.jpg)
Beck - Guerolito [Vinyl]Release date: 2005-12-13; Music CD
Best price: $13.37
Price in other shops:
Beck - Sea ChangeRelease date: 2002-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $7.20
Price in other shops:
Beck - Modern GuiltRelease date: 2008-07-08; Music CD
Best price: $4.43
Price in other shops:
Beck - MutationsRelease date: 1998-11-03; Music CD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Beck - Midnite VulturesRelease date: 1999-11-23; Music CD
Best price: $5.92
Price in other shops:
Beck - One Foot in the Grave (Aniv)Release date: 2009-04-14; Music CD
Best price: $10.54
Price in other shops:
Beck - GueroRelease date: 2005-03-29; Music CD
Best price: $7.50
Price in other shops:
Beck - OdelayRelease date: 1996-06-18; Music CD
Best price: $5.34
Price in other shops:
Beck - Mellow GoldRelease date: 1994-03-01; Music CD
Best price: $6.14
Price in other shops:
Beck - The InformationRelease date: 2006-10-03; Music CD
Best price: $10.63
Price in other shops: