Timebomb - Beck

Timebomb - Beck

2:49

single, 2007

Written by Beck and the Dust Brothers

This Grammy-nominated single sounds like a celebration with an apocalypse lurking underneath. Its playful, ominous duality is embodied in the mocking vocals.  Beck's desire to be Prince is prety palpable here as the song is propulsed by dumb party energy, synths, and shifting textures.  It's dynamic and throbs with motion and potential energy,  However, the key there is the potential.  It's all unresolved tension.  There's no climax when the countdown reaches its conclusion, only unanswered questions and the repeated "We got a time bomb / Na na na na / We got a warning light."  The repetition definitely burrows its way into your ear, but the bomb never explodes, the red alert fading away.

Hell Yes - Beck

Hell Yes - Beck
3:17
Guero, 2005
Written by Beck, Michael Simpson, and John King

I haven't given Beck much of a listen past Odelay, just a few songs here and there.  This seems like a return to his "Loser" and "Where It's At Days" — mumbled surreal rap lyrics over blues harmonica and sampling.  The woman's voice is Christina Ricci.  It may not be a triumphant reinvention of the self or an Important Art Work, but it's got a good beat and Beck's pretty good at disjointed stream of consciousness mumbling.