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Mutations (Beck album)

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Mutations
Studio album by
Beck
ReleasedNovember 3, 1998
RecordedMarch 19–April 3, 1998
StudioOcean Way (Hollywood)
Genre
Length49:17
Label
Producer
Beck chronology
Odelay
(1996) 		Mutations
(1998) 		Midnite Vultures
(1999)
Singles from Mutations
  1. "Tropicalia"
    Released: December 7, 1998
  2. "Cold Brains"
    Released: March 1, 1999
  3. "Nobody's Fault but My Own"
    Released: April 21, 1999 (Japan)

Mutations is the sixth studio album by the American songwriter Beck, released on November 3, 1998, by DGC Records. Though less commercially successful than the preceding Odelay, it won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.[4]

Background and recording

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Mutations was produced by Nigel Godrich, who was known at that point for his work with Radiohead. The album contains a number of Moog keyboards, acoustic guitars, and string arrangements.[5] The production style was very different from that of Beck's previous album Odelay, which was heavily influenced by hip hop music and contained many samples. The lyrics are also much more somber and serious than those on Odelay, apparent in the songs "Nobody's Fault but My Own" and "Dead Melodies".

Artwork and packaging

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The record's front cover, a picture of Beck tangled in plastic wrap, was taken by the music photographer Autumn de Wilde. Art direction was by designer Robert Fisher. The interior artwork features sculptures and drawings by artist Tim Hawkinson.

Release

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Before beginning the recording sessions, Beck gained permission from the major label he was under contract with, Geffen, to release Mutations on the small indie label Bong Load Records. However, when Geffen executives heard the album, they reneged on their agreement and released the record. This led to a lawsuit filed by Beck against Geffen.[6]

Singles were released for the songs "Tropicalia", "Cold Brains" (Australia and New Zealand only), and "Nobody's Fault but My Own" (Japan only). No promotional music videos were made for any of the singles. Beck appeared on Saturday Night Live in promotion of Mutations, performing "Tropicalia" and "Nobody's Fault but My Own".

Mutations reached number 13 in the US, going gold, and achieved 24 in the UK and 23 in Australia. As of July 2008, Mutations has sold 586,000 copies in the United States.[7] As of 1999 it has sold over one million copies worldwide.[8]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Entertainment WeeklyB[10]
The Guardian[11]
Los Angeles Times[12]
NME8/10[13]
Pitchfork9.0/10[14]
Q[15]
Rolling Stone[16]
Spin8/10[17]
The Village VoiceA−[18]

Mutations received critical acclaim. It gained four stars from Rolling Stone and a 9.0 from Pitchfork. Thomas Ward of AllMusic deemed the record "one of the finest albums of the 1990s".[19]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Beck Hansen

No.TitleLength
1."Cold Brains"3:41
2."Nobody's Fault but My Own"5:02
3."Lazy Flies"3:44
4."Canceled Check"3:14
5."We Live Again"3:05
6."Tropicalia"3:20
7."Dead Melodies"2:36
8."Bottle of Blues"4:56
9."O Maria"3:59
10."Sing It Again"4:19
11."Static" (includes hidden track[note 1])11:20
Total length:49:17
Notes
  1. ^ "Static" ends at 4:20, with hidden track "Diamond Bollocks" starting at 5:18
Japanese Edition Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Electric Music and the Summer People"4:39
13."Diamond Bullocks"6:02
14."Runners Dial Zero"4:03

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 24
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21] 6
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[22] 40
French Albums (SNEP)[23] 36
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] 49
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25] 24
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[26] 18
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 29
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 46
UK Albums (OCC)[29] 24
US Billboard 200[30] 13

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[31] Platinum 100,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[32] Gold 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Gold 100,000*
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Beck Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Hegemony Rocks: The Devil I Know: Beck's "Guero"". The Wesleyan Argus. 2005-04-08. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  3. ^ Martins, Chris (October 17, 2017). "The L.A./Icon Interview: Beck Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "Grammy Awards: Best Alternative Music Performance". Rock On The Net. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  5. ^ AllMusic credits entry for Mutations
  6. ^ Kaufmann, Gil (October 5, 1999). "Beck Settles Lawsuits Before New Album Release". MTV. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "Ask Billboard". Billboard. 2008-07-18. Archived from the original on 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  8. ^ "Beck Countersues Geffen". Billboard. May 22, 1999. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Mutations – Beck". AllMusic. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  10. ^ Browne, David (October 30, 1998). "Mutations". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  11. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (November 6, 1998). "Beck: Mutations (Geffen)". The Guardian.
  12. ^ Nichols, Natalie (November 1, 1998). "Some Intriguing 'Mutations'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  13. ^ Segal, Victoria (October 29, 1998). "Beck – Mutations". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  14. ^ Lieberman, Neil (November 1998). "Beck: Mutations". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 30, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  15. ^ Gittins, Ian (December 1998). "Beck: Mutations". Q (147): 115. Archived from the original on September 12, 1999. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  16. ^ Brackett, Nathan (November 26, 1998). "Mutations". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  17. ^ Wolk, Douglas (December 1998). "Beck: Mutations". Spin. 14 (12): 170–72. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  18. ^ Christgau, Robert (December 15, 1998). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  19. ^ AllMusic review for the track "Cold Brains"
  20. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Beck – Mutations". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  21. ^ "Beck Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  22. ^ "Beck: Mutations" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  23. ^ "Lescharts.com – Beck – Mutations". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  24. ^ "Officialcharts.de – Beck – Mutations". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  25. ^ "Charts.nz – Beck – Mutations". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  26. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Beck – Mutations". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  27. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Beck – Mutations". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  28. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Beck – Mutations". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  29. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  30. ^ "Beck Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  31. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Beck – Mutations". Music Canada.
  32. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Beck – Mutations" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1998年11月 on the drop-down menu
  33. ^ "British album certifications – Beck – Mutations". British Phonographic Industry.
  34. ^ "American album certifications – Beck – Mutations". Recording Industry Association of America.
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