Artist: Beck
Album: One Foot In The Grave (Expanded Edition)
Worth Buying: Yes if you are a fan of: Beck, and maybe yes even if you are not a Beck fan, but like traditional blues and folk.
You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Blues, Folk, Surrealism, Alt Rock.
Tell Me More: Before Beck released his Debut Major Label album Mellow Gold, Before his hit single The Loser her recorded One Foot in the Grave. OFITG was recorded for the indie K Records label, but was not released until after Mellow Gold. The album has long since been out of print. And it has now been re-released in an expanded deluxe edition.
OFITG can best be described as Beck's Blues/Folk album. In fact, songs like "He's A Mighty Good Leader" and "I have seen the Land beyond" sound like they could have been taken off of the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack. But make no mistake this is Beck, with all his usual
quirkiness, surrealism (whatever you want to call it that defines Beck) But even a song like Hallow Log sounds like pure Americana even with Beck's usual surreal lyrics. But songs like Ziplock Bag with it's d-tuned distorted guitars and Beck's vocals distorted almost to the point of incoherence are the ones that challenge most non--Beck fans. I played this one for my songwriting partner Kathy and she grim iced and described it as disturbing (and not in a good way). This is Beck at his most bizarre. I like the song, but then I like Beck. I embrace even his most surreal musical visions. But I know that he is not for everyone. Still, though I think there is a lot to recommend even to non Beck fans. But this is Beck stripped down. If you need glossy production values, this album is not for you.
Is it worth buying if I already have the original release?
I would says YES. When it was originally released OFITG it was only 16 tracks. This new expanded edition rounds the CD out to 32 tracks. A lot of times with remastered deluxe editions the newer tracks consist of a lot of alternate versions of songs you already have. Only two songs repeat themselves on this re-release, So you are basically getting a whole new album when you pay for this version. In fact, the consistency of the songwriting and production of these new tracks is such that it is like you are getting One Foot in the Grave Part II. Sometimes those "Previously unreleased" tracks you get with editions like these where better left unreleased. But these are all great songs. I especially liked Teenage Wastebasket.
She is a teenage wastebasket
Paddling up the river in a casket
Try and experience everything at least once
And life is a commercial for being fucked up
Also, the title track One Foot In The Grave is included with this new version. Previously this very traditional sounding blues song (with perhaps less then traditional lyrics) had only been released as a live track on his Stereopathic Soul Manure album.
There's s dead hobo on the patio
And an old barbed wire on the funeral fire
Well, you roll out the carpet and it better be red
And it better be long cos the troubles in my head
Gonna be livin' one foot in the grave
Well, I was sittin' at home cookin' up a steak
Satan came down dressed like a snake
Well, he called my name as I turned up the flames
And then I realized I was out of mayonnaise
Well, you been livin' one foot in the grave
What about the packaging? The CD comes in on of those mini gate-fold album sleeves. All 32 tracks are contained on one CD. You also get a very nicely designed booklet with lyrics. The booklet also has it's own fold out gate fold with pictures. All of the original K records release photos are reproduced but new photos have been included.
Listen and buy One Foot in the Grave in mp3 format
Get One Foot in the Grave on CD
What if I am not ready to buy the whole CD?
Try He's A Mighty Good Leader
or Forcefield
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