Mindless of popular trends, Jeff Beck finds success again
By GREG RUEHLMANN
Scene Music Critic
When guitar legend Jeff Beck released Who Else! in 1999, fans and critics alike rejoiced. Who Else! was the first new studio album from the former Yardbird in 10 years, and showcased his surprisingly diverse musical tastes and talents. Most surprising perhaps was the grizzled veteran's use of newer electronic beats to support his Stratocaster.
Who Else! was a success, both commercially and critically. Yet it was Carlos Santana, another famous guitarist from days past, who took the spotlight that year by adapting his sound for today's audience — through his memorable Supernatural. However, unlike Santana, Beck didn't need a U-Haul to take all his Grammys home in 1999. Who Else! did earn him a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Most fans were certain that several years would pass before Beck again emerged with a studio album. But, as was shown on Who Else!, Beck is a man of many surprises. He toured briefly, and then returned to the studio. The result is You Had It Coming, a solid album which presents the classic, bluesy wail of Beck's guitar against the backdrop of decidedly modern dance beats and drum loops.
You Had It Coming starts on a high note with "Earthquake." It's the kind of song sports teams use to pump up the crowd. "Earthquake" is a pounding repetition of guitar and keyboards, and even includes some vocals, which are rare on Beck albums. On another of the album's finer tracks, "Rollin' and Tumblin'," Beck gets vocal help from promising newcomer Imogen Heap. Heap's seductive voice carries the song.
But for the most part Beck lets his guitar do the talking. Remarkably, he only uses one guitar, at one setting, for nearly the entire album. This gives the work an overall good continuity, but it also gives some songs like "Roy's Toy" and "Dirty Mind" so much similarity that they seem to be indistinguishable.
As usual, Beck coaxes an impressively varied number of sounds from his guitar. The album's real jewel is an instrumental called "Nadia," originally written and recorded by Indian pop star Nitin Sawhney. In the hands of a master like Beck, nothing is lost in the translation from raja to rock song. His guitar perfectly mimics the styles of the Far East in this gorgeous, wistful piece.
Though You Had It Coming is a good rock album, it isn't likely to earn Beck much more popular airplay. It's simply not commercial enough.
What seems to distinguish Beck from more commercial guitarists like Santana or Eric Clapton is Beck's willingness to experiment in whatever he pleases, without concern for album sales. The finest example from You Had It Coming is an intriguing song called "Blackbird." It features the recorded call of a blackbird coupled with Beck's best attempts to mimic the bird's notes with his instrument.
Because of his experimental flare, Beck's name is likely to remain familiar only to serious music fans. This is surprising for a man who has been one of the world's finest guitarists for more than 35 years, and has played alongside the likes of Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger.
But no one seems less disturbed by his lack of publicity than Beck himself. He has a tendency to suddenly disappear from music for years at a time, neither recording nor touring. But even if Beck decides to take another long sabbatical, with You Had It Coming he has given his fans further proof that he is always worth the wait.
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, February 20, 2001
