What makes BECK an EXPERIMENTAL GENIUS?

Beck is known for his wide-ranging musical style that spans across decades of successful records. We listen to 2 VERY different tracks - "Lost Cause" from Sea Change and "Debra" from one of my favorite albums Midnight Vultures. Bassist and producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen joins us and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the recording process behind these songs.
Our channel is all about reacting to the original artwork of some amazing musicians. You should check out the original pieces of music below to get the full picture of the greatness we are reacting to. You can find them here:
Beck - Lost Cause
• Beck - Lost Cause
Beck - Debra
• Debra
The music recommended by the @PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS REACT crew in this episode is below:
‪@DEVOvision‬ - I [Can't Get No] Satisfaction
• DEVO "(I Can't Get No)...
‪@GingerRootMusic‬ - Loretta
• Ginger Root - "Loretta...
Sasac - Pig
• Pig
-------------------------------------
Please leave us a comment below and tell us what you would like us to react to.
Before we film episodes we ask the Scary Pockets Discord and Patreon members for questions on certain episodes, you can find the communities here;
Discord:
www.scarypocketsfunk.com/discord
Patreon:
/ scarypockets
------------------------------
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#BECK #LOSTCAUSE #DEBRA

[@paulbassbrackens]

I’ve never been more of a “kid in a candy store” in my life than this KZbin channel. I am so incredibly grateful for you guys. THANK YOU.

[@leifer5604]

Preach

[@billepperson2662]

THAT'S it! That's the feeling I've been trying to find a term for ever since I saw the 1st episode . . .

[@fromdreamtostream]

Same!

[@fluxmind]

2 minutes in and you go subscribe amazing

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@fluxmind That’s exactly what just happened with me. 2 minutes into the Louis Cole interview I thought, “Fuck, this is so awesome!”

[@KidFresh71]

I've been a Beck fan since the very first song I heard of his (Loser). Prince may be gone, but we still have Beck. He's a genre onto himself.

[@seanmurphy26]

I just showed a girlfriend Beck, and the first thing she said was that it sounded like Prince!!! I was shocked, I had never heard the comparison but yes, there is definitely a comparison!!

[@anythinginvolvingsharks]

hearing Justin drop "The Information" as one of his favorite albums alleviates any insecurities i ever had about playing it on repeat in my jeep for 20 years.

[@Drockninja75]

It is my favorite car cd!!! I also drove with it on repeat for a few years (new car doesnt have a cd player sadly)

[@ZidaneK13]

Yes more Information love! Also my fave

[@pappyodanial]

I put a custom sound system in my 1988 MB 420 SEL solely to listen to The Information on repeat for 20 years and did.

[@Drockninja75]

@@pappyodanial i love this

[@Ryetronics]

Yes! Came here to comment the same thing. All the little earworms in that album are so special (and the strings!)

[@justinguitarcia]

Those three albums- mutations, midnight vultures and sea change changed my life as a musician. Super formative for me. Im 33 now but my parents had one of those mail order CD services so we’d get random albums all the time and one day one of those albums was mutations, was a fan since

[@Tokolos]

Same ) Especially Mutations.

[@negativezero3107]

@@Tokolos Also add Morning Phase to that, fucking turned my ears into different things even being a Bowie maniac.

[@johnnytimestamp8224]

His sweater makes me think of Midnite Vultures

[@jamescain3839]

Man, I love the nerdy delight that shows up in these conversations. From the joy in sounds and songwriting to the essential weeds of production/recording/partnership---I love this channel so much. Every. Single. Episode.

[@alainvosselman9960]

I think it's a little weird. Personally i always consider the genre and how that is supposed to sound or could sound..; as the leading 'advisor' for creating a song. I'm not gonna dwell so much on how a certain chord 'feels'. It's more like... does it fit the puzzle and does it do what it needs to do. Also, construct and format... What format is a certain line or theme asking for to be poured into...

[@mrovation99]

The Information. I am obsessed. I’ve been listening to it in my car for at least a year. The bass lines! The vibe! Still figuring out the words and I refuse to look them up lol.

[@Tehyamz]

When you do, I bet you'll have a laugh at a few words you might have wrong, I totally did.

[@LeBluesDuRobot]

For those wondering about the original sample for Debra, it's Ramsey Lewis - my love for you : kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6TSgXuFadusrck&ab_channel=GTherapyShock (Full album "Funky Serenity" is unavailable on streaming services but it's a must, just killer grooves all the way.)

[@robroufla]

Yes, Justin is like walking on eggs there as Beck may have not cleared the composition use but at least he has the honesty to say it's a re-created sample. It's sad that these two guys didn't know the original Ramsey Lewis track though.

[@charlieblons4833]

I wish Nigel Godrich could be on this show, it would be incredibly great

[@phonepunk7888]

Ever since the 90s I have always loved Beck's band and as a musician myself this was fascinating to listen to. It's pretty cool that the success of "Loser" led to putting together this band of incredible musicians who then went to on record some legendary music. Great stuff!

[@northernbrother1258]

Odelay, Mutations, Midnight Vultures, and Sea Change is one of the greatest album runs of all time!

[@4ourty5ive]

Needs a PIN

[@whlewis9164]

i'd go ahead and add Guero to that run

[@ClownWorldOrder]

You forgot Mellow Gold

[@benjaminrooker5793]

@@ClownWorldOrder I don't think he did (I say as a massive Beck fan)

[@alainvosselman9960]

Totally agree. Also the most underrated muscial gems of late 90s and early 2000s. People of the 60s, 70s, 80s.. and even some 90s all have their musical legends to look back to while i feel like Beck is totally left out. He belongst up there with Prince, George Michael, Bonnie effin' Taylor ...lol..

[@alanvonweltin6820]

This is an incredible moment to have been captured - so good and can't want to see more like this

[@mothroyale9076]

I saw a Beck show in Wellington NZ 1996 ish, best gig ever, my favorite. Such a wide range of genres in one show while sticking together as though there was only one genre. Seeing Beck going from being on stage just himself and a harmonica to dancing like James Brown to a full band with trumpets and such and the DJ playing Star Spangled Banner on his decks were some of the highlights. An experience that is difficult to imagine being repeated.

[@CorduroyPaco]

YES! I saw him on this tour as well and the James Brown dancing and outfits were so amazing! One of the greatest shows I've ever seen. Ben Folds Five and Sean Lennon opened!

[@CAPNGRIZZ]

Midnight Vultures was a masterpiece.

[@EightPieceBox]

How is Devo not in the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame? Crazy.

[@alpercetiner949]

My favorite Beck song is "no money, no honey". Lyrical genius. There is also a karaoke version, don't miss it.

[@nekomann]

I love this so much. I became a store manager right when this album hit and I was too young, as I look back but Midnight Vultures created a space in our store that let us all breathe and also be uncomfortable and be happy. I was 22. This album was how our store became a different place in a mall. We all started bringing in our discs and not playing what we were supposed to play. We all bucked against the system.

[@dionread]

Thanks for choosing my question! I’d like many more “Colors” style albums, love that big pop production.

[@vinaSOAD]

I love this album so much, and debra is my favorite from this album beck is one of my biggest inspirations

[@theconsumptivemimi]

As a Beck fan, I really enjoyed this! You guys asked great questions and Justin was so thoughtful, insightful, interesting, I could go on and on. As a knitter, that sweater is mind boggling; it’s the Midnite Vultures of sweaters. Getting out my graph paper and calculator and working that pattern out for sure! 🔥

[@pkflash2004]

What a video guys! Been a huge Beck fan since Loser, but my favourite album is Mutations. Loved Justin's stories about Debra. A few years ago I'd gone to see Beck in Belfast at the BBC 6 music festival. He was awesome by the way. Roger Manning Jr was the keyboard player and Jason Faulkner the guitar player (cool Jellyfish connection). Anyway, the evening before Beck was due to play me and my wife were coming out of the rear entrance of a bar and I physically bumped into Beck! He was on his own, just walking the streets, taking in the sights. On seeing who it was I'd bumped into I was shocked and exclaimed 'Wow! It's Beck Hansen!' He paused for a second and gave me brief eye contact but looked like a 'rabbit caught in the headlights'. He replied 'Oh, Hi man' and carried on walking up the road before disappearing into a hotel where he must have been staying. The next night at the gig, just like Justin had described, as the band started their pre=amble into Debra, Beck started to talk about walking around Belfast taking in the views. I was hoping he would mention bumping into a friendly guy, but alas, no!

[@nickhughes4800]

I love Beck so much.. When Midnight Vultures came out, it floored me! I have to say, his live performance, at least when I saw him in St Paul, was super underwhelming. He totally phoned it in. His band was super tight though. They almost made up for his low energy.

[@davidrmorrison]

Please keep these coming. I forgot how much I love that record. You both make enthusiasm cool, your appreciation is in infectious. Your questions about the details go way beyond liner notes. Thank you for creating this forum.

[@StJayLinski]

To watch you guys creating these insides again and again is such a wonderful thing and proves what KZbin is capable of. As a ambitioned musician it is so empowering to hear these icons talk about the creation of legendary songs and albums by making clear that everyone involved is a normal human being. It seems like all it takes is enough passion for the art to create greatness. Love it!

[@cristinebowen4116]

Hearing the inside scoop of recording with Beck is amazing and Justin is a legend. Thank you for this!

[@tomemmerson5130]

This is my favourite KZbin channel of all time. So fun to hear people talking passionately about music they love. I love what you guys do here so much, please keep doing it!

[@benharris1906]

Jack and Ryan are so good at digging deep with guys who were apart of great these records! Keep up the good work boys!

[@TheGreatKrystoff]

Whoa unexpected Here We Go Magic shout out! Seeing them live touring their first album back in the day absolutely blew me away. Great work as always guys, this channel never fails to inspire me to pick up my instrument even if I'm in a funk. Rewatching your episodes is my go-to strategy whenever I need to remember why I love music :)

[@nitnat1984]

Got into Beck right before mutations came out. Midnite Vultures came out when I was 15. I got to see Beck (with Justin and the other guys) live for the first time during that tour. One of my favorite concert experiences & I love that Justin has gone on to play with so many of my favorite bands. You can really hear the camaraderie on the albums and when they play together live. Great interview ❤

[@SpelMusic]

finding a video with such clear and precise insight about Beck's work makes my day. Thanks for the interview and share

[@evanbingham]

My favorite musician ever, his records are the reason I picked up guitar. Love you to the moon and back, Beck!

[@vanyaechoes]

Thank you gentlemen for your music and all the behind the scenes you have discussed ❤

[@mrgerbik]

fucking love JMJ, and damn does it hurt my soul to hear that they didn't think vultures got the love it deserved, it's one of the funkiest albums of all time

[@christopherweise438]

Vultures is on the same level as Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique. Much anticipated album that people THOUGHT sucked......yet as time goes by you realize they were both groundbreaking masterpieces of funky soul. Both now get the appreciation they deserve.

[@ZidaneK13]

The Information is also my fave! I feel like I’m in the minority but I like Beck’s 2000s input POST Midnight Vultures best. He really grew as a song writer and a performer in an impressive way.

[@BassByTheBay]

Great questions as usual, guys. Great to hear about the process (and happenstance) of the creation of iconic music. The first-hand accounts of behind-the-scenes stuff is my favorite part of this channel.

[@paulweyer4339]

Huge validation to hear him praise the Information. Love every Beck album but that one hits on a level that doesn't feel like "Beck does ___ style." It just feels like him in a holistic kind of way.

[@jxrx4577]

You guys are great. These interviews are so good and awesome to watch. Justin has been a dude on my map for years. So good. Keep it up!

[@pauldi7268]

The midnight vultures tour was amazing!!! Saw them in three different cities on that tour!

[@giringuha4229]

Love the questions about production and band dynamics. Thanks!

[@edzielinski]

Great interview. I agree with Justin about The Information. It's an absolute mind-blowing album - way ahead of it's time. Justin is a heavyweight - I really get where the deepness of these albums comes from after listening to him. Thanks!

[@andrealafuente10]

This is my favourite KZbin channel ever!! Thank you for making these super inspiring and interesting videos :)

[@gingerAV]

justice for mutations!! possibly my favorite beck record. the songs are beautifully cynical and dour, but that friendly jam atmosphere really comes thru on the performances.

[@MattSmith-il4tc]

A suggestion for an interview: Matt Mahaffey. Excellent producer, multi-instrumentalist, song writer, vocalist. He's worked with tons of people in the industry (including Beck!) and I love his Self albums. Would definitely be an interesting interview.

[@HUSHMONEYBAND]

Justin always stood out to me. I was focused on him as much as I was Beck during a concert

[@davidcooke779]

Please please see if you can find someone from Talk Talk about their last two albums! I'd love to hear this level of detail about such iconic recording processes.

[@mikeking683]

Yes, both are masterpieces.

[@peffken8834]

Beck, his output and musicians are producing honest, authentic art through the medium of music. Music is one expression of art. And art is the best way to express things that you couldn't put in words. I love the virtuosity and playfulness, the free spirit and love and longing for the moment in Beck's works. I have enjoyed every release, never disappointed, rather expectantly curious about what to expect next. @PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS REACT Another band that has always impressed me musically, surprised me and made me curious about their next record is: WEEN! Lyrically and musically absolute free players/runners.

[@shaboodle]

As a falsetto-advocate, Debra has been my go-to cover song for singing since the album came out when I was 10. God bless PMR for covering this album and specially this song. Makes me feel at home ❤️

[@Psychedelicide]

As a massive Prince fan, Midnight Vultures brought me in2 the Beck universe like a fish 2 water... Instantly hooked & captured ever since. Sea Change spoke 2 me on many levels when it was released, and it is an album that I often look4ward 2 re experiencing.

[@marymays1224]

Yes! Great interview!

[@jarediledundee]

To hear others express their love for the things that I love, is a pretty profound human experience. I wish I was Jack and Ryan's neighbor and got invited to their backyard corn hole games every weekend. But seriously, thank you for creating this fantastic content that honors life's aural cheesecake.

[@TheHumesMusic]

Thanks so much for asking these questions. Midnight Vultures is a classic and I've been a big fan of it ever since its release, the production is insane. I remember hearing an advance copy and it was strange to me afterwards when the tepid reviews started coming in.

[@PancakeJake]

One of your best conversations, which is saying something! Absolutely 🔥 content that will be watched for generations

[@maschineshaolin]

best episode ever!!!! grew up learning how to play and produce bc of those records

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

“A send-up that ended up being pretty earnest” This is probably the best explanation I’ve ever heard to explain Midnite Vultures.

[@Martin-pd1gh]

Oh JMJ so lovely. I really enjoyed it!📽️ ❤️🎵🤘🏻

[@clayatube]

This stuff is so good. Please keep making these videos.

[@videogajima]

Never been more excited for one of these

[@neonom1024]

A dream guest to see on here: Butch Vig

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

Love the From the Basement session ~

[@TheBigburcie]

Fascinating as always, but also, best sweater ever.

[@alexarnold8287]

This dude has an amazing memory

[@edburns00]

Saw Beck with JMJ at a corporate event years ago and have been following him ever since. So glad you sat down with him. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd in 1999/2000. Thank you @JackConte for introducing me to Midnite Vultures.

[@DavetheTurnip]

Very chill vibe to this interview which seems appropriate 😁

[@BaldursPicketFence]

Aaah! I love Sea Change! Such an underrated Beck album! Imma listen to it in it’s entirely before bed!

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

Thought many ranked it as the best Beck album :)

[@mikeking683]

@@RayasNegroOvejas it's his best, by far. No weak tracks, although I don't really understand the spazz out in Sunday sun. Maybe, Sunday sun should have been the last track. Phenomenal record.

[@mauriciomussano9467]

Great as always guys, greetings from Argentina. P.S. I would love to see more about movies soundtrack!!

[@estebansuarezcornilliac1087]

Loving everything about this series. You should make some episodes on electronic music.

[@mikemckelvey5062]

GREAT interview

[@robjmiller84]

Awesome to hear you bring up Songwriters on Songwriting, Paul Zollo is my uncle. Check out the sequel More Songwriters... from a few years ago and his book Conversations with Tom Petty that recently has a new edition with photos Paul took at what would turn out to be Tom's final show.

[@briandavidgregory]

The idea that a Beck album was something "I grew up listening to" makes me feel so old.

[@briandavidgregory]

I feel Justin would understand.

[@TheMeyer]

Sea Change might very much be my favorite album

[@mikeking683]

Masterpiece

[@davidmack4495]

that song "alone but moving" you mentioned is now on my playlist!! great song!!!

[@BlueFinch]

Love the invasiveness of this interview style, where it sometimes bleeds to interrogation.

[@BenD_Bass]

So this is one of the guys Ian Martin Allison says he tours with. That would be fun to have him on here!

[@Mattythebassist_]

All I can think about when I watch this video is the college project I did on session musicians (because that’s my dream job). I sited this video and more from the Dead Wax channel. The information is so detailed here and I’m so thankful to have this resource.

[@greagandev]

I really enjoyed this.

[@DoubleSupercool]

Beck is my #1, but much respect to Justin. He is an absolute champ. I didn't realise he was music director for St Vincent and when I saw her at SummerSonic in Japan in 2022 and Justin walked out, my head exploded and I knew I was in for a helluva show. He proved me right.

[@dpclerks09]

24:56 🙌 🙏 I think it'd be extremely fascinating to hear more of your guests speak on the idea of artistic conviction. I think it's a relatively unexplored, yet intrinsic part of the process.

[@jetjaguar3000]

Oh my gosh I had no idea Beck's bassplayer was in Medicine! I've listened to their first album probably ten million times. Very cool. Brad Laner, the main mover behind Medicine, also did a lot of weirdo electronic stuff as Electric Company.

[@theyrecousins]

Please please: get Roger and/or Jason on if ya can! The intersection of Beck's band, Air, and the legendary Jellyfish would be an amazing get.

[@zatsgan7340]

Man had no idea about this show, subscribed

[@yogiblair22]

When it was released I wore out midnight vultures, probably my favorite back album. Then when sea change came after I was like what the heck is this? His body of work is all such a beautiful compilation

[@DagobahDave]

So much to like this in video. Justin is one of my favorite players, and St. Vincent is fantastic, and I didn't realize he was a part of that act. Would have been interested to hear more about Justin's producing in recent years. I've been listening to Beck from the early days, and of course the bass is a big reason why they all work so beautifully. 41:00 Ginger Root hooked me from the first listen of 'Loretta.' City Slicker and Nisemono are currently on heavy rotation here in the swamp, not a bad song on either of them.

[@user-fn9nq9wk6l]

saw beck in vancouver bc in 2004, i think. he and justin are a genius duo.

[@BAwesomeDesign]

The Major VI in a Major scale sounds like the "Oh. I never thought about it that way before" chord.

[@michaelh1173]

get NIGEL on this show ASAP

[@silkywellman9046]

Midnite Vultures is an amazing album front to back!

[@chillhard430]

Beck will not be who he is without the great musicians he played with like the great Justin.

[@Expected333]

The Information shoutout made me so happy

[@breaking4u]

This is great

[@andrewlooski]

BEST. EPISODE. EVER.

[@njames2848]

Big hug for whoever knitted that sweater!

[@jeffzemina4254]

Well there goes 45 minutes of my day. I could listen to JMJ talk about these albums all day. Also, Mutations is really the underappreciated gem, not Vultures.

[@brianmiller1077]

I keep thinking Justin is Screech from "Saved by the Bell"

[@PastelitoPapi]

I come to you now, a humble subscriber begging for you guys to break down the eclectic, funkadelicioius sounds of Khruangbin lol but yall are great forreal. this channel must go on!

[@MadeOnTape]

can't believe i missed this one six months ago. JMJ is a true legend

[@demonicsweaters]

really digging this channel

[@johnvicaireiii5537]

Love Loretta, love ginger root.

[@ZacharyWThomas]

Omg please please please get Cameron Lew (Ginger Root) on the show!!

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

@8:16 There's this video here on youtube where Cash talks about Beck and his song Rowboat, which he ended up recording. The clip shows Beck watching it and pulling out a napkin, before talking about it and playing it himself.

[@admarhermans1]

JMJ is one of my favorite players/ soundcrafters with some of my favorite bands and artists! (Loved ‘Ima Robot’ too!) 🖖