Expert: Erronoeous Fisherman - 6/1/2000

Question
Hey. I have the opportunity to get a copy of the Japanese Midnight Vultures. It is the same as the US one except it features a song called Arabian Nights. What is this song like? Can you compare it to any other Beck songs (I know that`s hard). Is this CD worth getting?

Thanks


Answer
Hey Joe,

Sorry my response comes so late.  I actually responded (or tried to) as
soon as I received the message, but it wouldn't go through (crappy computer).
I tired several times after, and it wasn't working.  Anyway, I really like
"Arabian Nights." The lyrics are a little more pointed or political than
most of his other songs.  They describe all sorts of absurd situations and
bloated lifestyles ("meditating in Porsches" "Alfonzo giving me a backrub"),
while hinting at the violence necessary to maintain them (opens with a
Doom-sounding shooting, "Bazookas and fisticuffs" "Magnums and Barettas"
"Part-time Hostages").  Sorry if that's too much of a Marxist bias on the
song meaning, but I don't think I'm putting anything there that isn't
meant to be. I guess I would compare the song to "Broken Train" and
"Hollywood Freaks" on Midnite Vultures.  "Broken Train" just because it's
more political than most of his songs which seem to be more comments on
culture.  "Hollywood Freaks" for the beat and the eerie piano loop throughout
the song.  But I think a closer comparison would be with any song by the
French band Air.  There is one section of the one that is particularly
Air-esque.  Also, if you have Beck's remix (Sex Kino) of Air's "Sexy Boy,"
that would be a good song to compare this one to musically.  I love the song,
but I don't know your financial situation well enough to say whther or not
you should buy the cd.  All I can say is that you might regret it if you
wait amd can't find it anymore (but with all this mp3 stuff I wouldn't be
too worried).  Hope that helped.

 Keith
mindaphid@aol.com