BECK  Mutations NEAR MINT look at the 4th and 5th pictures carefully, I see an inperfection that I have tried hard to get in the pictures but it is so light that my camera is having a hard time picking anything up, it looks like possibly that it happened at the factory when it was removed from the stamper and placed in the paper sleeve, maybe an employee who did not have a steady hand, I listened to it and could a few times hear the slightest tick as it passed but you have to be totally anal about the condition of your records like I am to even notice it with your eye or when played back. I have a large problem with the record plants not using cotton gloves and being careful when placing the records in the sleeve. With that said, if you absolutely could not look past this, and sometimes I have a problem with fingerprints on new albums then please do not bid. To the other 99% of buyers and collectors I think you will absolutely delighted with the condition of this album, I just want to make full disclosure, and please look at those pictures closely, copy them and blow them up on your computer or whatever else you might need to do but don't buy it with intentions of getting a refund or giving negative feedback. Look at my feedback and check out my other auctions on albums, I only sell quality vinyl and this to me is a 98 on a scale of 100 in the condition of the vinyl. I use a Lyra Clavis DeCapo that was recently retipped and new ruby cantilever from soundsmith, a very revealing unit, and I had no problems at all with this album. 

• Psychedelic folk
• alternative country
• folk rock
• alternative rock
• blues

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 only)

Mutations is the third official studio album and sixth overall by American alternative rock artist Beck, released in 1998 on DGC Records. Though less commercially successful than the preceding Odelay, Mutations won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.[1]

Contents

• 1Background and recording
• 2Artwork and packaging
• 3Release
• 4Reception
• 5Track listing
  • 5.1Bonus tracks
• 6Personnel
• 7Charts
• 8Certifications
• 9References
• 10External links

Background and recording[edit]

Mutations was produced by Nigel Godrich, who was well-known at that point for his previous work with Radiohead. The album contains a number of Moog keyboards, acoustic guitars, and string arrangements.[2] The production style was very different from that of his previous album Odelay, which was heavily influenced by hip hop music and contained many samples. The lyrical content of Mutations is also much more somber and serious than that on Odelay, apparent in the songs "Nobody's Fault but My Own" and "Dead Melodies".

The title Mutations may be a nod to an influential Brazilian band of the late 60s, Os Mutantes. The song "Tropicalia" pastiches the works of Brazilian tropicalia artists of the era.

Artwork and packaging[edit]

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

Release[edit]

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.[3]

Singles were released for the songs "Tropicalia", "Cold Brains" (Australia 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 peaked at 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.[4] As of 1999 it has sold over one million copies worldwide.[5]

Reception[edit]

The album 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".[16]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks written by Beck Hansen.

Bonus tracks[edit]

There are a variety of bonus tracks on non-US pressings of the album.

• "Electric Music and the Summer People" (Japanese release track 12).
• "Diamond Bollocks" is track 12 (track 13 on Japanese release), whereas it is an unlisted hidden track on the US release.
• "Runners Dial Zero": (UK, German releases track 13 and Japanese release track 14).
• "Halo of Gold" (German limited edition track 14).
• "Black Balloon" (German limited edition track 15).

Personnel[edit]

• Beck – guitar, harmonica, piano, glockenspiel, synthesizer, vocals, producer
• Elliot Caine – trumpet
• David Campbell – arranger, conductor, viola
• Larry Corbett – cello
• Warren Klein – sitar, tamboura
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• David Ralicke – flute, trombone
• Nigel Godrich – producer, mixing
• Smokey Hormel – guitar, percussion, background vocals, cuica
• Joey Waronker – percussion, drums, synthesizer drums
• Robert Fisher – art direction
• Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass, percussion, background vocals
• Roger Manning – synthesizer, organ, keyboards, harpsichord, background vocals, percussion
• John Sorenson – assistant engineer
• Charlie Gross – photography
• Autumn de Wilde – photography

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone