Beck continues to showcase he’s the coolest middle-aged dude in the music industry on “Dreams,” the earliest and oldest single from his album, Colors.
Ah, a new Beck album is on the way. It’s been three years sense we’ve heard from the Scientologist hipster, who shocked the world by winning the Grammy for album of the year for Morning Phase. Why it was shocking was (1) because of the competition and (2) because it was generally a more subdued, conservative album from the alternative singer/songwriter. All indications suggest Colors (October 13) isn’t subdued. “Dreams” was the earliest single released from Colors, arriving in 2015! That dates it well in advance of the release of Colors.
The first thing that stands about “Dreams” is the groove. Man, oh man, is “Dreams” one of the grooviest songs Beck has ever released. The rhythmic guitars – acoustic and electric – really bring the production work to life. Beck’s vocals don’t hurt either, bursting with enthusiasm, particularly the chorus where he sings, “She’s making me high / She’s making me high.”
After the three-minute mark, there’s an unexpected change of pace. This bridge keeps things interesting and eliminates predictability. This brief switch slackens the pace down, yet has an infectious, funky sound. Beck also gets more explicit in the process, dropping the bomb.
“Ahh, stop f*cking with my dreams, dreams, yeah.”
It’s not a profound statement from the hipster, but yet, it fits the vibe and honestly, the statement suits his hipster status. Also, let’s not forget, back in the 90s, on Mellow Gold, Beck has a lovely joint entitled “F*ckin with My Head.”
Final Thoughts
All in all, “Dreams” gives Beck another fascinating single ahead of Colors. There’s a blend of pop and alternative cues, which work well together. It’s safe to say, Beck may be the coolest 47-year old dude in the music industry.