There are few artists with such a stark contrast in their discography in terms of stimulation as Beck, whose most celebrated offerings have been the wonky maximalist prototype for ’90s alt-alt-rock and one of the most devastating, stripped-down break-up albums of our time.
With his recent single “Saw Lightning” reflecting the Beastie Boy–infused contemporary folk of Odelay, it’s no surprise to hear the same song reworked as “Saw Lightning (Freestyle)”—a stripped-to-the-bone harmonica version sharing the original’s enthusiasm, but relying on raw songwriting chops, as with the ballads comprising Sea Change. With an equally bare video directed by brother-in-law Giovani Ribisi, the single is in sharp contrast to the artist’s recent production collaborations with Pharrell Williams.
Watch the video below—and with no album title or release date announced, keep your ears open for a new Beck release sometime in the near future.
