Easily one of this generation's three most talented and innovative artists, Beck's major-label follow-up, Odelay is no loser for damn sure.

Eleven out of these thirteen new songs blew me straight away (which is really saying a lot considering what a jaded rock critic I've become - haw haw), though every single track on the disc is fantastic.

Opening with the spooky cartoon sounds of "Devil's Haircut," the record grabs you by the crotch immediately and, with the second track, "Hotwax," accidentally gets you down.

Beck samples from every possible wacky source imaginable (and unimaginable), which just makes the ride crazier. There are sounds from all sorts of old records, including one from Dick Hyman's classic Moog record and, on "High 5 (Rock The Catskills)," an obscure early '80s bit where listeners are commanded to scream out the names of their favorite designer jeans. ("Everybody in the house say 'Jordache!'")

Odelay is the third best record of 1996 so far (Walt Mink's El Producto, and 12 Rods' Gay? follow, respectively, if you had to know), and as you all know, there can only be one of those.

Other winning tracks include: "Jack-Ass," "Readymade," "The New Pollution," "Lord Only Knows," and, well... every other song on the CD.

-Ryan Schreiber