"Where It's At"

Beck
(Bongload/DGC, 1996)

Up with People meet the Cold Crush Brothers downtown. The original funk-savant Hansen brother tries on a rack full of identities -- Mantronix Youth? Rhinestone computer-cowboy? Home-schooled hip-hop? -- and winds up testifying in the church of the boom bap ("Two turntables and a microphone! TWO TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE!"). The music's strut is so deadpan-fly, you can (literally!) hear people ringing up to hire his producers.

-- Alex Pappademas