Classic Video:

The New Pollution
Beck



On a bit of a hellbent to see how much I can get written before Viacom completely obliterates my video budget - my non-existent video budget - we've got a classic effort from 1996's Odelay by none other than mad genius Beck. "The New Pollution" is easily one of the best expressions of the music video ever, and becomes doubly impressive when you consider that Mr. Hansen himself directed it.

All of the videos released for Odelay are not easily forgettable; it's a list which includes "Devil's Haircut", "Where It's At", and "Jack-Ass". And while "Devil's Haircut" vies for the best of the elite with its razor-sharp editing and cinematography, "The New Pollution" earns points by being the most colorful, most expansive, possibly most Beck video off this album - which, by extension, makes it the most Beck video he's put out.

It certainly tells a story... something about fads and eras and such. But as with all things of this nature, it's best to not overanalyze. Just enjoy.