Beck's 'Loser' at 30 and the golden age of slacker rock

Published: Feb. 27, 2024, 8 a.m.

b'Nothing on mainstream radio sounded like Beck\'s "Loser" when it dropped in 1994. Thirty years later, we explain why, look at its impact on the rise of slacker rock and how we still hear it today.

With KEXP\'s Cheryl Waters, NPR\'s Stephen Thompson and host Robin Hilton.

Beck tracks featured in this episode:
From \'Mellow Gold\':
"Loser"
"Truck Driving Neighbor Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)"
"Beercan"
"Black Hole"
From \'Stereopathetic Soulmanure\':
"Satan Gave Me A Taco"
"Rowboat"
From \'One Foot in the Grave\':
"One Foot in the Grave"
Also featured:
Basehead: "Brand New Day" from \'Play with Toys\'
Ween: "Push Th\' Little Daisies" from \'Pure Guava\'
King Missile: "Detachable Penis" from \'Happy Hour\'
Pussy Galore: "Brick" from \'Sugars*** Sharp\'
The Lemonheads: "Half The Time" from \'Lovey\'
Guided By Voices: "#2 in the Model Home Series" from \'Vampire on Titus\'
Sebadoh: "Soul and Fire" from \'Bubble & Scrape\'
Pavement: "Cut Your Hair" from \'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain\'
Alex G: "Runner" from \'God Save the Animals\'
Courtney Barnett: "History Eraser" from \'The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas\'
Frankie Cosmos: "Apathy" from \'Vessel\'
Beck: "F**** With My Head (Mountain Dew Rock)" from \'Mellow Gold\'

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