Cool Hunting

Due for release December 13, Beck's Guerolito is a unique and at times ballsy little brother to the critically-acclaimed, chart-topping album Guero. Beck personally chose 13 very diverse artists to re-interpret Guero, his eighth and most successful album to date, one that many people consider to be a return to the style of his breakout classic Odelay.

Worth remembering, both Odelay and Guero utilized the production wizardry of the Dust Brothers, who are also credited as remixers on Guerolito, not to mention being the producers behind classics like The Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique. Beastie's Adrock coincidentally kicks out a stripped down, beats and effects old-school styled jam of "Black Tamborine" on Guerolito.

But this re-rubbed record is no simple homage to well-worn influences. It equally features fresh cuts from underground upstarts like this year's mash-up darling Diplo, the hip hop down low from Def Jux impresario El-P, an 80's retro-wave synth and strings epic from French bon vivants Air, a back-mask heavy gem from my favorite warped duo Boards of Canada and intriguing offerings from relative unknowns 8-bit, Homelife, Islands, Mario C, Octet, Subtle, and Th' Corn Gangg. It's the strange juxtaposition of these artists and their outputs here that make this collection work. In this reviewer's opinion, Beck proves once again he's still got cojones.

Incidentally, Guero's graphic artist Marcel Dzama is remixing the album's artwork, creating new versions of the original illustrated packaging for this release.

Preview some of the remixes and videos on the mini-site