Pitchfork

You're still relevant, Beck! If the cowbell dance-punk of tracks like "Inside Out", from the veteran singer/songwriter's 2006 album, The Information (now available in regular or Deluxe editions), didn't convince doubters, then it's hard to imagine new surprise single "Timebomb" will bring back those Odelay hosannas. Released as an iTunes one-off, "Timebomb" counts down until whatever with handclaps, alarm-clock bleeps, textural electric guitars, and chunky electro-house drone, but never quite explodes.

A gaggle of studio backers giggle and shout stuff like "tick, tick, tick" while Beck maneuvers from obvious observations ("There's a timebomb ticking") to free-associative rap, and, finally, to wordless bum-bums. The track is equally ready for Justice or Klaxons remixes, but that's not to say it isn't distinctively Beck. It's just that Beck's distinctive gift for changing how we hear familiar sounds-- folk, hip-hop, funk, Nick Drake, or old Beck, depending on the album-- isn't particularly present. A new Beck single used to be an event in itself; this one will work fine if you've already got your surprise party started, but don't expect it to keep people from trashing the place once you run out of booze.

[from the "Timebomb" digital single; out now via iTunes]