Timebomb (song)
Encyclopedia
"Timebomb" is a 2007 single
by American musician Beck
. On August 21, 2007, the single was made available on iTunes
. It was released on 12" vinyl on November 2, 2007. A 1-track promo-only CD was also produced.
A post from Beck's official website said that it would be "a song for bonfires, blackouts and the last hurrah of summer". It combines aspects of electronica
, experimental rock
, and alternative rock
. In 2006 and 2007, the song was played live a number of times.
The post on Beck's website said that the cover art "features Ryan in the knitted Aztec Bird costume, some of you may have seen him dancing in on stage the past few years."
On December 6, 2007, "Timebomb" was nominated for a Grammy Award
for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance.
The song was the inspiration behind the True Blood
Season 2 episode "Timebomb" and the track played during the closing credits of the show.
described the song as "unmistakably playful" but said that "direness lurks beneath the spangles". On the other hand, Richard Cromelin of The Los Angeles Times said that the track was "catchy, dynamic, and fun." In Rolling Stone
magazine is said "...house-party DJ's...cue up Beck's New banger - which gets the party started."
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by American musician Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
. On August 21, 2007, the single was made available on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. It was released on 12" vinyl on November 2, 2007. A 1-track promo-only CD was also produced.
A post from Beck's official website said that it would be "a song for bonfires, blackouts and the last hurrah of summer". It combines aspects of electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
, and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
. In 2006 and 2007, the song was played live a number of times.
The post on Beck's website said that the cover art "features Ryan in the knitted Aztec Bird costume, some of you may have seen him dancing in on stage the past few years."
On December 6, 2007, "Timebomb" was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance.
The song was the inspiration behind the True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
Season 2 episode "Timebomb" and the track played during the closing credits of the show.
Reception
Critical reaction was generally positive. Nate Chinen of The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described the song as "unmistakably playful" but said that "direness lurks beneath the spangles". On the other hand, Richard Cromelin of The Los Angeles Times said that the track was "catchy, dynamic, and fun." In Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine is said "...house-party DJ's...cue up Beck's New banger - which gets the party started."
Personnel
- Brian LeBartonBrian LeBartonBrian Manuel LeBarton is a keyboardist, composer, and electronic musician from Los Angeles, California.-Work with Beck:Brian LeBarton is the keyboardist and musical director for Beck...
: Drum Machine, Guitar, Hand Claps, Keyboard / Synthesizer, Vocals (Background) - Darrell Thorp: Engineer
- Drew Brown: Engineer
- Beck Hansen: Hand Claps, Keyboard / Synthesizer, Producer, Vocals
- Bob Ludwig: Mastering
- Ken Andrews: Mix
- Brianna Bell: Vocals (Background)
- Elisha Skorman: Vocals (Background)
- Kimi Reichenberg: Vocals (Background)
- Sage Mears: Vocals (Background)
- Tiffani Fest: Vocals (Background)