It feels extremely weird to write about a moment in which Beck—Beck, man—had to “prove it.” This is an artist who’s demonstrated his talent over and over again in his career—beyond just acting as an influence for a generation of musicians and music listeners, Beck is an artist who’s helped define what it means to be a fan of music. Writing something like that feels a bit corny, yes, but this is a person known for his fearlessness and his resolute individuality. Whether you enjoy the music he’s created or not, it’s hard to argue that he hasn’t achieved icon status—right there with your Thom Yorkes, your Jeff Tweedys, your Stevie Nickses, your other artists known for blowing up and reconfiguring with the medium. -- Eric Sundermann
Have you ever noticed the raggedy-haired dog on the cover of Odelay and thought, "There's no way that's a real dog?" Well, it is. And we tried to find one, but failed miserably.