He's not studio shy, though, and with the help of producer Nigel Godrich, who also produced Mutations and Radiohead's OK Compuer and Kid A, he makes sure that Sea Change has a lot to listen to. The string arrangements are marvelous throughout, small minor-key symphonies that engage in dialogue with the lyrics, encouraging them and accentuating them, and remaining quiet when necessary. "Lost Cause" includes weird swirls of what sound like back-masked voices in the background, voices from the past perhaps, throwing the lyrics into stronger relief, and setting mood without being intrusive. Beck has done great things in the studio before, but the sound here makes even Odelay sound like the work of a show-off. The production of that record served mostly itself. Here, everything is at the service of the songs.
There's not a bad song on Sea Change, either, not a single moment less important than the one before. This record is a cousin to Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks in its unflinching portrayal of emotions that are at once dark and tender. Beck has been compared to Dylan before, and perhaps it sounded like a flimsy rock critic conceit, an over-eagerness to jump on a bandwagon. Sea Change sets this reputation in stone. It is an instant classic, in the weightiest sense of that overused phrase.
Note: I said in my review of Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights, "I've eaten my words before, so I'll prepare for that possibility as I say this: This is the best album of 2002."
I didn't expect to eat my words so quickly.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Nice one K - you're on a roll.
2 - Phil Freeman
Sincerity is as easily faked as anything else Beck's attempted. I'll give a listen at some point, but acoustic guitars don't automatically equal "personal" or "introspective."
3 - Kenan Hebert
Man, you don't even know. This is the breakup record of the decade.
4 - Tycen Hopkins
Beck's folksy accoustic stuff predates his gizmo-enhanced crap by years. Mellow Gold, where "Loser" came from, and the insanely eclectic (emphasis on insane) Stereopathic Soul Manure were both lo-fi, mostly accoustic, albums. Listen to the song, "Satan Gave Me a Taco" for a typical example. One Foot in The Grave was downright Dylanesque, only without all the whineing.
In fact, I would say that Odelay and Midnight Vultures are the exception in his career, and not the rule.
They're all pretty good, but I definately prefer Beck when he's playing his guitar. That said, I'm pickin' up the new album as soon as it hits the store...
5 - Emmanuelle
Boy, was I disappointed with this album. A music journalist friend who had an advance copy gave it to me saying "he couldn't stomach how boring it was." He also gave me Pink Moon by Nick Drake to compare it to.
We listened to "Sea Change" yesterday with Beck fans Matt and music critic fairy Kate and they both agreed that it was pretty boring until the 10th song. Song 2 is an hommage to French artist Serge Gainsbourg (the great "Melody Nelson" album) that crosses the line into appropriation. But Kate said that even if the songs are not good, and the lyrics dull, it's the first time Beck really bares his soul, which makes this album unique and probably important. She's a generous person.
6 - Kenan Hebert
I read the Rolling Stone review today, and they also compare it to Nick Drake. I like that. I hadn't thought of it. (Also, curiously, the rating went from four to five stars in the space of a few hours. Maybe they reconsidered?)
I understand your reaction to the record -- I really do. Truth be told, if I had written this review the same day I got the album, I wouldn't have been so nice to it. When I first put it in, I was like, "All the songs sound the same!" I had to make myself listen to it to write this review.
But a funny thing happened. After a few more run-throughs of a record I had pretty much already made up my mind about, a record that I considered a chore to listen to, I began to love it. Songs grew on me. I got used to the sound -- and you have to admit, it's certainly a different sound from anything Beck has ever made before. I realized that I had been wrong. It's not too sad, and it's not "all the same." It just requires more work than anything he's ever done. And once I realized that, I respected the hell out of it.
You say the songs are not good. I think you may change your mind about that over time. You say the lyrics are boring. True, they're not the subterranean homesick rap that we're used to hearing from Beck, but they're not boring. They're traditional -- simple, plain-spoken, often country-ish. That doesn't make them boring. In fact, I would argue that it adds a dimension, instead of taking one away.
As for unique and probably important -- yes. Absolutely. If this had been an album from a new artist, I would have given it a solid four stars, praised it duly, and gone on about my day. But this is Beck, and he's proving himself with every new album to be a real artist, a man with a vision and a worldview that is perhaps unequalled in pop music today. Sea Change doesn't only stand on its own, but it casts an illuminating glow on his previous albums, and gives us a more complete picture of the man that made them.
Listen to the record some more. I'll guarantee you that it's worth it. This album matters.
7 - Emmanuelle
Hey Keanan,
Thank you for getting back to me. I'm not receiptive at all to such an album these days, so it's maybe a matter of timing. For instance, I don't listen to the gloomiest Cure the way I used to love doing, when I was a teenager with a lot of time on my hands. Listening to music in your computer can't compare with playing a record very loud, while lying on your bed in the dark.
I listened to Sea Change over and over this morning. It just doesn't work with me, except for the wonderful "Sunday Sun," (the resurrection song, which he said was the one he wrote the most recently, "Paper Tiger," (the tribute to Serge Gainsbourg's Melody Nelson) and "Little One."
I respect his work tremendously and it's also possible that this record will be the one that his fans will always have handy. A bit like Disintegration from the Cure, which fans love listening to on a regular basis.
I interviewed Beck this afternoon in L.A. for a French paper (I don't have to review the record, and I'm not a reviewer anyway). I just posted a short thing on Beck and Eastern Europe on my site and I'll post his best comments on the record very soon here. He was a treasure to interview.
8 - Eric Olsen
Wow, E, that's cool. Can't wait to see the comments. Have a great weekend.
9 - Emmanuelle
Sorry for the delay, transcribing the interview, but here are some bits I find interesting (From an intw on Sept 20. 2002 at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.) Sorry in advance for the typos and the bad english (unedited transcript).
About why he withdrew for almost 3 years:
"I’m didn’t really meant to. I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do next and I had about 3 or 4 projects going on at the same time. And then… I wasn’t sure if I should put up this accoustic record, or a rock record that I was going to do… all these different things. Then September 11 happened. Nobody was really working for a while… it took this year to really say, ok, I got to make a record now. It’s been 3 years."
"I really wanted to work on my song writing. I did that for the last 2 years, really honning songs, working on my singing"
About the "Break up record" label given by critics:
"I really like to leave my record open so that people can interpret it though their loss. I really respect the classic great songs writers you know, like the Cole Porters or Hoagy Carmichaels, these classic songwriters who lived in the 20s, 30s or 40s. They wrote the standards. Their songs are perennial because they are simple, very emotional, and they’re good songs but they also have a universality, they’re timeless. They’re specific of a situation at a certain time they work on different levels, you can interpret them on different levels.
"I don’t really talk about my personal life much, I’m a musician person. It’s always been a point of integrity for me to my music. I don’t want people to be thinking about Beck (when they listen to my songs)."
"I don’t necesseraily think this kind of songs is new for me. I’ve been writing these kind of songs for a long time. Maybe as time is going on, I’ve become more comfortable to expose that. I almost didn’t think that people would want to hear that. People have always asked me: “Will you write some personal songs?” And I’d say: "Yeah." But I usually like to put out more extravert music. I want people to enjoy themselves. I don’t want to be selfish, you know. There’s a lot of music out there that’s depressed and melancholic. For me… I love a lot of that kind of music. I love Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Francoise Hardy... That kind of music is universal. But for me, writing a happy song is the most difficult. It’s much more of a challenge."
About Gainsbourg and "Paper Tiger":
"I've always listened to him. When Air came out and some of the other mellow (French) pop musicans I felt like it was their territory. I’ve been listening to Gainsbourg for years and I’ve always wanted to do something influenced by him. To me, a record like Melody Nelson has so many possibilities.
But when we were making the record, I wanted to do something with strings that was very dramatic. And we were listening to that. And (he chuckles) we ended up with something (Paper Tiger) that sounded exactly like it (Melody Nelson). I didn’t intend that. But we did it and it came out so good, in my opinon, it sounded like a tribute. But it transcended that. And it was a good song. I remember, my producer is very particular about that kind of thing. I was like: “I don’t know, can we put this out?” And he said: “It’s fine. It’s a good piece of work.” But yeah, I love the way Gainsbourg uses the orchestras. It’s not afraid to be dramatic and bold and emotional. There’s something really cool about the sound too."
On Scientology: "I’ve been around it my whole life." The conversation on this theme is archived on my blog.
10 - Tim R
When you all nothing but burgers and fries you soon loose your taste buds. This is a great album - it reminded me of Blur at their most melloncolly.
Tim - London
11 - Cara M
I think the new album is terrific--I totally agree with Rolling Stone's review, which btw, always had 5 stars on the versions I've seen.
The thing is--it's a bit of an ambient album. It's not strictly rock, certainly not in how it "works" from a listener standpoint, except maybe for "Guess I'm Doing Fine" which just exudes "Hi, I'm the Single." Everyone I know who has tried to listen to it as a rock album has disliked it. It reminds me of the first time I listened to Eno's "Before and After Science": I didn't get it, because I hadn't learned to listen to music that communicates like a picture rather than a story. Now I have learned, and this album communicates to me EXACTLY like a painting; a large one where you can look at just a corner for awhile and then move on to another corner, and just work your way toward the center until finally you step back and realize that you can see the whole thing and the message isn't quite what you thought it was but it's utterly incredible.
I think Sea Change is brilliant; I've always been a Beck fan but this catapaults him into the iconic category. THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING ALBUM, MR. HANSEN!
12 - db
No advance copy here - I bought Sea Change last Tuesday. I do not have history with Beck - I guess I have listened to a few things, but was not a fan. I am a fan of this CD.
Given my 53 years, I will try an obscure reference - Tom Rush 'Circle Game'. Beck's voice recalls the sound of that album. His musical influences are certainly diverse - which strengthens his own writing.
What I like is the marriage of lyrics, melody, chords, and arrangements. Without the words, one can tell his mood. He portrays sadness, anger, confusion, and determination. I guess that reflects how one should handle such a serious personal situation.
What is it about sadness and loss that loosen the creative juices? His pain brings us much pleasure. It hardly seems fair.
This CD will not work for everyone. But if it works for you, it reaches great heights. You feel connected to Beck, and would like to just sit there and let him tell you his tale. Hopefully, writing this CD was therapy. He deserves as much pleasure from the writing as we get from the listening.
13 - Mac Stevens
Beck has outdone himself. Great songwriting, great production, great album. I love it. If you like "Mutations" you'll love this. The strings make the album even better- they're perfect. Not over the top, not cheesy. This album is great- I'd say it's up there with Wilco for the best of the year.
14 - DesignLab
Has to be one of the most solid beginning-to-end albums put out in 10 years. This album is so well written and produced it should crave much attention from listeners and I hope the radio ignores it. Why spoil it?
15 - Jeff Doiron
There is another reference that hasn't been mentioned so far...I hear Gordon Lightfoot, especially in the vocal delivery...and yes, this album will take time to grow on you, but it's time that pays off. An important album by an important artist.
16 - Kevin
This album was perfectly timed for me. I was/am dealing with the end of a long relationship and the album expressed many of my feelings and thoughts all too well. "Lonesome Tears" in particular, is amazing.
17 - Ron
The Secret Life of Beck Hansen
Rumors have been around a few years suggesting that alt rocker Beck Hansen had become a member of the Church of Scientology. The real question should be, when was Beck NOT a Scientologist? Has Beck been lying to the media and his fans? Has the media just been hiding it?
http://lermanet.com/beck/
"Scientologists believe that most human problems can be traced to lingering spirits of an extraterrestrial people massacred by their ruler, Xenu, over 75 million years ago. These spirits attach themselves by 'clusters' to individuals in the contemporary world, causing spiritual harm and negatively influencing the lives of their hosts."
USDJ, Judge Leonie Brinkema
4 Oct 96 Memorandum Opinion
http://www.lermanet.com/scientology-and-occult/
18 - Eric Berlin
Man, I really hope that Beck isn't a Scientologist. I just want to see him as a pure out-and-out musical genius and not get all cluttered with this other stuff.
And I really don't want to have to group him in the same category as Tom Cruise in my head, you know?
19 - b.
that piece is right: in early 2003 beck showed up in Celebrity magazine as a member.
but you don't have to group him with tom cruise. even though they have the same "religion," that doesn't mean they're the same. scientologists are still individuals! plus, beck grew up in it. tom didn't.
but if beck starts telling interviewers how great scientology is, i think i'll throw up.
20 - O'Tertiary
Beck officially stated he's Scientologist in the New York Times, and since has addressed what he calls 'Scientology Bashers.'
Like many Scientology entertainers before him, Beck also mentions in both of these articles that he supports Scientology programs.
Can we address the fact that several of the programs he 'supports' are nothing more than the Scientology members purification, (in Beck's case, the drug and prison rehabs are mentioned.) One of these programs, the drug rehab, BY THE WAY has failed its merit in the State of California, under the name, 'Narconon.' The 'drug rehab' teachings of this program were being taught to public school kiddies in California.
An evaluation cited that Scientology was teaching inaccurate science, so what do these programs actually practice? The California Medical Assoc. has also joined in to support an evaluation that was completed.
Read this information, and watch what Scientology has its members selling. Especially at a time when they know these scathing evaluations have taken place, and it effects all of the purification-related programs they use and sell under many names.
peace and facts,
OT
Frontsight Weapons range owner Scientologist Ignatious Piazza lawsuit against BLOGGER Diana Hsieh to go forward
21 - JR
Man, I really hope that Beck isn't a Scientologist. I just want to see him as a pure out-and-out musical genius and not get all cluttered with this other stuff.
And I really don't want to have to group him in the same category as Tom Cruise in my head, you know?
So group him in with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. (Although I wouldn't.)