Now. Let's get on to the good stuff. The Information is one of Beck's most solid albums in a long time. While last year's Guero was fun, it was pushed much too hard as Beck's return to form. Worse, it didn't seem as if even Beck was entirely comfortable with Guero; the months both immediately before and after that album's release saw no less than two compilations of remixes, the Hell Yes EP and the Guerolito album, as well as a ton of additional revamped bonus tracks and B-sides. I am more than a fan of remixes, but it's always unsettling to see an artist release more than just an EP's worth or so within a year of releasing an album. The biggest problem this reviewer had with Guero, though, was it didn't feel as if Beck was challenging himself. The most interesting thing about Beck Hansen the Artist is that he is never the same. From Sea Change to Mutations to Odelay to (the much underrated) Midnite Vultures to Mellow Gold, even if someone didn't entirely like Beck, it could always be argued that he was never stale. But with Guero, one did get the feeling that maybe this path had already been tread. It was good, it was fun, but that supremely Beck feel of innovation and new territory wasn't entirely there. Little did we know, however, that at the same time as all of that, he was also recording The Information.
The new album does, of course, tie back into the past of Beck (there are still tinges of Odelay and yes, "Loser" floating around), but the most important fact is that he and frequent Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich - who I prefer minus Radiohead, actually - have made an extremely engaging record. There are of course the singles, "Nausea" and "Cellphone's Dead;" while "Cellphone" is reminiscent of "vintage" Beck (Funky-ass whiteboy beat? Check. Odd female voice? Check. Layers of that patented Beck flavor of rap? Check.) with an almost security blanket-like intensity, "Nausea" feels as if Beck took the blues influences which resurfaced again on Guero and made them evolve even further. In fact, there are moments in "Nausea" where it sounds almost as if the musician had relistened to the much more simplistic "Black Tambourine" from Guero and decided he wanted to try it another way. I'm not saying these songs are exactly the same, but if there's any indication that the two albums were being made around the same time, it would probably be "Black Tambourine" and "Nausea."
Article comments
1 - Scott
This is an excellent album. I liked Guero very much, but I think this tops it. A lot of the stuff is almost creepy and apocalyptic - mostly the stuff where he raps very softly. Very cool and different.
2 - Michael J. West
I thought Guero was Beck's worst album by a longshot...but I agree with Scott and with you. The Information is a great one that will probably be severely undercut by the hipster crowd (already has, in fact, if you read Pitchfork).
3 - DJRadiohead
I guess I am destined to be the lone weirdo who prefers Guero. I just fucking love that album. It's funny- I had very low expectations for it when I bought it and it just grew, grew, grew on me. It is probably the Beck disc I listen to most often.
Don't get me wrong- I like The Information. It's a strong disc and one I like to listen to and need to listen to some more to get a real handle on it. I just don't see it topping Guero for me.
4 - Eric Berlin
Great review Megan!
DJR, I'm with you, I think that Guero is simply smashing. I'm just now getting into The Information -- it certainly has it's moments (at this very moment I believe "Think I'm Falling in Love" to be simply sublime) but Guero to me is a better whole. I've heard it criticized as being "not finished" enough, which may be true, and The Information certainly sounds more polished, but overall I think that Guero is the "most Beck" Beck album that he's ever produced, if that makes any sense.
5 - Bullgod
Beck puts out great stuff.It always takes me a few spins on the cd player before anything sticks and then, finally, I get it. So, in saying that, its too early to say how I really feel about his latest effort. But, so far so good. Any true Beck fan is going to dig this. No dilly!
6 - sam gaver
whoa, what an album! this feels mellow like mutations, funky like odelay and guero, depressing like mellow gold, futuristic like midnite vultures, and experimental like golden feelings and fresh meat, old slabs, which brings me back to some stereopathetic soulmanure. nicely done! mutations is still my fav, but this may take over. gotta go, some one is video taping me in myspaceship.
7 - SCHMEEJAYDJ
That gypsy in the pic with Beck is Devandra Banhart; an excellent guitar player/singer/songwriter/musician/etc. outta Cali