Beck has traveled light years from being pegged as a reluctant generational spokesperson when "Loser" metamorphosed from a rejected demo to a ubiquitous smash. Instead he wound up crystallizing much of the post-modern ruckus of the '90s alternative explosion, but in his own unpredictable manner: Beck's singular career has been one that's seen him utilize all manners and eras of music, blurring boundaries and blazing a path into the future while simultaneously foraging through the past.
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It seems with every album, Beck pushes the envelope a little bit more and the depth of his talent and creativity has grown to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if his next album was polka covers of death metal.
In the case of his latest, Guero, he manages to create an album with 13 tracks that all seem to sound at least vaguely familiar and vaguely groundbreaking. Guero is a markedly different sounding album from his previous album, Sea Change.
Lacking the sad and mournful undertones that characterized Sea Change, Guero is whimsical, light hearted, and lyrically absurd. The first track, 'E-Pro' grabs you right away with a catchy drumbeat boosted from the Beastie Boys' 'Whatcha Want'. 'E-Pro' is but one of several tracks on Guero that begs for hand clapping or at least some quality head bobbing.
Far from being a one trick pony, Guero is filled with tracks that blaze their own distinctive audio identity. As is usually the case with Beck's lyrics, deciphering the meaning is nigh on futility. But, listening to Guero is more about the mood and feeling each track elicits.
Guero is an album that will undoubtedly please any existing Beck fan (particularly anyone who enjoyed Odelay or Midnite Vultures). It is also a wonderful introduction for any neophyte Beck listeners. (BTW-In case you were wondering, 'Guero' is Spanish slang for a fair skinned or light haired person.) - Review of Beck: Guero by SF Station staff writer Matt Forsman
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It seems with every album, Beck pushes the envelope a little bit more and the depth of his talent and creativity has grown to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if his next album was polka covers of death metal.
In the case of his latest, Guero, he manages to create an album with 13 tracks that all seem to sound at least vaguely familiar and vaguely groundbreaking. Guero is a markedly different sounding album from his previous album, Sea Change.
Lacking the sad and mournful undertones that characterized Sea Change, Guero is whimsical, light hearted, and lyrically absurd. The first track, 'E-Pro' grabs you right away with a catchy drumbeat boosted from the Beastie Boys' 'Whatcha Want'. 'E-Pro' is but one of several tracks on Guero that begs for hand clapping or at least some quality head bobbing.
Far from being a one trick pony, Guero is filled with tracks that blaze their own distinctive audio identity. As is usually the case with Beck's lyrics, deciphering the meaning is nigh on futility. But, listening to Guero is more about the mood and feeling each track elicits.
Guero is an album that will undoubtedly please any existing Beck fan (particularly anyone who enjoyed Odelay or Midnite Vultures). It is also a wonderful introduction for any neophyte Beck listeners. (BTW-In case you were wondering, 'Guero' is Spanish slang for a fair skinned or light haired person.) - Review of Beck: Guero by SF Station staff writer Matt Forsman
Beck has traveled light years from being pegged as a reluctant generational spokesperson when "Loser" metamorphosed from a rejected demo to a ubiquitous smash. Instead he wound up crystallizing much of the post-modern ruckus of the '90s alternative explosion, but in his own unpredictable manner: Beck's singular career has been one that's seen him utilize all manners and eras of music, blurring boundaries and blazing a path into the future while simultaneously foraging through the past.
----
It seems with every album, Beck pushes the envelope a little bit more and the depth of his talent and creativity has grown to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if his next album was polka covers of death metal.
In the case of his latest, Guero, he manages to create an album with 13 tracks that all seem to sound at least vaguely familiar and vaguely groundbreaking. Guero is a markedly different sounding album from his previous album, Sea Change.
Lacking the sad and mournful undertones that characterized Sea Change, Guero is whimsical, light hearted, and lyrically absurd. The first track, 'E-Pro' grabs you right away with a catchy drumbeat boosted from the Beastie Boys' 'Whatcha Want'. 'E-Pro' is but one of several tracks on Guero that begs for hand clapping or at least some quality head bobbing.
Far from being a one trick pony, Guero is filled with tracks that blaze their own distinctive audio identity. As is usually the case with Beck's lyrics, deciphering the meaning is nigh on futility. But, listening to Guero is more about the mood and feeling each track elicits.
Guero is an album that will undoubtedly please any existing Beck fan (particularly anyone who enjoyed Odelay or Midnite Vultures). It is also a wonderful introduction for any neophyte Beck listeners. (BTW-In case you were wondering, 'Guero' is Spanish slang for a fair skinned or light haired person.) - Review of Beck: Guero by SF Station staff writer Matt Forsman
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----
It seems with every album, Beck pushes the envelope a little bit more and the depth of his talent and creativity has grown to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if his next album was polka covers of death metal.
In the case of his latest, Guero, he manages to create an album with 13 tracks that all seem to sound at least vaguely familiar and vaguely groundbreaking. Guero is a markedly different sounding album from his previous album, Sea Change.
Lacking the sad and mournful undertones that characterized Sea Change, Guero is whimsical, light hearted, and lyrically absurd. The first track, 'E-Pro' grabs you right away with a catchy drumbeat boosted from the Beastie Boys' 'Whatcha Want'. 'E-Pro' is but one of several tracks on Guero that begs for hand clapping or at least some quality head bobbing.
Far from being a one trick pony, Guero is filled with tracks that blaze their own distinctive audio identity. As is usually the case with Beck's lyrics, deciphering the meaning is nigh on futility. But, listening to Guero is more about the mood and feeling each track elicits.
Guero is an album that will undoubtedly please any existing Beck fan (particularly anyone who enjoyed Odelay or Midnite Vultures). It is also a wonderful introduction for any neophyte Beck listeners. (BTW-In case you were wondering, 'Guero' is Spanish slang for a fair skinned or light haired person.) - Review of Beck: Guero by SF Station staff writer Matt Forsman
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