Beck - Modern Guilt (Album)
You have to respect Beck. He is a prolific master craftsman with a track record. Modern Guilt is Beck’s eighth LP since his debut record, Mellow Gold, which came out in 1994. Eight records in 14 years! Let’s put that in context. Since the Chili Peppers 1995 album One Hot Minute, they have released just three other albums. But as my girlfriend reassuringly tells me, it’s not always about the size of your… discography. It’s about the quality of performance. And with Modern Guilt, Beck proves he is still able to churn out great track after great track with seemingly effortless grace.
The album, which opens with the layered junkyard sing-along Orphans, is a departure from The Information, which was released in 2006. It’s somewhat less immediate, despite there being occasional references back to Beck’s earlier material, such as Odelay and Midnight Vultures. But Modern Guilt is fresh. The maturity in Beck’s melodies adds to the authority of the songs. Highlights include the bopping Gamma Ray, the instantly familiar Chemtrails, and the dirty Soul Of A Man.
Other reviewers of this album have accused Beck of failing to provide the kind of whacky compositional theatrics he first came to fame with. Thank God! The man is an artist and has allowed his sound to evolve. Try and keep up you lazy, nay-saying, close-minded, blindly-nostalgic fools! I was unsure when I heard Beck was collaborating with Danger Mouse on this album, because I was sure it would provide the perfect formula for a rehash of what Beck has done before. And while his sound on this record does reference his earlier work to some degree, it still manages to be yet another step forward down a path of lyrical exploration and fresh arrangements.
I love Beck. It’s no secret. I admire him because he is proof that bands can be prolific, without being lazy. He makes every song count, and that dedication makes Modern Guilt a brilliant listen.
