The new Beck CD is out today. I'm stopping by the store after work today to get a copy. I've read a bunch of good reviews of it but haven't heard any parts of it. Has anyone gotten an advanced copy or stopped by the store earlier today and want to share some thoughts on it? Murf
I've had a copy for a few weeks and I think it's great. It's mainly him, a guitar, and a bunch of strings. Think of Nick Drake, but not nearly as introspective or depressing. I really like it alot.
I dig it. My initial thought is that this is Beck's "Harvest". After dabbling in hip-hop and funk, this is his stab at alt-country.
Well, I've now been listening to it for a day and a half. Certainly not enough time to fully digest it but long enough to give a few initial thoughts. I like the sound a lot. I'm a big fan of alt-country (Lambchop, Scud Mountain Boys, Health & Happiness Show, etc.) and get a shiver in my spine from a beautiful note on a pedal steel guitar, so this album definitely feeds that fever. I miss the samples that Beck used to mix into his songs because he did a good job of it and it kept the songs fresh. There isn't a lot of variety in the sound between each of the songs which makes me wonder if I'll grow tired of it more quickly than Mutations. My biggest complaint, so far, is the vocals. They are rather muddy. He dropped his voice a few octaves, kind of like Dylan on Nashville Skyline. But now his voice seems to be on the same sound level as the instruments which combined with a slight slurring of the words makes the vocals muddy. I'm usually not picky about vocals and subscribe to the Silver Jews line about "All my favorite singers couldn't sing". But I still enjoy like to be able to understand the lyrics. "Lost Cause" is my favorite song so far. Murf