Premature Evaluation: Beck - Modern Guilt
It's been some time since we learned Modern Guilt, Beck Hansen's eighth album, would be some sort of psych rock minimalist '60s trip with Danger Mouse. Since then, we've gotten a look at the old-school jazz/Blue Note-style cover art and a listen to the smeary, phased, chill-out Caribou-on-Brian Wilson sounds of "Chemtrails" along with both the more upbeat "Gamma Ray" (note the Lilys/Deerhunter/etc.-style background vocal echo behind the thwapping groove) and the spaced-out hazy folk of Chan Marshall-guesting "Orphans." There's even a Modern Guilt-teasing trailer. That said, listening to all 10 tracks in a sitting fleshes out Beck and DM's aesthetic, allowing you to spot echoes and overlaps.
Some of us prefer the funky faux-rapping fun Beck (Odelay, Midnight Vultures), while others of us are digging Modern Guilt's darker, moodier vibe: The title track's scratchy, hissy rat-a-tat and funk underside (and "Baby Britain" pulses), "Walls"'s apocalyptic political message for the blanker generation ("You've got warheads stacked in the kitchen / You treat distraction like an instant religion ... Hey, what are you gonna do when those walls are falling down / Falling down on you?") set to a glitch-y strut, Danger Mouse's deep/fuzzed/often ghostly production. On the glitch tip, the revved up drum 'n' bassing of "Replica" is a rhythmic and production outlier here, remarkable for those reasons, and for its melodic turns: even if the track itself comes out more like an interstitial studio sketch piece than a truly memorable bit of writing, and even if the production techniques therein leave the '60s in the dust, the melodies are still rooted in the preadvertised era of psych and faded photos. Sticking to the concept, these guys.
This Beck is mournful mode -- we've seen it before, and it still suits him well: all sorts of "Walls" falling down around him but never too bummed to dial up great drum sounds, closing the album with a "Volcano" that sees him "drifting on this wave so long," knowing that crashing is not an "if" but a when. It's a Sea Change-ing moment that seals the collection in bittersweet gauze, and though it confesses being directionless, his art has never been more on point.
Modern Guilt is not all perfect, and it doesn't always match the crazy goodness of the advance song streams, but it's given us the first Beck album since 2002's Sea Change that we're digging almost from start to finish. And it's given us instant classic Beck turns via that grand slam, opening four track sequence. The fact that Beck can still parallel his highest moments eight LPs in as strong a testament to his enduring genius that we could ask for. With that we're putting "Gamma Ray" on the Happy-Birthday-America BBQ playlist. You should, too.
Modern Guilt is out in Europe and the UK on 7/7 via XL and in North America on 7/8 via DGC. Congratulate Beck in person:
8/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
8/24 - Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphiteater
8/30 - Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot Festival
9/20 - Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
9/27 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
Posted at 2:33 PM by stereogum in Premature Evaluation
Tags: Beck | Danger Mouse
I too have heard the album, and I totally agree. I think it's great.
(P.S., Hollywood isn't actually its own city, it's actually part of Los Angeles. So putting down "Hollywood, CA" isn't really proper. Just FYI. And I'm going to that show at the Bowl. SO excited!)
Score = -4
I hate to support a Scientologist, but this album does sound pretty good. The Bob Dylanesque album cover is cool, too.
Score = -7
Just a mention of Lilys anywhere in/online deserves one 'thanks'. Thanks.
Score = 0
Can we all just shut up about the scientologist thing?
All religion is a bit...hm...perhaps skeptical?
Score = 7
Scientology isn't a religion, it's a cult. Religions don't encourage people to take out mortgages on their homes to pay for their "courses". I think. I hope.
Score = 2
Eh, I don't think there's really much point in a conversation about which religion ask it's members for some ridiculous compensation. Judging a man's music based on his personal beliefs is a little much for me. Someone's religion might be weird to us, but their music or art form shouldn't suffer for it.
Score = 10
Scientology is a dangerous cult. Beck wants to get out. Read this:
http://lermanet.com/beck/
Score = -1
I think the word you're looking for is "suspect." Properly: X is skeptical of Y because Y is suspect. Just, you know, FYI (so that you don't make a fool out of yourself like this in public again).
Score = -2
ha ha ha, if you act and think really immaturely, it sorta looks like the guy on the right is holding his ding dong!
Score = 7
Scientologist, Seek, Southern Baptist, Roman Catholic, Hindu, Rastafarian....
It's all a crutch for prople who like to follow direction.
Becks new album is fruckin' Frantastic. No joke about the 1st 4 songs. Maybe 5 actually but...
I AM SO GLAD THIS LEAKED BEFORE THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!
It's nice to be able to pre-order an album and not need worry whether or not it would arrive on "new release tuesday"! AHHHH>>> my weekend is SET!
Score = -5
you people are crazy... this album cover blows. Yeah, let's look at people's legs and a bare studio floor. give me a high jumping dude in a big rug costume any day.
Score = -16
It's actually a real dog (a komondor) on the cover of Odelay...
Score = 6
Any experts want to tell me what font is used on the album cover?
Score = 0
try asking about it here:
http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/
Score = 3
Nice link killachika!
The best match I found for the font using their tool is "Helvetica 75 Bold". [http://tinyurl.com/helvetica]
Score = 0
It's either 'Creeper' or 'Staccato'
Score = 1
that MUST be helvetica.
great album review / evaluation. the cd is great, i bought it at the show in amsterdam and .... hell yeah.
Score = 0
its the same font as the album cover for highway 61...
Score = 0
What's a 'Seek'?
Score = 4
He means Sikh...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh
Score = 6
"'Youthless"'s apocalyptic political message for the blanker generation ('You've got warheads stacked in the kitchen / You treat distraction like an instant religion ... Hey, what are you gonna do when those walls are falling down / Falling down on you?') set to a glitch-y strut"
That's not "Youthless". You're referencing the lyrics from "Walls".
Score = 3
You're right. Fixed. (And, of course, thanks...)
Score = 1
Y'know, I really like this record a lot.
Score = 1
i'm all over this one as well
Score = 0
Real nice marriage between Beck and Danger Mouse. It works.
Score = 2
Where can Danger Mouse's touch even be heard? I ask in honesty rather than sarcastically.
Score = 0
"I AM SO GLAD THIS LEAKED BEFORE THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!
It's nice to be able to pre-order an album and not need worry whether or not it would arrive on "new release tuesday"! AHHHH>>> my weekend is SET! "
shockadow, if you are serious, you really need to get a life.
And that's coming from a big Beck fan!
Score = -15
It's good, but it's not nearly as good as The Information, which is criminally underrated. I guess I prefer funky Beck to emo Beck.
Score = -8
Not sure what you mean by emo beck (the new album is great) but I agree with you on The Information
Score = 4
emo beck? ya, he's never touched on that genre. this album is gorgeous
Score = 10
this album sounds like a mix between gnarls barkley and thom yorke's "the eraser" with beck on vocals. aka, it is great.
Score = 0
I love Beck.
This album is really good; I have a feeling it'll take a few listens to really grow on me.
Score = 0
I feel like "Modern Guilt," "Sea Change," and "Mutations" are all part of an unintentional musical trilogy. I could be wrong though. Anyway, great record.
Score = 5
If this is the case, it's almost too good to be true. "Mutations" and "Sea Change" are still my favorite two Beck albums.
Score = 0
I'm on th funky beck tip as well. "gamma ray" is great, but the rest of the record is D-U-L-L.
Score = -5
"You treat distraction like an instant religion"
hehehe.. no, too easy.
Score = 2
http://frequenzeindipendenti.blogspot.com/2008/07/beck-modern-guilt.html
Score = -3
yesh, it sounds like cows making love under the full moon.
Score = 1
the guy on the right is beck, there's nothing in his hands
Score = -1
Beck - Modern Guilt
1) Orphans - Jam
2) Gamma Ray - Jam
3) Chemtrails - Jam
4) Modern Guilt - Jam
5) Youthless - Jam
6) Walls - Jam
7) Replica - Crap!
8) Soul of A Man - Jam
9) Profanity Prayers - MONSTER JAM
10) Volcano - Crap!
Jam To Crap Score: 10/30 - *33.3%*
Score = -12
volcano and replica are two of my favorite songs off of this album! chemtrails is in the running for all-time favorite beck songs, though.
Score = 3
It's a great Beck *band* album, like Beck as a band. Though I can't believe sterogum didn't enjoy The Information from start to finish, that album is highly underrated. And just now as I scroll up, I see Scott agrees with me. Good on you, friend.
Score = 1
does anybody know why albums these days are all recieving the "dangermouse production bump?" it just seems that when discussing the new beck album someone will feel obligated to say "...and you know, it was produced by dangermouse." firstly, thats no secret. and secondly, while thats fine and all, is it THAT significant? does it mean that the new beck album would sound worse without it? does it mean that beck has run out of ideas and needs to enlist the help of dangermouse to alter his sound? personally, i feel that it kind of discredits the artist for perhaps wanting to push their music in a new direction. especially with modern guilt, it seems as if beck had a clear intensions of having it tinged with the 60's sound. was that his idea, or dangermouses'? the same thing happened with the black keys. people were too busy fussing over the production to think maybe the black keys had something to do with wanting to move their sound into new territory. overall, it just kind of seems gimmicky to have your album produced by dangermouse ,or some clever marketing ploy, or at the very least, just the "hip" thing to do.
or just ask anyone who commented on the Eno production of the coldplay album.
Score = -2
The point isn't whether or not it would have sounded better or worse with or without Danger Mouse behind the boards. The point is that it would have sounded different. Artists seek out specific producers for specific reasons -- we have no way of knowing if Beck chose DM for collaboration or for aesthetics.
It is completely unfair to write off the role a producer has in crafting an album. People bring Brian Eno up when talking about the new Coldplay album because it sounds unlike anything they have released, and Eno is synonymous with pushing the envelope with his production (not that Viva pushed any envelopes other than Coldplay's own).
Look at Beck's albums: Odelay was produced by the Dust Brothers -- sample heavy, gritty, genre-hopping. Listen to the precise crispness (especially in the drums) and the space each instrument has on Sea Change and the Information. You can thank Nigel Godrich for that (see similar aesthetic output with Radiohead (namely Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows), Talkie Walkie and Pocket Symphony by Air, and his work with Zero 7, Charlotte Gainsborough, and even the last Paul McCartney album. Danger Mouse brought all those keys to the Black Keys album and you can hear his hand in the psychedelic swirls, vintage drums, and crisp bass tones of Modern Guilt.
Score = 7
i don't disagree that each producer brings something distinct to the table regardless of the artist (and you do raise some very good examples) nor do i "completely write off" the contribution that the producer makes to the record. my problem is when the production overshadows the artist and the record itself. people draw more attention to the production and how it contributed to the record rather than what the artist brought to the record, which ultimately should be the main focus. it almost seems as if people are more likely to investigate the record because dangermouse is producing it. initiallly dangermouse made his name in hip-hop with the grey album and the being that guy in gnarles barkley. but when he paired up with the black keys people were more attracted to the album because of the unlikely pairing of an ultra-raw blooze rock band with someone predominantly involved in hip-hop. instead of attack and release being a black keys record it became a dangermouse record which the black keys had something or other to do with. ultimately dangermouse recieved more credit/attention/whatever than the keys. regardless of the production, the artists are the ones writing, playing, performing the tunes. shouldn't they recieve the attention? and on top of that recieve attention on the merits of their abitlity?
People talk about eno and dangermouse because their names are recognizable. it's a discrete way of having a popular artist endorse the record, but still getting loads of recognition from the potential listeners.
whatever. i guess it's a win-win for both the artist and the producer. it's just a little depressing to realize that an artist relies on a producer to sound a certain way.
Score = 0
A bit unrelated, but here's something you all might want to know: Thom Yorke and My Bloody Valentine supposedly dropped a digital-only collaboration EP. I was skeptical about it's authenticity at first when I found it, but Wikipedia's Thom Yorke page says it came out in July (which is now) so I guess it's true? It has 4 tracks: The collaboration, a Shields edit, a Yorke edit and an "Ambient Dronze Super Fuzz" edit.
Score = -7
It could also very likely be fake since the information on the Yorke Wiki page has since been removed. With a little help from sampling and remixing, someone could easily do that with Yorke's vocals and MBV's sound. If you want to check it out yourself, it's on tehmuzic.org (Not that I actually download anything from there.)
Score = -4
Oh yeah, this is so fake. It's Thom's vocals sampled/reversed from "Reckoner" mixed with MBV undecipherable distortion. False alarm. Sorry everyone.
Score = -2
Oh yeah, this is so fake. It's Thom's vocals sampled/reversed from "Reckoner" mixed with undecipherable MBV distortion. False alarm. Sorry everyone. That site is usually authentic stuff otherwise (although it baffles me that it's still around in this age of cracking down on leaks.)
Score = -2
Why would anyone want to start such a rumor like that? Rumors hurt you know... Don't you know I am on tour right now, anyway, and can't defend these falsities? Next, you're going to tell me that you didn't even get tickets to one of our shows --What's that? You didn't??? Ohhh, how you are making my my clubbed foot hurt alongside my heart...
Score = 3
Bought it today at the FNAC (few days earlier than announced?) and I do totally agree it's the best Beck LP since Sea Change, but in the meantime he left us a bunch of great songs... can't forget the recent Timebomb or a few remixes from Guerolito, nor "Girl", "Black Tambourine", "Think I'm in Love", "Nausea"...
Score = 0
Yeah, as a huge Beck supporter I could live with a few missteps on the past two albums, but the new one is really good.
Score = 0
so he's done with junk?
cause even nausea sounded junky, mixed with the direction he seems to want to be going...
oh beck, you're so dark and mysterious,
calling for the end of the world and putting it to dark and mysterious music and all
well, i like it anyways
Score = 0
Jeeeeeesus. How can so many dumb assholes find the same thread?
I think the album is pretty solid so far. The title track blows everything else out of the water IMO.
Score = -1
Yeah i didn't like The Information as much as his previous albums, I actually think Guero is my favorite Beck album (strange?) but Modern Guilt is amazing too. And yes i wish i could notice more Danger Mouse.
Score = -2
uh dude, it's spelled 'Sikh'
Score = 1
yay good music!
Score = 2
I know I'm jumping in late here, but if you're interested... I also wrote a review for 'Modern Guilt' and got into cover art analysis and why this album might be a middle finger to the industry(comment for a shot @ a free copy of the album):
http://blog.ourstage.com/2008/07/15/things-beck-left-behind-a-review-of-becks-new-album-modern-guilt/
Score = 0