WhatzUp

Sea Change
Beck
by Chad Beck

For those who have yet to be impressed by the chameleon known as Beck, now is the time. If you somehow overlooked his 1994 debut Mellow Gold, chalking it up to a “Loser” one-hit wonder, well … you were so, so wrong. Mellow Gold was only a hint of the abstract genius Beck was about to unfold upon the world. His official sophomore release, Odelay, turned out to be completely unique and excellent, yielding brilliance like “Where It’s At,” “Jackass,” and “Devil’s Haircut.” Beck’s career is certainly impressive, even if you stopped it all at that point. (He also released several other records at this time on smaller, lesser-known labels.) He didn’t end it there, though, releasing the gorgeous Mutations in 1998 and then making an album Prince wished he had, the super-sexy Midnight Vultures in 1999. Which brings us to the present, where Beck has decided to get sentimental and Dylan-esque (Blood On The Tracks, anyone?) with the introspective Sea Change. One might think this boy wonder finally overstepped his bounds by releasing such fare; however, Sea Change looks to be his finest work yet.

The first thing one notices about Sea Change is how much it doesn’t rock. This isn’t the place to hear Beck do his funky, white-boy soul groove.

Instead, the album has a quiet, melancholic feel, even mellower than Mutations. Providing lush background for personal—even gushy—lyrics, the music on Sea Change could best be summed as acoustic orchestration. Beck’s dad is responsible for the marvelous string arrangements, and other seasoned players help him round out the softness without getting too mushy or boring. Tracks like “Already Dead” and “Sunday Sun” swoon with a not-so peaceful-easy feeling, and it sounds wonderful. The strings on “Lonesome Tears”, one of many standout tracks, are the album’s musical highlight, building and falling into a serene atmosphere that is both psychedelic and comforting.

While becoming more secure with quieter fare, Beck has also grown accustomed to spilling his guts, which he does with more finesse than songwriters like Ryan Adams and Norah Jones, for example. Sea Change begins by waving goodbye to a lover (“The Golden Age”) and ends with unresolved emotion (“Side of The Road”). Sure, Beck’s nasally whine doesn’t exactly translate into the perfect crooner, but his passionate delivery makes up for the faulty technicalities. More than any other track on Sea Change, “Guess I’m Doing Fine” sums up Beck’s current mood: “There’s a bluebird at the window / I can’t hear the songs he sings / All the jewels in heaven / They don’t look the same to me / I just wait for tides to turn / Though I learn to leave the past behind / It’s only lies that I’m living / It’s only tears that I’m crying / It’s only you that I’m losing / Guess I’m doing fine.” Words from a man wise beyond his years, music from above, Sea Change is an understated winner.