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Binding: Audio CDEAN: 0606949339326 Label: Interscope Manufacturer: Interscope MPN: 493393 Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Interscope Release Date: September 24, 2002 Studio: Interscope Editorial Review: Amazon.com: Beck is bummed. Really bummed. And if song titles such as "Lost Cause," "Lonesome Tears," "Already Dead," and "Nothing I Haven't Seen" don't make the point, his achingly sad lyrics and Sea Change's unerringly downcast sound do. While 1998's Mutations--arguably the singer-songwriter's masterwork and Sea Change's spiritual cousin--was filled with unflinching self-examination, moments of levity were found in songs like "Tropicalia." Not so on Sea Change. Beck's woozy, almost narcoleptic delivery seems to amplify the set's sense of ennui. But sad isn't necessarily bad, and despite the somber tone, there's much to praise, not the least of which is the return of producer Nigel Goderich (Mutations, Radiohead), who wraps Beck's gloom in a dreamy, warm blanket of soft strings and floating bleeps and gurgles. Like Daniel Lanois, Goderich is all about vibe, and even Beck's most bare-bones songs benefit from billowy atmospherics. That's especially true of "Paper Tiger," a restless, slowly building epic improbably propelled by a languid orchestra and Beck's expressionless drone. The inky black feel of "Round the Bend"--a glacially slow dirge with muffled vocals--may be the darkest thing Beck's ever written, not counting the very grim "Already Dead." Whatever's going on in Beck's world, at least we know he's purging, which, all things considered, may be better for his soul than ours. --Kim Hughes Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Beck's Talent Front and CenterBuried in most of Beck's music is actual ability to write songs and melody, once you strip away all those loops and trickery, songs are buried under there. Sea Change brings all this to the front with perhaps one of the best breakup albums ever written, and I say this owning albums going back 40 years and over 8,000 songs in my iTunes library. Sea Change never feels old, never feels dated, and is a brilliant late night album to put on and just ponder. I'd give it six stars if I could, it's that good. Rating:  - A Respectable Album From BeckSea Change marks Beck going into a territory some people probably would have never expected. Beck drops everything that made him loved (and hated): The tendencies to cram a gazillion styles into one song, his nonsensiclay lyrics, the quirky and irony style (and gimmick, for some times of it), and so on (granted, I don't exactly love this). IT's his most real album to date, an album with a lot of meaning. A real album detailing a hard time, like music should be. Catharis for Beck. A recipe for some ... Read More Rating: - Beck as confessional troubadourI never really liked Beck's music prior to Sea Change. His music just didn't resonate with me. It may have been fairly creative and original, but it was seriously lacking in warmth. Too much style and too little substance. Lost Cause, the first single off the album, surprised me, since it was much more of a folky singer / songwriter type of song. So I took a chance and bought Sea Change - a good decision. It's a beautiful piece of work that flows very nicely indeed, with tasteful production by Nigel Godrich ... Read More Rating: - Beck's best yetWho'd have thought it? Beck Hansen, the onetime ironic champion of ironic trash culture, has grown up. The Beck we see here eschews sampling and sarcasm entirely, and doesn't rap at all. Instead, the backing tracks are warm, and lush, and Beck switches from rapping to crooning in a gentle baritone inspired by Nick Drake. There's often an orchestra, but it never overwhelms the main focus: the lyrics. It's a breakup record, and it's the most genuine thing Beck ever put out. He doesn't do any screwing around, he ... Read More Rating: - Heady, heartfelt, terrifying in its honestyIf you are the kind of guy that likes music equal measures Dylan and Drake, don't mind a little grit mixed in with your smooth, and know what it means to be knocked out and unable to breathe when someone you love leaves you...well, then you will have an inkling about what kind of music Beck makes on this album, and very likely, you will love it. This is simply the most elegantly heartbreaking break-up album by one of the most eloquent songwriters of our time. The miracle and beauty of the album is that nothing ... Read More |
