Beck
The Information
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AMG Review of The Information
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music GuideBeck began work on 2006's The Information after Sea Change but before he reunited with the Dust Brothers for 2005's Guero, eventually finishing the album after Guero was generally acclaimed as a return to Odelay form. So, it shouldn't come as a great surprise that The Information falls somewhere between those two records, at least on sonic terms. Musically, it's certainly a kindred spirit to Guero, meaning that it hearkens back to the collage of loose-limbed, quirky white-boy funk-ock and ap that brought Beck fame at the peak of the alt-rock revolution, with hints of the psychedelia of Mutations and the folk-rock that was the basis for Sea Change. Since this is a Nigel Godrich production, it's meticulous and precise even when it wants to give the illusion of spontaneity, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since it also pulls the album into focus, something that the generally fine Guero could have used. Guero had many strengths, but its biggest weakness was the general sense that it was unfinished, a suspicion fostered by its endless issues in deluxe editions and remixes. Beck embraced these changes, most extravagantly on the cover of Wired, where he was hailing the future of the album, which would now no longer be seen as finished: it would be a project that covered a certain amount of time, the artist would package it one way, then listeners would offer their own spin. That is precisely what Guero turned out to be, so it would have made sense that The Information would run further down that field, particularly because it has a design-your-own-art for its cover and is supplemented by a DVD filled with quick-n-dirty videos for each of its songs. But Beck isn't so easily pigeonholed: as it turns out, The Information is far more of a proper album than Guero, coming fully equipped with recurring themes and motifs, feeling every bit the concept album Sea Change was. Credit might go partially to his collaboration with Godrich -- who is nothing if not a taskmaster, helping to sharpen and focus erratic talents like Paul McCartney and Stephen Malkmus (for good in the former, not as good in the latter) -- but this also feels like the work of a refocused Beck, who shook off the cobwebs by reuniting with the Dust Brothers, thereby getting his "return to Odelay form" notices out of the way, and then getting down to the real work here on The Information, as he tackles the hyper-saturated info-world of the new millennium here.
If it initially seems like surprises are in short supply on The Information -- even when the tracks take a left turn, it doesn't feel like Beck and Godrich are wandering off the map -- the craft is strong and assured, and closer listens reveal the depth of the detail within the album, whether it's in the construction of the production or how those productions illuminate Beck's themes. Ever the obscurist, Beck's meanings aren't always crystal clear, which is no doubt deliberate, but his overall intent is easier to ascertain, especially when "Cellphone's Dead" juts up against "Nausea." There's a greater sense of craft here, and while craft isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Beck, it's what happens when an eccentric sticks around for over a decade: he turns pro. He's done his exploring and now he's learning how to apply what he's discovered. While this may have the inevitable side effect of making his music a little less bracing and exciting, at least on first listen -- and that's especially true when he's in his pop chameleon mode as he is here, since it often seemed like his collages were quickly thrown together instead of immaculately assembled as they are here -- it nevertheless makes for a well-constructed, intriguing, and satisfying album, which The Information assuredly is. Upon first listen, it might seem to slide by a little bit on texture and sound instead of song, but that doesn't necessarily mean it feels even as groove-oriented and hip-hop-driven as Guero (let alone Midnite Vultures), despite the fact that many of the best tracks are built on muscular, intricate rhythms, like the dense, paranoid "Nausea" or the opening fanfare of "Elevator Music." But those further listens -- something that a neo-concept album like this demands anyway -- reveal the complexity within the productions, and how Beck is bridging the two sides of his personality, finding a common ground between his folk roots and art rock sides. All those little details give each cut a dramatic flow, and as the cuts pile up, they all add up to something. Like a picture where you have to stare intently to find the hidden item buried in a seas of colored dots, it can be far too easy on The Information to look at the individual dots and not see the big picture -- but at least here the dots are interesting in and of themselves. And if you give it time, The Information eventually reveals itself as Beck's tightest, most purposeful album yet.
Beck & Syd ????
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Anybody else notice more than just a slight influence of syd barrett on beck ??
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My Top 10 for 2006
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Ok....I have been working on my list for Top 10 releases for 2006, starting early, so I can start moving on into 2007 without looking back..I have really been struggling with who is on my Top 10 and the order. To be honest, I really liked several different releases equally, so its pretty difficult to choose...Of course, I did not listen to every release and I have my usual favorites and biases...
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First Blog
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Hey all, I am an Arizona native currently living in Germany. In my spare time (when I'm not doing my real job), I am pretty much a music nerd and really like bands like Radiohead, Beck, Calexico, Elliot Smith, Queens of the Stone Age, Death Cab for Cutie, and have been getting into a bunch of Indie bands lately. I like all kinds of other music to include Jazz, Bossa Nova, Clasical, House/DJ, ot...
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beck, live
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i just saw beck live in toronto, with live marionette puppets dressed exactly like the band, if you ever have a chance to see him live, do it, don't think twice.
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Mog.com....where free time comes to die!
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There is no better place than this site to kill time...as most of you can probably attest to! My new routine for listening to new stuff is to do so while scrolling down the mog-o-sphere...i feel at home!!Ok...finishing this beer then its off to the Strokes...I will try and document all of the pseudo-hipness happening there...i end up taking as many pics of interesting looking concert goers at s...
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"A Little Beck with Your Halloween Candy?":http://www.thestore24.com/Music/Album.aspx?p_id=P++++43291&a_id=R+++859047&PersonID=P%20%20%20%2043291&prodid=ISCB000757600.2&si=rhino
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...if you're into Beck's music/ humor / taste in couture, KCRW (89.9 FM) is going to air an interview and live session at 11PM on Halloween night (10/31, Pacific Standard)-- I'd imagine one would be able to "listen online here.":http://www.kcrw.com/ ...if they want to choke on the splinters outside the LA airspace...
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Funky Beck Transmission
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This latest Beck has been my favorite new disc for at least the past 2-3 months. I love this track, funky with some surreal rhyming. The Dust Bros. and Beck are also kicking it musically with a Herbie Hancock variation and this exotic Beach Boys harmony break. Genius!
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Download Binge Pt V, Final
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Healthier than cheese whiz, less aggrivating than your neighbor, and as satisfying as watching someone trip - here's the last installment of my 7 day download binge:............................................................................................................................*Beck* - ??The Information?? (recommended by no one in particular, I just thought I'd give it a shot)-ehhh- ...
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Beck & Syd ????
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Anybody else notice more than just a slight influence of syd barrett on beck ??
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Beck's new one.
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First listen on the advanced but my initial impression is that it's very good.Feels more together than Guero. I want to say it's his best since Midnite Vultures but that might give you the wrong impression (as I completely loved Sea Change) but it's much more groove-able than that release. Guero was the lead up to this one. You know what? I'll go out on a limb to predict my near-future opinion ...
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Waaa
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Who is going to the Download Festival here in SF? Thinking about missing Beck (a-gain), I want to cry. Just have to hold out until 10/3 for "The Information"...so stoked. And it looks like Beck has a stache in the 'We Dance Alone' video. But not like this one: That's your boy, right there: Elmar. Can you believe?
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Not So Silly Love Songs
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I'm not normally a huge Beck fan...I fall into what is probably a pretty small camp of folk that think he's a bit overrated.BUUUUUT...this is one of my all time favorite songs. With the bad luck I've had in past relationships, "I think I'm in love,But it makes me kinda nervous to say so" resonates strongly with me....
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Cover of Beck's Upcoming Album
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Just read that Beck's new album "The Information" will supposedly ship with a sheet of stickers so that people can make their own album cover.Fun!!!This will probably be the first new physical cd I buy in my post itunes/ipod world.
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Nausea
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What a great single. I fucking love Beck. The dude may be a Scientologist, but he's always welcome to put out new stuff. Why can't everyone else sound like Beck?If you haven't heard 'Nausea,' you can check it out here. It's not an official video, but the song is there in full. It sounds so organic, like they're playing it on the street.
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My Top 10 for 2006
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Ok....I have been working on my list for Top 10 releases for 2006, starting early, so I can start moving on into 2007 without looking back..I have really been struggling with who is on my Top 10 and the order. To be honest, I really liked several different releases equally, so its pretty difficult to choose...Of course, I did not listen to every release and I have my usual favorites and biases...
More >
The New Beck
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Normally I'd post about an album only after listening to it enough times to really form a solid opinion. Seeing as how this came out today though, I'm really curious to know how it's being received by you guys. And I'm sure there are other posts about the album in the mog-o-sphere already, but my ego can't be sated just posting responses to other people's mog entries.Basically, I'm really gonna...
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First Blog
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Hey all, I am an Arizona native currently living in Germany. In my spare time (when I'm not doing my real job), I am pretty much a music nerd and really like bands like Radiohead, Beck, Calexico, Elliot Smith, Queens of the Stone Age, Death Cab for Cutie, and have been getting into a bunch of Indie bands lately. I like all kinds of other music to include Jazz, Bossa Nova, Clasical, House/DJ, ot...
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Good Ol' Beck
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While I'm not as into Beck as I used to be, I still love a lot of his stuff, especially this track, which is from his most recent album, The Information.Not a big fan of everything on the album (I liked Guero better), but I do enjoy some of the songs on it. This one's probably, for me, the best track on it. It kinda sounds... I don't know. Like he went into a studio one day, and picked up some ...
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 "The Information")
