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13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unfairly labeled a return to form, as he was always deadly, 29 Jul 2008
Like I said above, nearly all the reviews I've read for Modern Guilt have praised it as a return to form, "best since Sea Change", and that sort of garbage. Lazy, lazy journalism, particularly considering I read the exact same things about previous two albums (and bona fide clinkers) Guero and The Information. Where Modern Guilt outshines those albums is in its length, as both were at least twice as long as the half-hour Modern Guilt. That, and the music.
Which is fantastic. For reasons I don't understand, this Beck album took me the longest to get into. Well, of the ones I like. The less said about the boring Mellow Gold and the HIDEOUS Midnite Vultures the better. I was initially put off by how minimalist the album sounds. After about three listens, I was completely and utterly dependent on it. I couldn't do without it. Still can't. Strange that, isn't it? I think the reason for it is that I like the songs, or something.
Seriously though, the songs are fantastic. From the opener "Orphans" to closer "Volcano", there's not a duff moment on here. Plus, not one of the songs outstays its welcome. Once the verses, choruses and bridges have had their moment, its onto the next one. "Gamma Ray" is about the funnest song of the summer so far, "Chemtrails" has some incredible drumming and eerie vocals, "Modern Guilt" is relentlessly catchy, "Youthless" and "Replica" sound like Guero culls, "Walls" could pass for a Gnarls Barkley song (thanks Danger Mouse), "Soul of a Man" is sleazy as anything, "Profanity Prayers" is a super-happy bass fest and "Volcano" is perfect. The songs are as sparse as the artwork, but Beck doesn't need to layer his songs full of washboard solos and Schubert to be great. Modern Guilt's your proof.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
10 songs, 34 minutes, one of his best!, 5 Dec 2008
One thing is for sure that when you buy a Beck album, you never really know what to expect, such is the multi-faceted nature of the artist, and you definitely have to approach most of his albums with an open mind. If 'Modern Guilt' could be compared with any of his previous albums, then many of the songs are closest to the melodic melancholy of 'Sea Change', but with added beats, giving this release a fresh, original sound but with all the characteristics of what makes Beck's music so aurally appealing. Danger Mouse's production matches musical influences often steeped in the late 60's and early 70's with up-front, contemporary percussion, giving much of the album a split-personality sense of laid-back, detached urgency - and it is certainly an interesting combination.
There are plenty of excellent tracks here. The album opener, 'Orphans', featuring Cat Power, is a dark and restrained, but undeniably catchy, composition which could have come straight from 'Odelay'. 'Gamma Ray' has all the hallmarks of a classic modern psychedelic dance track, 'Chemtrails' is a swirling, psychedelic piece of lyrical paranoia and misery, while the title track, 'Modern Guilt' matches a classy, strings-embellished song which could have easily been lifted straight from Elliott Smith's songbook, if it wasn't for the impossibly jaunty beat. The other track to really demand my attention and capture my imagination is the last song, 'Volcano', which is a beautiful piece of dark, alternative folk and, once more, leaves me feeling like Elliott Smith is, in fact, alive and well.
Not every single track on this album is pure brilliance, in fact, there is a bit of a mid-album lull where the music merely gets close to ordinary, but it is the album's punchy 34 minute length consisting of just ten songs which makes this album a real winner and makes it one of Beck's more instantly likeable releases, proving that less sometimes really is more. I've enjoyed all of Beck's albums since 'Odelay' - with the exception of 'Midnite Vultures' - but I'd have to say I have enjoyed this one more than most.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beck Power, 13 Jul 2008
The most impressive Beck record since Sea Change, for this genre bending artist has finally produced a record that, rather than land erratically at whatever musical influence echoes his current feelings, is a culmination of all his styles. Melodic folk, post-modern alternative indie, whatever you call it, it's brilliant.
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