Sea Change
July 3, 2007
"Sea Change," by Beck
Geffen/Interscope Records, 2002
Fresh from his high energy, yet fundamentally flawed 1970s-style party album, "Midnight Vultures," Beck released this work of uncommon beauty and elegance. An album of fairly straightforward songs done in a heavy Nick Drake mold, Beck strips most of his usual oddball lyrical obsessions away in favor of a more personal approach. This is not to say the album is a complete departure for him. Genres still mix and blend in an interesting amalgamation, yet instead of the heady brew of funk, world beat and whatever else is on his mind at the time, the focus here is decidedly low-key. "Paper Tiger" is a gentle piece of music marked by almost frantic string arrangements that build to a crescendo that is thrilling on a small scale. "Lost Cause" sounds almost like cosmopolitan country, the sound of that brief period when some country artists aimed for elegance rather than grit. The album overall is a muted yet powerful collection of songs, held together by the spacy, intimate production. A subtle, pleasant masterpiece.
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