Guero

More Beck. Just meandering, wishy-washy alternative bleh that goes forever. This is a problem with the 1001 albums list: the complete lack of imagination. Beck had one semi-hit in the 90s, so the author latches on and includes a bunch more albums. It's really noticeable with those Gen X darling alternative artists - Beck, Bjork, Fiona Apple etc. None of them are particularly good songwriters, they never have albums that make for an enjoyable 45min or whatever, they've never done anything of note beyond the 1-2 things they're well-known for, but here they are. They're a step above one-hit wonders, but not by much. 2/5.

This list loves Beck - is this album 3 or 4? - but I don’t quite get it. There’s a few cool tracks but nothing really moves you or stands out.

10/10 I seriously love how Beck is just doing whatever he wants constantly jumping between all these amazing different styles it’s amazing

Hard to follow up to the very popular Maiden album. I suspect this one might not catch as much. This is one of my fav albums by this artist. I’ve listened to it a hundred times and there might be a spectrum of “growing on you” with repeated listenings. I had pirated a leak of it back in 2005 and listened to it a lot. When the final album dropped, it was enhanced by all sorts of production accents and small tweaks to the mix. Beck is good at finding cool sounding combinations of sounds and words (I love when he says “cliche wasted hate taste tested in Hell Yess). You may recognize the artwork on the album; it was done by winnipegger Marcel Dzama who also did the art for Reconstruction Site by the Weakerthans just a couple of years prior. Musically, I think beck is at his best here imo. I really like when he goes the pop/rock route and this album has something for everyone. A lot of the songs are danceable. Epro has a badass riff that’s fun to jam along to. A good amount of nonsense lyrics which I respect beck for. I really like the song Missing because it is lovingly melancholy, something that Beck can do very well in previous records like Sea Change. I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more beck on this list!!

This album is pretty sweet. The style is all over the place and really keeps things interesting. Starts off with a Rock Band classic that's pretty decent if a bit repetitive. Very catchy chorus of course. He sounds like he attempts to sing while using as few facial muscles as possible, perhaps he is a ventriloquist on the side. I'm less of a fan of the rap tracks but honestly they're still pretty good. For some reason I really jive with the chorus to Hell Yes, for example. Great bass line on that song too. A highlight for me is Farewell Ride which is a pretty awesome song that just puts me on a worksite building a railroad in the wild west. I would not be surprised if this track was part of the inspiration for the Breaking Bad theme song. Honestly not a lot to say. No major lowlights. Just a solid album through and through. Maybe I'll check out more of his stuff.

That rich kid from high school who acted weird because he has the money to get away with it. I do like early Beck but this began to drag

One of Beck's best and most consistent albums. I actually think the weakest tracks are the first 2. E-pro is by no means a bad song but after playing it for years on guitar hero and the fact that the song doesn't really go anywhere makes it a strange and not the best opener. Guero is a better song imo but sometimes I'm just not in the mood to hear all the constant background noises. They do lend the song it's vibe though. I think every other song on this thing is a banger. The styles vary from crazy silly Beck to chill and serene Beck to experimental and melancholy Beck. Everything is on here and I honestly think this is a good place to start if you've never heard his music before. Love this album Score: 90 Art: 70

Tre ord. In te kul.

Beck is just awesome. I scored Odelay high, and I'll score this high. Great album all in all.

This album has a lot of ideas that I usually really like, but, somehow, the way that Beck has combined these ideas has resulted in an end product that I can't stand in any way.

great stuff

This hits all the same eclectic alt/electro/hip-hop notes that early Gorillaz does for me. In other words, i fucking LOVED this.

Excellent on first listen, new and varied sounds. Great mix between hip/hop, rock, and electronic. Will definitely listen again

Beck has been getting crazy with the Cheez whiz for as long as I can remember

Fun album that is definitely of it's time. Beck can be an acquired taste with his spoken vocals and arrangements. When it hits, it hits. Earthquake Weather and Farewell Ride are highlights. This sounds like the soundtrack to living in a Motorola Razr with inflatable furniature.

Absolute ear candy. More than anything it just sounds so good

I’m a Beck fan, but this is a middle of the pack album from him. Starts off strong, then loses steam about midway through. It’s not surprising it was removed from subsequent editions of the book. It’s a good, enjoyable album, but it doesn’t rise to the level of his best work.

Play that funky music white boy

How influential is this album? Who is still talking about it, or any song from it? What did this album do that Beck hasn't done before? How many albums from regions this list essentially ignores deserves a spot on a list of influential albums over this? How many albums from genres not represented here deserve it more? I would say, honestly, thousands. It's not the worst album I heard. But it is the first to make me seriously reconsider the entire exercise

I absolutely love Guero. I've been a fan of this album since high school, so nostalgia is definitely helping there. I used to love the upbeat songs most (E-Pro, Hell Yes, Rental Car, Black Tambourine), these days I love the slow, melancholic songs most (Missing, Earthquake Weather, Broken Drum, Go It Alone). My taste has changed yet this album still delivers.

Loved this album. Goldilocks zone of weird.

My kind of jam

I had this album in college but I probably haven’t heard it since. Favorite song is “Earthquake Weather” least favorite is “farewell ride.” 4.5

Big fan of this album.

This has to be some of the worst stuff Beck has ever done

All quality no filler

I really like this. Had a lot of Beck on here and this is the best I’ve heard so far.

This is Beck's "fuck it, you want a largely radio-friendly record from me again? Ok sure, but I'm also gonna keep it way more sonically interesting than my old shit because that's what I do now" album. I am not complaining! This is, as of this writing, my favorite Beck album, and my rating reflects that. This album blends the sometimes cocky, high-energy, goofball vibes of Odelay with Beck's later experimental instruments and sounds that he experimented with in Mutations, Midnite Vultures and Sea Change...and it's a brilliant marriage of auditory goodness that is mostly super upbeat with some somberness mixed in. Not surprising given when it was recorded and the loss Beck experienced in his life (see the note from Wikipedia below). Random observation alert: I was pretty surprised that "Hell Yes" has as few streams on Spotify as it does at the time of this review ("only" 4.5M compared to the two other singles: Girl's 28M and E-Pro's 48M streams) given it was also a single and it's a fun jam. I'm sure one day a random ad will give it new life. "Guero" es cerca de perfecto y muy, muy bueno. Interesting Wikipedia factoids: *Güero (pronounced 'wero') means "blond" in Mexican Spanish, but can also refer to a light-skinned person. *Beck was raised in a prominently Chicano area of Los Angeles. In an interview with ABC's Nightline, Beck said the term "guero" was "something that I'd hear growing up. Something I'd hear on the street, walking to school or something, I'd get called a 'Guero'. ... It's just a word that stuck in my head and I wanted to do something with that at some point. ... I ended up, in the end, just kind of doing this almost journalistic kind of look at that whole time." *The title of track 2, "Qué Onda Guero" (or "¿Qué onda, güero?"), is Mexican slang for "what up, whitey? *The album was recorded over a period of nine months, following a year and a half of touring in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Several other events contributed to the writing of the songs, including the suicide of Beck's friend Elliott Smith and Beck's impending child with wife Marissa Ribisi. The song "Broken Drum" is dedicated to Smith. *"Hell Yes" features spoken contributions from Christina Ricci, who happened to be in the studio at the time of recording...Jack White of the White Stripes plays bass on "Go It Alone". Standouts: E-Pro, Girl, Missing, Hell Yes, Broken Drum, Scarecrow, Go It Alone

Great album

I loved and listened to this album so much the summer it came out. iPods were new and I remember loving being able to listen to it as I walked around town that summer with nothing else to do. That being said, this is not the first Beck record I think to listen to, and likely not even the fifth or sixth, and it's been a long time since I have heard it. What a jolt of nostalgia this was and I had a blast revisiting it. I remember at one point having a huge issue with the way this record is mixed, and it still bugs me, but not nearly as much as it used to. Great record.

I remember some of the music from this album. Beck is already a powerhouse prior to this album -- in the 90s. So am I surprised this is here? No. It should be here. The music video for E-Pro is creative -- poking fun at video games. You can also hear some 90s beats in the music in like Que'Onda Guero (Salt-n-Pepper - Shoop). Record scratching. :)

The album is very cool and unique, and it incorporates many different samples and styles. Beck is the bomb.

This is another one that takes me back to my teenage years, I was a big Beck fan back then. I've cooled on him a bit since then, but this album was always one of my favourites of his. I had "E-Pro" set as my ringtone for a few months at one point, so it always has me looking for my phone if it comes on unexpectedly. Overall there's some great songs on here, especially "Girl", "Missing", "Earthquake Weather", "Scarecrow" and "Go It Alone". It's nor a perfect album, but I'd give it a solid 9/10, possibly due to a heathly dose of nostalgia.

nice

It’s been a while since this list has served up a real gem I’d never heard of. Becks Guerin is one.

Tremendous album all the way through!

Love this. I only knew Beck radio hits. My bad. This is excellent rich grooves. Every song is better and better. A keeper.

This is basically Odelay Part 2, and that makes 8th grade me really happy. For me, everything he's trying to do just works. Best track: Qué Onda Guero

Good album, a good amount of recognizable and catchy songs, but with all Beck there's just something missing. Maybe it's overproduced, maybe it's the lack of passion, it's just too steady eddy. Nothing really moving enough to make me want to keep it in the regular rotation.

Fun 2000s Beck

Of the Beck albums I've heard, this one probably does the best job of letting his various instincts (sample, loops, fuzzy guitars, feedback, country strumming and folks lyrics... and more) cohabitate in a way where they merge into a unified whole. And it's the stronger for it.

I dunno…I always found the singles from this a little boring and there are definitely some skips but missing, black tambourine and broken drum are very lovely songs. I’ve never really loved Beck - but appreciate it.(maybe because mom used to get mad at me when I sang along to loser on the radio hahaha)

Good album this. Probably the best one since Odelay

Sure! This was fine for a Monday morning in the office

When I started this generator endeavor my hope was that I would be forced to listen to bands and albums that I would otherwise have never given a chance. I have been very fortunate that early in my journey I was forced to sit through Zappa and the Mothers. It has allowed me to open my heart and mind to their discography and I have been having so much fun. What a treat! What a lovely experience! But I think I’m becoming resentful of these other albums because they’re not allowing me the time to satiate my Zappa-tite. And I shouldn’t take it out on them, even stupid God damn Bob fucking Dylan. I promise I’ll do better. Here’s a 3, this was fine. Beck is always just fine.

And the crowd went mild... 3 ⭐️

After 'Sea Change' this album saw him go back to a certain sound that his early albums had started but still with the "new" Beck doing it. The result is less weird and abstract, less crazy but still a mix of Alt-Rock with Hip Hop influences, this time often more psychedelic Trip Hop and less actual Rap. I personally prefer the weird Beck but that doesn't mean that this album doesn't have its qualities even if they are not as fully thought out. 'E-Pro' gets things going with a Rap Rock track that also pulls influence from Dance, Breakbeat as well as Trip Hop which will become much more used later on. It's a loud and energetic track which works really well with the more laid back vocals from Beck while still being catchy especially with the chorus. I do like the song but it already shows that the sound isn't fully fleshed out or at least that's how it sounds to me. There is a lot going on but it doesn't fit together all that well. It's just there. Of course, it's catchy and the whole song is great but it could've been so much better. The English/Spanish track 'Qué onda guero' combines Abstract and Pop Rap with Latin Jazz influences and also some recordings which seem to me from a Mexican street or something. The song is really catchy, well produced, well... everything is done well. The song is perfect and a really good listen that sounds like the best of old and new Beck combined. On 'Girl' the Pop Rock mix is combined with Bitpop as well as some Indie which does make it sound very... nerdy. At least at the start. The longer it plays the more interesting it gets with some interesting songwriting and performances that seem to pull from a lot of different influences. I'm not a big fan of the intro but the rest is lovely which results in an incredible song. The mix of a Trip Hop beat on 'Missing' with Bossa Nova and Chamber Pop influences here and there creates a really interesting and psychedelic instrumental that could've been incredible on its own but for some reason Beck decided to sing in a style that does not fit the instrumental at any point. It feels weird and unfitting and destroys the things that the beat does well. I don't get what he thought when he made this but it's not good. The Funk and Dance influences on the still very much Trip Hop track 'Black Tambourine' seems to really figure out the sound the album tries to go. In terms of sound this is pretty diverse and fun but the entire songwriting and the vocals do kind of ruin it a bit. It's not bad but I am a bit bored with it and it doesn't have much going for it except some interesting additions on the beat. The Dub and Electronic ideas on 'Earthquake Weather' are interesting at first but the addition of the guitar seems very weird and unfitting. It feels like these two parts of the instrumental where put together without hearing if it works. The feel out of rhythm the entire time and even if the vocals actually work and create a well done chorus, is the music enough to confuse me the entire time. Either or. Both sounds of the instrumental don't work together. More Abstract Hip Hop is done on 'Hell Yes' which combines some Experimental & Abstract Pop Rap with G-Funk and Dance with a very groovy and weird beat (weird in a good way) that works well with rapping from Beck that's very West-Coast. I also enjoy the electronic vocals that appear at times and remind me of Kraftwerk. It's done well but I do think that everything would've needed a bit more but it's still a good song that is just streched out a bit too much. The Downtempo & Ambient Pop song 'Broken Drum' which adds Trip Hop, Neo-Psychedelia and even some Slowcore to create an emotional and genre experimenting track. Both instrumental and vocals are adding to the sentimental and sad track that is absolutely perfect even if it's out of style with both Beck and the album. Hauntingly beautiful. A return to more Alt-Rock happens on 'Scarecrow' which also plays with Country Soul and of course Trip Hop drums. The combination of sounds and ideas works pretty well here and even the vocals are interesting. There's not much to talk about here because it's a very low-key and diverese song that is just okay-good. I like the guitar, I like the harmonica, I like the drums and the bass. It's a nice listen that isn't too crazy or too dull. If the long instrumental bridges were cut out, it'd be better. 'Go It Alone' does some Blues with the established Trip Hop/Alt-Rock mix. It's not bad but mainly just boring. The hook is pretty okay but the rest is repetitive dullness that isn't bad but not interesting either. I don't care for it, I don't like it, I don't dislike it. It's just there and does not do a thing. I didn't expect it but on 'Farewell Ride' Beck goes all in on Alt-Country Rock that pulls from Gothic and Blues Country to create a darker and haunting sound that still feels like it's Beck. But it isn't the good Beck. The song does some very weird things in the production that don't work. The songwriting has also not that much going for it which is sad because on paper, this could've turned out great but instead it sounds something between dull and annoying but certainly no good. The Rock returns in a very heavy style on 'Rental Car' which again sounds a bit dull and just not that interesting. There are certainly enough qualities that make some parts interesting but there is so much at times thrown together that the result doesn't make sense. It's either okay or annoying which isn't all that good overall. The closing track 'Emergency Exit' combines Trip Hop with some Ambient elements as well as Alt-Country guitar and even some Glitch Pop. It does certainly have a very interesting sound but it does linger on for too long and kind of goes into a weird direction at times that do just feel weird. It's not bad but also not often good. It's tolerable with some okay moments. favourites: Broken Drum, Qué onda guero, Girl least favourites: Missing, Earthquake Weather, Farewell Ride Rating: strong 6 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Meh

I was never a big fan of beck

Beck seems to pick a genre, and do an album in that style. Consequently, I have no idea who Beck is or if he is any good. I assumed this had the Dust Brothers involved somewhere, and indeed it does. Nice Dust Brothers album you have there...be a shame if someone came along and messed it up.

Couldn’t really finish it. Sounds a lot like Gorillaz I guess. First song was pretty good

Quintessential Beck album, 5 stars hands down

Great

What to even call this? A fantastic listen.

Easy 5 stars do I even need to listen.

Yea this rocks

I am always really intimidated and never know where/when to start with Beck. It's a shame, because this album was awesome! Killer beats, alt-melodies and a decent vibe across the whole record. 5 stars, easily!

Not a single skip on this album

Great album by Beck!

this one is nostalgia bait for me; i used to really like this one. unfortunately it doesnt hold up as well as i remember. i still enjoyed the genre bending that beck gets into but i could easily see some of the weaker tracks dragging this down for someone who doesnt already have fond memories of them. my favorite song from this album has always been "girl" due to the super poppy groove contrasted with the darker lyrics about stealing the life of his sun-eyed(cyanide) girl. i have to give it a 5 even if it really only deserves a 4

ONLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ALBUMS EVERRRR

Almost dropped it down to a 4 compared to some of the other albums but skimming back through, they're all hits!

Guero is, in my opinion, Beck’s best album. It’s a return to collaborating with The Dust Brothers, it’s diverse and dynamic, and it’s a love letter to Beck’s native Los Angeles. I’m not an Angeleno but I’ve visited my family there enough to know what the city and the suburbs of L.A. are like. This record can literally be its soundtrack. So many standouts: “E-Pro”, “Qué Onda Guero”, “Girl”, “Missing”, “Black Tamborine”, “Hell Yes”, “Scarecrow”, and “Go It Alone” are all fantastic songs on a record that has no filler.

Used to find this one boring as a teenager and I actually get it now. I like the way Beck genre hops all over in a wry, kinda uncool way, without stepping into full obnoxious Weezer territory. Like there's still some confidence and swagger to it. My bad Beck I was unfamiliar with your game.

Alt rock, hip-hop, and a little electronic all mixed with some classic Beck weirdness. Excellent album.

what a fucking no skip masterpiece. i’ve cummed 17 times while listening

Huge Beck fan

*This* is the Beck I know and love. One of his other albums was previously generated, but this mid aughts is what hits the spot. I listened to a lot of Beck when I was first getting into alternative as a genre in middle school. E-pro, Girl, Scarecrow, Black Tambourine, and Go it Alone are all absolute bangers.

Excellent album - not a bad song on the album!

Love this album

I've been going through this sonic adventure with an intention to save one song from each album to a "1001 playlist." Ideally, that selection sits at the intersection of what I like most, what most represents the album or artist, and what might be less popular/obvious. In the case of Guero, my difficulty was in selecting the song that most sounded like Beck, because they *all* do, and yet each is very different. There are so many genres and styles packed into this album that I found it challenging to choose which to add, and he executes each perfectly with his own spin so that it never feels like he's merely trying on a new sound. The songs themselves are immediately accessible pop fodder without being trite or formulaic, and they also reward deeper/repeat listening. I didn't know this guy had so many Grammy awards from so many different eras in his career: after hearing this album, I'm planning to check out his discography.

5/5 - One of my favorite Beck records. - Blues-tronica at perhaps its finest early-aughts peak. - An album full of grooves and funk, blues and riffs, and, of course, what may or may not edge on gibberish. A must-own if you're a fan of Beck or if you only know about "two turntables and a microphone."

I've liked Beck for a while but never actually sat down and listened to this album start to finish. It's really quite even with no real duds. Enjoyable and a few new songs added to frequent rotation.

It's so good, I don't know how I missed it Masterpiece

Fabulous album!

Funky, no skips, loved it

Incrível!

An album that would probably be a 9 on a scale to 10, so it would feel like I’m robbing it by giving it a 4. Every song rocks, Beck’s a genius, and this is his best album

Funky and creative but still good songs

Yes, fellas

I bet some old boomer who is White Snake's 35th biggest fan really doesn't appreciate this album. But they would be VERY WRONG! It is really good... 5.5 Stars

I didn't know what to expect but I really like this album both in lyrics and music. 5 stars or A.

An easy five star. I bought this one when it came out, then the remix album, then tracked down all the weird chiptune mixes and b-sides

Another Beck album on this list? Hell yes! The geezer is a genius. So many styles going on here, all combined with killer tunes. It seems he can do no wrong to my ears.

I loved this album from start to finish! Mellow and smooth with clean lines and great bass beats.

The highs are high enough on this album. Surprised it isn't in my book

Suuuuper groovy, sample showcase. It’s hard to tell which album I like more, this, Midnight Vultures, or Odelay. It’s all the same flavor of awesome.

Aye childhood on a disc here. I loved this album when I was small. As ive gotten older I understand its not odley but I love it just the same. Its full of very catchy songs and Beck at or around his peak. The dude was alt Jesus for a while. Kinda fell into the background a bit in recent years for myself at least. But damn do I love this era. Just fun shit in almost every track. The only blemish I can see in the whole set is hell yeah is an atrocious song. I liked it a million years ago but I can't at all anymore. Its actually terrible. But other than that I like the whole thing. Sick record I think more people should come back to

I came in thinking I was gonna give it a 1 - I hated Beck. Turns out I just hate Loser and Devils Haircut

Absolutely fantastic

Great alt rock album.

i love this album. so all over the place, so beck-y

Really enjoyed that. It’s not as iconic as Odelay but I still thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing. I would’ve liked one more faster paced song near the end as it does mellow out a bit for most of the backside but I still enjoyed each individual track. Definitely time to do a deep dive of the rest of his stuff with how much I’ve enjoyed this and Odelay. He might be my favorite Californian artist, I usually prefer New York but his sound checks all the boxes I want out of a Californian vibe. Rating: 4.7

Great songs,not a bad song on here!! Classic!

Not a loser album!!

Such a cool and bright mix of moods, styles, and sounds! Really multilayered music. Funky, bold, colorful, and very textured.

2000s rock. Beck’s highest-grossing album. Catchy beats. Long, varied Indie Rock album, great.

An incredible albmum.

raucous

Strange Scientologist makes consistently good jams. I like almost everything Beck does musically, even hitless this album is phenomenal. Not quite a 5 but I have zero issues with this album. Really feel like Nick should get super into Beck after listening to this, there’s a bon iver/Beck crossover sound that needs to be explored. I had to come back. I've listened like 10 times the past week this is a 5 it's so good way to go Beck.