Sat Mar 11 2023
3
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.
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Guero
Beck
2005
- Album Summary
Guero is the ninth studio album by American musician Beck, released on March 29, 2005, by Interscope Records. It was produced with John King and Mike Simpson of the Dust Brothers, who had worked with Beck on his 1996 album Odelay, as well as Tony Hoffer. The album was promoted with the singles "E-Pro", "Girl", and "Hell Yes", and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. To date, it is Beck's highest-charting album and had sold over 868,000 copies in the United States as of July 2008. It received positive reviews from critics. 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. More than 15 songs were considered for the final running order of the album.
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Mon Mar 20 2023
5
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!!
Sun Mar 12 2023
2
Tre ord. In te kul.
Fri Mar 24 2023
5
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
Fri Mar 24 2023
5
Excellent on first listen, new and varied sounds. Great mix between hip/hop, rock, and electronic. Will definitely listen again
Mon Mar 27 2023
5
My kind of jam
Tue Mar 28 2023
5
This hits all the same eclectic alt/electro/hip-hop notes that early Gorillaz does for me. In other words, i fucking LOVED this.
Fri Apr 07 2023
5
10/10 I seriously love how Beck is just doing whatever he wants constantly jumping between all these amazing different styles it’s amazing
Sun Apr 09 2023
5
great stuff
Fri May 26 2023
5
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
Thu Mar 16 2023
4
Absolute ear candy. More than anything it just sounds so good
Mon Mar 20 2023
4
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.
Mon Mar 20 2023
4
Big fan of this album.
Sun Mar 19 2023
3
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
Wed Mar 22 2023
2
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.
Tue May 16 2023
2
Couldn’t really finish it. Sounds a lot like Gorillaz I guess. First song was pretty good
Tue Apr 11 2023
5
Loved this album. Goldilocks zone of weird.
Fri Apr 14 2023
5
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
Sat Apr 29 2023
5
Love this. I only knew Beck radio hits. My bad. This is excellent rich grooves. Every song is better and better. A keeper.
Sat May 06 2023
5
Tremendous album all the way through!
Wed May 10 2023
5
It’s been a while since this list has served up a real gem I’d never heard of. Becks Guerin is one.
Thu May 11 2023
5
nice
Mon May 22 2023
5
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.
Fri May 26 2023
5
The album is very cool and unique, and it incorporates many different samples and styles. Beck is the bomb.
Sat May 27 2023
5
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. :)
Tue Jun 13 2023
5
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.
Fri Jun 16 2023
5
I love me some Beck. Does not disappoint
Fri Jun 16 2023
5
I need to revisit it because I was doing other things, but this is my kind of shit
Mon Jun 26 2023
5
I wasn't really familiar with this album so it was a nice surprise. E-Pro and Que' Onda Guero really set the mood. Girl is great too as is Send A Message To Her.
Fri Jul 07 2023
5
This is probably one of my favourite albums. It’s got interesting variation, good vocals, and a lot of bangers. Easy 5/5
Mon Jul 10 2023
5
Brilliance
Fri Jul 21 2023
5
On first listen - this isn't as good as Odelay. I think, however, that this is because for some reason the production doesn't quite fit Beck's vocals. His style and musicality is just great - but for some reason his voice just don't settle in right with the rest of the instrumentals. This is really highlighted in the standout-track of the album - Rental Car. This is brilliant and every bit as good and exciting as anything on Odelay - but has very little of his voice. I think I might like to listen to this again.
Mon Jul 24 2023
5
Nothing but bangers. This was Beck's last masterpiece.
Wed Aug 09 2023
5
I really liked the singles from this in 2005 and never got round to listening to this album. I really enjoyed it, it had a lot of elements I like in an album, especially the use of different styles but still having an overall feel. I thought the choruses were really strong and memorable. I like weird/experimental albums, and considering I liked it a lot on a first listen I’m giving it 5/5.
Mon Aug 21 2023
5
Très bon. Quel artiste ce Beck, je ne serais jamais allé vers lui mais c'est album sont vraiment bon ! 5
Sat Sep 02 2023
5
Always excited when a Beck album pops up and this didn't disappoint. The man is a musical genius and has an innate ability to keep things interesting. Pretty lazy review that doesn't do it justice but I really loved it.
Sun Sep 24 2023
5
Loved it. Funky as heck
Mon Mar 13 2023
4
I absolutely adore Beck, but this is not my favorite by him. Some good songs, and not an unpleasant listen, but squarely in 4 territory for me.
Thu Mar 16 2023
4
Really good! Groovy, with a great mix of styles and influences
Fri Mar 24 2023
4
I love the difference between each song. Really cool album.
Fri Mar 24 2023
4
This was pretty cool, some really cool sounds and 90’s drums. reminds me of soul coughing/mike doughty with some of the rap stuff. 3.5-4
Mon Mar 27 2023
4
I’ve been revisiting Beck lately. This is a funky, wide ranging album. I’d put this up there as one of the best Beck albums from start to finish. I have no problem listening to this over again. 4/5
Tue Mar 28 2023
4
Beck is a consistently four-star artist in my book, though in the context of the 1001 albums book Guero is more of a 3.5. It’s less groundbreaking than some of his other releases and not particularly focused - it’s a bit all over the place stylistically. E-Pro and Girl aside, I wouldn’t say it’s essential listening. Probably a bit lucky to make the cut, to be honest. But did I enjoy the grooves? Would I happily listen to it all again? Am I rounding up? Hell Yes.
Tue Mar 28 2023
4
I actually think this is the first Beck where I get his whole "antifolk" thing, and I am on board.
Fri Mar 31 2023
4
it's weird but its fucking interesting from start to finish. good album. I don't think I've ever heard it before in full
Fri Apr 07 2023
4
Hard to pin this one down. Good variety in sounds and pacing gives this album some staying power. Standouts: Que Onda Guero, Girl, Missing, Hell Yes 4
Mon Apr 10 2023
4
Beck is a legend. I should listen to him more.
Thu Apr 13 2023
4
Some solid ones and as expected, lot's of little interesting jams.
Fri Apr 21 2023
4
Beck es bastante guay para ser un güero.
Fri Apr 21 2023
4
Just when this album starts to bland out a bit, Go it Alone kicks in and redeems it. Still pretty impressive that more than a decade into his career, Beck was able to test out new styles and sounds while making a competent kick ass record.
Mon Apr 24 2023
4
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: E-pro
Wed May 03 2023
4
A great record with only good vibes. Very nice, since I always associated Beck with more dramatic sounds
Thu May 04 2023
4
I listened to this album when it came out and liked it a lot, It was in the regular rotation for a bit. Lost track of it over time and this brought me back. Great record, Beck rapping in Americanized Spanish notwithstanding. Broken Drum, Earthquake Weather, Go It Alone, E-Pro……Lotsa great stuff here.
Thu May 04 2023
4
i was familiar with a few of these songs from radio airplay, which i liked, so i was expecting good things, and i was not disappointed at all. hip hop beats and samples aplenty with enough bass to shake yo ass for days. beck’s voice is smooth and he seems perpetually laid back. he only seems to have one mode and that is relaxed, but with his music it works. great effort from this alt-rock king. highlights: “e-pro”, “black tambourine”, “hell yes”, “go it alone”.
Mon May 08 2023
4
Great Beck!
Mon May 08 2023
4
Cool album. Beck absolutely influenced the modern music I like. There were a few tracks I'll revisit. The only thing keeping it from a full 5 is that I don't love his vocals oddly enough.
Tue May 09 2023
4
It’s Beck. Always a good listen.
Mon May 15 2023
4
Beck is such a strange fellow. I feel like his music ought not to work, not to be pleasant, but he pulls off quite the mishmash of styles with ease.
Tue May 16 2023
4
great album. I generally like Beck's stuff.
Fri May 19 2023
4
I like this a lot better than his album Sea Change, that I got about a week ago. Especially the first half. Favorite song: Black Tambourine.
Sun May 21 2023
4
Beck finest album
Mon May 22 2023
4
I don't think I ever listened to this whole album before. Rather enjoyed it.
Tue May 23 2023
4
5/5 songs and 5/5 production. The performances are fine but like much of Beck's work there isn't much here to provide an emotional attachment that a 5/5 album has.
Tue May 23 2023
4
I was kind of ridiculed for thinking this was a good record back when it came out. Who's laughing now? MUHAHAHAHA
Tue May 23 2023
4
Fantastico!
Tue May 23 2023
4
Still sounds fresh even though familiar, loved it!
Thu May 25 2023
4
-first album i’ve gotten from an artist i’ve listened to before -LOVE beck -epro is a cool song -favorites: epro, hell yes, -beck has such a cool sound -love beck love his cool wacky ass sounds LOVE BECK! -hell yes was so cool -beck is amazing at what he does and i REALLY liked this album
Mon May 29 2023
4
Phenomenal
Mon May 29 2023
4
weird beck is the best kind of beck. this album is semi weird and conveniently for the listener beck has put all the good weird stuff at the beginning so you can fuck off the second half and only lose one song worth listening to.
Mon May 29 2023
4
Nice mix of songs, no huge stand outs but very pleasant Saved tracks: Girl, Scarecrow, Go It Alone, Rental Car
Fri Jun 02 2023
4
good inspiration
Sun Jun 04 2023
4
L’album de Beck que j’ai le plus écouté dans ma vie. Ne ressemble à rien d’autre, très travaille tout en étant facile à écouter et à apprécier
Mon Jun 05 2023
4
Really good! Definitely one of Beck’s best albums. Some great songs on here, and no skips. Just a solid, really fun album all around.
Mon Jun 05 2023
4
Another classic for younger me. I think the back half is a bit weaker but it was a fun revisit and still a strong album
Mon Jun 05 2023
4
The first and only Beck album I’ve ever gotten into
Tue Jun 06 2023
4
Another great album!
Thu Jun 08 2023
4
Solid One of becks better complete albums
Thu Jun 08 2023
4
yes please.
Thu Jun 08 2023
4
Excited for this album. I remember E-Pro from Rockband 2 which, ironically, I played for this first time in a while yesterday. Earthquake Weather is fantastic. The vocals on Hell Yes sounds like a lot Cake song. MMM: I PUSH. I PULL. THE DAYS. GO SLOW.
Fri Jun 09 2023
4
Didn't necessarily love any one track but overall a solid effort.
Fri Jun 09 2023
4
Later era comeback dance breakup album, almost every song is listensable
Sun Jun 11 2023
4
Hadn't heard much Beck, but enjoyed this album
Mon Jun 12 2023
4
Wouldn’t you love to know what Beck is listening to at any given moment? He must have an incredible record collection. You can tell by the music he makes that he has very eclectic taste. This album is less manic than “Odelay,” which switches genres multiple times in a single song. “Guero” still covers a lot of musical ground but the various styles are fused together more. You get a Spanish guitar line, an old-school hip-hop beat and an electro-pop synth all at the same time. “Missing” stood out to me as a good example of the this. The production is modern, the best is sped-up bossa nova and those strings add a mysterious, romantic tone to the song. The opening three songs are excellent: the hard rocking “E-Pro,” the very quotable “Que’ Onda Guero” and the catchy pop of “Girl.” This album doesn’t quite reach the heights of “Odelay” but there are a bunch of great songs and a lot of interesting and surprising ones.
Tue Jun 13 2023
4
I've tried very hard to get into Beck over the years and I find that I like his singles. His quirky nature doesn't work for me over a full album, but there are good songs here. I find it hard to separate this sonically from Odelay, so I would probably leave this album off the list. Overall, hearing this album makes me want to revisit Beck's work, which is a positive, but I'm still probably not a Beck album guy.
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
Love Beck. Love all Beck.
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
I didn’t expect to like this, but I did. Solid album.
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
Really enjoyed this album
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
Awesome album!
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would.
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
Beck is one of those weird creative geniuses that turns weird into gold, which says a lot for a Scientologist. 4/5.
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
listened
Mon Jun 26 2023
4
Hmmm, bit bemused by the inclusion of this one - it's Beck in the same mode as "Odelay" and "Odelay" is already on the list - kinda redundant? It's a fun enough listen, I guess, but doesn't benefit from the nostalgia bump his earlier stuff has for me. Fave tracks - "E-Pro" undeniably slaps. "Farewell Ride" is a nice example of more mellow Beck
Tue Jun 27 2023
4
I don't really know much about Beck other than the fact that he really loves going all over the place with his genres. Guero does this, going from more grungy rock, to funk, to some alternative rock, a lot of hip hop influence, and even throwing in some chiptune on Girl. But more than anything, there's such a groove to a ton of songs on the album and I was just dancing around in my seat while working listening to this record. Que' Onda Guero has this just irresistible funky beat that feels like he's walking through with a boombox, same with Hell Yes as well, while E-Pro has that awesome crunchy distorted, heavy guitar and feels like a proper alt rock song. Hell of an album this is.
Tue Jun 27 2023
4
Kind of hipster, but I love the meats and smooth sounds. I love his 2014 Morning Phase album and need to give more of his stuff a listen.
Sat Jul 01 2023
4
AJ: cool dude with a loose mood. Believes in his weirdness and has perfected it.
Sat Jul 01 2023
4
Beck is one eclectic motherfucker.
Mon Jul 03 2023
4
Tracks 1 and 3 are absolute heaters. 3.5
Mon Jul 03 2023
4
I did not realize how much Beck I really knew until I listened to this album.
Wed Jul 05 2023
4
Beck has built a great career out of creating new soundscapes out of a wide variety of influences. Good job, Beck!
Fri Jul 07 2023
4
Very cool! Funky, hip hop beats and slacker coolness. Everything you expect from Beck. Comparable to Oderlay and Midnight Vultures.