Guero

Decent highs, but a lot that's just fine (albeit still interesting).

some decent tunes but boring

A solid and unique album from one of the most creative artists out there, Guero is a darker, more soulful Beck than prior entities. It's consistent and cohesive in its sound, but like all Beck, has a lot of twists, turns, and curve balls to make listenthroughs not monotonous. All in all, a fun alt rock album but largely forgettable.

This is the album I had in my music library, though I’m not positive I ever listened to the full thing through. It has a strong start and I definitely appreciate Beck as an artist. Good listen and opportunity to revisit.

Surprised to see this as the Beck album in the list and then more shocked to see he has three. Nothing against him, but yet another case where list choices don't stand up to any kind of scrutiny. Having said all that, it's a pretty good album. A bunch of good tracks and only one or two weaker ones. But still, if this is one if the best albums of the mid-2000s better to look to another decade for an entry

I just don’t think I understand Beck as someone who pays attention to lyrics. I understand that Beck uses his lyrics as more of an instrument to communicate rhythm… but I cannot enjoy his music much because all of the lyrics are nonsense.

...Not my thing.

I don't have much to say about Beck. Odelay is a clear 5*. This one is good, just not as good. I would describe it as rich. Just good music that you can sink your teeth into.

Album has good mixing Very creative Good usage of samples Lyrics are a bit lacking I think it's a 4.3/5

Fun album with a lot of sounds and I love the way he blends different instruments and styles of music.

Hell Yes sounds like he's trying to do a grown up Where It's At. And it's terrible. Where It's At had groove, funk, uniqueness. Hell Yes has nothing. Go It Alone has that kind of roots rock/blues/soul feel that you can picture in a Coen brothers movie. And Farewell Ride has that chain gang/dry landscape feel that would fit also. But even though they are some of the only songs to standout to me, they don't standout enough to actually appear in a Coen brothers movie. I guess what I'm saying is... This was a bit of a nothing to me. Not bad, just a bit bland. I was a big Odelay fan in the day, and even when he tries to channel Odelay such as Hell Yes or Missing, it's like it's been ran through a dishwasher. Really, quite disappointing. I have since found out that Karen O was in Rental Car. Why include someone like her with such great emotional range only to have her go "la la la" and filter the absolute hell out of it? This makes it hard to rate. 3 stars for the actual songs. 2 stars for the disappointment, so 2.5 stars rounded down for the weird Karen O bit.

We enjoyed. Not best Beck but we still enjoyed and were surprised to encounter it.

This is my second Beck album in the 1001 albums experience. Somewhat more smooth and polished as compared to Odelay, from almost 10 years earlier. I think the polish makes it slightly less interesting as compared to the previous album, but still quite good, and I still enjoyed it.

Sometimes he be doin too much but I f with it

geit eso

I think there's better in his catalogue, doesn't feel that cohesive but certainly isn't bad

what a diverse album and every instrument is used well

I really enjoyed this. It was varied and interesting. I do think the rap schtick could use some polishing but that's ever been the case with Beck. Maybe that's the gag.

I liked this but wouldn't listen to it all the time. Love the different styles and the constant latin influence throughout. Fave song: E-Pro

Pretty good! Some interesting sounds in here.

I feel like Beck should really annoy me, but I tend to like his music no matter how low my expectations are. Don't enjoy the rap songs though

This album was another breath of fresh "Beck"" air when it came out, a bit different than everything else. Groovy, interesting

Surprisingly fun. This is the most fifa album I’ve heard in a while. Stuck between a low 4 or high 3

I actually enjoyed this, tho I'm not a huge fan o Beck. Certainly better than the first album.

for me its just mid. i liked some songs but it jumps around a lot

This album is a little all over the place and the only reason it's not a 5 is that it jump from genre to genre

Beck, Beck, what can I say, he's got the magic, always interesting.

boring

3.5

Though not my favorite Beck album, this one shows the wide array of talents that Beck has. Yes he can write his goofy sound pooping songs but also he can write some great acoustic numbers as well. Heck of a songwriter

E-Pro - 3/10 I cant lie this aint fo me

First track feels like it was written for adverts. I generally quite like Beck's music but this opener did make me feel like buying a Toyota or something. From there the album just sort of drifts past - nothing offended me, nothing really excited me. Not his strongest album. 2.5

Ill be honest and say I didnt give this the most honest of listens but man do I really find Beck to be an absolute snoozer. The worst guy in the comic book store. The man arguing over 50 cents at the grocery store.

Still struggling to get into Beck. Very different genres and styles throughout the album, I appreciate the gusto to try new things.

not my vibe at all

Nice. I enjoy Beck even if I had only reapply heard closer before this. Lots of interesting music choices instruments and sounds

this is sooooo 2005 listening to XFM lounging about in my teenage bedroom doing my homework and writing in my diary vibes. i can't explain it. i was just taken straight back there. it was nice.

Not bad but a bit samey

010011010110001010101010000100111101010

Smooth and sunny, and unashamed to entertain

Reminded me a lot of gorillaz's debut

I find everything he does incredibly boring

solid album, something different and I appreciate that it came from Beck. Someone who I'm not the fondest of.

Beck - Guero ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This Beck album was new to me, but i bought, Odelay, Midnite Vultures and Sea Changes back in my CD buying days. This was often very reminiscent of Odelay. Not listened to Beck in years and I’d forgot how good he was. This is a cracking album, would’ve given it 5 stars if it weren’t for a couple of 3/5 songs and loads of 4/5 tunes meaning the average was 4.2 ( trying to be a bit more scientific about my scoring!!) Standout track: Broken Drum.

I enjoyed it.

Good album. Didn’t really do anything super exciting but it’s too solid to give it lower than 3.

Good

Very enjoyable listen. I began to lose a bit of interest through the middle and the end - that is why 4 stars not 5.

you know, maybe Beck's not so bad.

I know my view on this album is drenched in nostalgia but I absolutely love this album. It's a weird but fun romp through multiple genres that leaves you guessing what you will get next. Taking off the rose tinted glasses for a moment, it is a bit too long and a bit too sporadic to feel like a cohesive album and there are a few songs that could've been cut to tighten it up a bit.

It had some interesting ideas and at one point I could even hear a tune I could enjoy. Then it went sidewards. I love weird, but this dosen't use it well.

I find Beck a bit frustrating. This is the 3rd album I've had from him on this journey. Loved Sea Change, Odelay not so much. This album is a bit all over the place, with some decent tracks and some not so great.

I like Beck - very enjoyable!

Big Beck fan here so I'm a little biased. That said, this is a really good album, even thought it may not be Beck's best. Earthquake Weather is a banger.

I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to.

wilder than a cody maverick wave during a surfing competition against big hank. surprisingly a fan somehow. feels like I just put on some tie with various color cars on it before heading out on a date in the middle of that imaginary world of ready player one. rating: 7.32/10. Drink: mountain dew and sprite slushie but a tad bit high on the sugar

Por lo menos fue mejor que el disco anterior que escuché de Beck.

Never ever boring and super enjoyabel. So varied I forgot who I was listening to.

Phenomenal way to open an album. Great start, keeps the momentum all the way through. Gets a bit dull at the end? But still a great album. Glad I listened to it.

One of those where the songs I knew seemed to be far and away the best ones. Everyone else wasn't too bad.

I like it. Weird, strange, fun and not annoying. A difficult balance but they did it!

One of the better Beck albums imo

i liked this a lot more than I expected. "Go It Alone" slaps

Beck the guy that's playing with different genres on his albums. That's always nice to hear. So this album isn't a disappointment. Like most of his releases. 3.5/5 (for me) 3/5 (on this site)

Listened to this along with Neil Young's After the Gold Rush. Interesting. NY can't sing. Not even close. But he can write songs. Beck can sing. A bit. But....

I’ve always been a Beck fan, but never listened to this album. Enjoyed it a lot.

Easy listening

A little boring but not bad

Amazing

I was so surprised at how many songs I was familiar with on this album. I've never been much of a Beck-head but I guess I've been a fan longer than I realized. He's so distinct and I have a hard time trying to compartmentalize his sound, so I just wont. Unique to a t, catchy songs, great arrangements, lyrics. Everything has a nice tempo to it. Just a fun, funky album all around, I wasn't bored at all listening to this.

My favorite Beck album! Or at least the one I’ve listened to the most. He’s firing on all cylinders with this one though. It’s so fun and weird and distinctly Beck

i like this

I'd never heard of this artist before. I liked the album--3 stars

Kinda mid

Second Beck album I never listened to. This is why I love this list so much. Gets me to listen to music I ignored when it came out. This is such a cool album. It’s even got Petra Haden who I absolutely adore.

E-Pro is totally electric and definitely my fav on the album. I don’t think the rest really called to me as much.

This kind of left no impression on me except a lightly good. A true 2.5 but need to listen again for an accurate rating. I remember there were one or two songs I liked but maybe I was distracted. Typical Beck fare but on the less dynamic side I wanna say.

My favorite Beck album. Every song sticks the landing.

Guero is perhaps, above all else, a very successful realization of "Alternative" music. Alternative is vague, almost frustratingly so, but if someone asked you to define it, you could do *way* worse than spinning Guero. Beck takes indie's idiosyncratic qualities, and fuses them with a non-commital mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, electronic, downtempo, country, and Latin music. And the strength of Beck's songwriting holds it all together. I will say that this does not feel like it really gels together as an "album statement", but it *does* still work as a great collection of songs. Beck covers a lot of ground with his influences here, but this whole album does manage to invoke a chill, summery kind of fun. There are also unfortunately some songs here that feel kind of tacky, or badly aged. I think this is most apparent on Que' Onda Guero, and Hell Yes. But, conversely, a song like Farewell Ride feels like it should have aged badly, but it didn't. I don't think Guero is perfect by any means, but it is still a lot of fun, and has a bunch of really great songs.

aburrido sin mucjo sentido, no hubo un tema principal

You know what Beck, you're alright

Boring album some of the beats are good but lyrically not impressed 3/10

Perfectly acceptable mid-period Beck!

Liked it more than expected. Lots of variety and every track was decent.

The return to the sample happy fun of Beck and the imagination that sparks wonder.

Helt ok! Gillade Black Tambourine bäst. Jag har inte lyssnat på Beck på åratal så det var lite kul att återupptäcka detta album.

7.5

Пару песен норм, остальное ну такоое

Eh, not a big fan of hip-hop. 1st song was kinda nice though

Nunca tinha ouvido muito Beck, mas até fiquei fã

Not at all what I was expecting but not bad at all. The music was tasty and none of the lyrics were grating, or annoying and the delivery of it all was slick and professional.

needed a 2nd listen to confirm but this is a stunner of an album

A couple good songs.

not bad, not good

Algunas canciones muy buenas otra no tanto se disfruta la diversidad de géneros que meten en un solo álbum

Decent

Solid blend of alt rock and hip hop-adjacent beats make for an overall good listen. Definitely had a stronger first half and starts to lose steam after the midpoint; would be a perfect album with maybe a 10-minute shorter runtime. Top tracks: E-Pro, Girl, Hell Yes

Great

Enjoyable

que bueno

My second Beck album on this list. Once again very underwhelming, not as bad as the previous one though (Sea Change) which was dreadful. This is not for me.

I really enjoyed this - alt-y indie-y dad rock. My street.

This was a good first real impression of Beck, though I would say he walked straight down the middle of the road on this project. I enjoyed the Latin additions on the album towards the beginning, but it petered out a bit towards the end.

I'd rate it a 3.5/5. Missing is the best song on the album. I am kind of confused about where the influence came from, but it's not bad.

lotsa slide - idk it's pretty good

Pleasantly surprised. I thought Beck was much more boring, but the songs in this album have a special groove, a kind of trip-hop vibe, I really liked it. Qué onda guero has been in my mind all day.

Very cool and funky!

an interesting counterpoint to Demon Days as a trip hop/alt rock/alt hip hop fusion album from 2005. while Demon Days is loaded with collaborators, Beck did a lot of stuff himself. and this is a lot weirder and less commercial too. it's fun enough for the genrefuckery but i don't see myself returning soon. on the second track he says "James Joyce" as an adlib. deserves to be one of the 1001? i think you can nix this one but even if you're dead set on having 3 Beck albums, Mellow Gold is the better option

nunca tinha ouvido nada do Beck, adorei esse estilo rock alternativo, meio hip hop, bem anos 2000, uma influência do começo dos anos 90 também!

Standard Beck. An eclectic mix with some brilliant tracks and some misses. E- pro and missing are fantastic.

Another really great album by Beck. It's an almost perfect fusion of techno beats and rock, and of course Beck's signature vocal cadence. There are a ton of awesome tracks here that offer plenty of variety but stay relatively in the lane that you would expect them to. Some may argue that's not such a good thing, but for this record I disagree. I think it gives the people what they want through and through, without throwing any oddballs in the mix.

Honestly I have heard 1 of Becks song Colors which is a bop, and I think I’m in love and I never actually listen to a full album of his so gonna be interesting. Damn we got a song in Spanish? And it bops, okay beck I see you. Especially that chorus is an ear worm. Omg 8 bit song start in Girl yippee!! songs I like from this album so far: Que’ Onda Guero and Black Tambourine, Hell Yes, Go It Alone Context: in Hell Yes the music video featured them from the about the song section just found out what QRIO bots were and they are so cute

crap

hemroso y sencillo

There were as many songs I disliked vs liked. Generous 3.

Cheesy, corny , pretty bad lyrics, but I loved this record when it came out . Pretty great production, three stars for that and nostalgia

Excellent album, really enjoyed it having not listened for years. It's not my favourite of his but it's got loads of bangers

Rock

Good late career Beck

good

E-Pro sounds like a song for a really cool ad 😎 His voice reminded me of Rufus Wainwright and Car Seat Headrest at times. 😯💦 My favorites are Girls and Earthquake Weather. ☁️ I say favorites, but I don't see myself listening to them again. The album was pretty interesting in the beginning, but it got boring by the end. I don't love any songs, but I don't hate any either. I had a good time listening though, I closed my eyes and relaxed 😊 Thank you.

This album is pretty cool. Beck has a unique sound to them in my opinion compared to some other rock/metal if that what you can call them. The lead singers voice has a metal sound to it whereas the melody and beat share a metal/rock/alternative sound in my opinion.

This rocks

Ok

never heard of this, what a great discovery! i don't understand half of the lyrics but i'm vibing. listened to this twice today already, might give it a third listen. some songs are pure bangers and others are strange in a compelling sort of way. kind of reminds me of gorillaz? really loved this album, will definitely listen to this again and try the rest of his discography

Yep

Yeah this hit in the right place. Nice and eclectic

Good

despite not being able to listen to track #14 on Spotify, I like this album a good bunch. I haven't much to say about it but its instruments were calming in a sense.

Beck's quirky and sarcastic style comes through so well on this album without feeling over the top. In his early days in the 90s, he was by far the most prolific artist in anti-folk. And I like some of those albums, but this is just on another level. It's fun and catchy, but still leaves enough room for slightly more serious moments as well as a much more diverse instrumental pallet. I feel like I owe a lot to Beck, Sea Change was the second album I ever got, not ever before having listened to any Beck, and the first album I rated a 5/5 (which I still 100% stand by). And so I really feel like he's been there with me right from the start, and now getting very close to the end of this project it's cool to have what might just be my favourite album of his, if not Sea Change.

Loved this album!! It's all good but "Broken Drum" is my favorite

It was an enjoyable, though ultimately forgettable, listen - with some high points

Started strongly, faded away and I stop paying much attention, which probably means it’s a 3.5 rounded down.

Wasn't bad

Otiose

Great

Great album! Super fun. More of a 3.5 for me but whatever

Das pline muziek

Beck leuk

I totally understand why some people might find the tone of this album to be grating. By this time, Beck was just kinda doing stuff, not all of it was groundbreaking or impressive. That all said, this might be my favorite Beck album. It's only got a few low points, but there's plenty to enjoy here if you're into this kinda stupid shit.

Good

Auch das ist eher ein Zeiträuber als ein Hörgenuss.

Every song was different from the other. I'll look more into this guy

Its okay. A little repetitive, a little jazzy. Goes a little too bleep bloop when it should be duggadung.

Unique

As soon as I heard the intro riff of "E-Pro" (the only song aside from "Girl" I've heard before) I knew I was gonna be in for a good time. Happy to report that the full album did not disappoint -- this flavor of grungy, indie rock/hip-hop hits me right where I live, and feels like it was ripped straight out of Scott Pilgrim (which makes sense since Beck did the ST for that film).

Something you would hear at Sears. 4/5

It's fun, but will I ever listen again? Not on purpose.

I've always enjoyed this record, but I just remembered why I never really listened to the back half of it.

Cool stoner music

Back to classic Beck

Not sure if this is actually a 4 but I had fun after A LOT of 1s and 2s

Sounds absolutely wonderful on a good pair of headphones. Beck at the top of his game.

Certain level of sauce this one lacka compared to Odelay but I fw it

Twas aight

Pretty groovy… I liked Que’ Onda Guero

Great album. Love how it just starts right away. Minus 1 point for Scientology

I thought this album was nice

Classic Beck is back again; largely due to the return of The Dust Brothers on production, the very same that were in part responsible for Odelay. Guero sounds like a more tempered version of Odelay. The quirky genre-blending is present, the hip-hop grooves mixed with the dusty and fuzzy guitars and psychedelic undertones and his knack for esoteric lyricism is ever present. Though because his writing has been toned down a bit since his sobering Sea Change, the more low-key moments of this record kinda feel a bit hollow or too spacious where I felt like more could be explored but the risks weren't taken. Still, if you're a fan of Beck this album has plenty to offer. Standouts are the groovy "E-Pro", "Girl" and the catchy "Go it Alone".

This is probably my second favorite Beck album. His 90s albums are probably more groundbreaking, but I find myself preferring Girl to Loser most of the time these days.

A very groovy album. Rating: 3.5/5 GEMV (08.05.2026)

A bit confused about this album. I started a bit skeptical, than had great great time, and that- not so much. Generally, the first half contains the best songs here, with some incredible bangers such as 2, 3 , 4 and 6. All great songs with incredible production aswell. From there, unfortunately, you get songs that are more basic ideas embellished with heavy production. Some work well, some really don't. I'll give it a very flat 3 because I want to keep good energy and because of sea change

Plein de trucs pas dégueu, mais rien de très bien

Extremely boring and repetitive. Doesn't go anywhere. He really loves a two chord repetitive structure. Was excited to hear the beginnings of some bossa nova on Missing, but then it was quickly very obvious that it was just two boring chords throughout. 1/5

6/10 A lot of interesting sounds. Good groove if someone likes gentle rock with trip hop elements. Unfortunately I am not that person :P

Beck tiene sin duda una de las discografías más interesantes de Estados Unidos. Sus primeros trabajos llenos de himnos de los '90s, y sus trabajos más acústicos entregan paisajes introspectivos apreciados por fans y críticos por igual. "Guero", por otra parte, no es uno de los mejores trabajos del ex-cientólogo. Si bien cuenta con el single E-Pro, y mezcla bien la electrónica con el folk (siendo pionero de lo que se conoce como Folktrónica), se siente como un poco más de lo mismo pero menos creativo. Desearía estar escuchando el Odelay. Entiendo si el que escribió esta lista es fan de Beck, pero este disco no era necesario. Pistas destacadas E-Pro Guero Missing

This album felt somewhat scattered despite its variety of styles, which reflects Beck’s wide-ranging musical sensibility. E-Pro stood out in particular for me, with its strong, riff-driven groove making the biggest impression.

Standouts E-Pro Girl Black Tambourine

There are songs here, but I just can't love Beck

Está bueno sin embargo hay una canción en específico que no me gustó

Mind if a white boy speak a little spanish? Forgot how good E-Pro is

A masterpiece from my guy Beck. A true musical chameleon. Hits you smack in the face with the driving groove of E-Pro. Not a bad track on the album. My fave deeper cut is Scarecrow. Hell Yes!

A joyful and fun record for sure, but ultimately a toned down version of the highs of Odelay.

This is one of those albums I really like but I don't love. It's groovy, and fun, and has some really excellent moments ("E-Pro" and "Broken Drum" especially) but I can't help feeling like I should like it more than I do. I don't know. THREE STARS

Incredible album.

Of all Beck albums, why this one?

Offers insight into his musical influences and his ability to mash up styles

Its definitely got a unique mix of sounds. Very quirky but honestly nothing really up my alley

There was a period of 15 years where Beck just couldn't miss. I think Guero might be his best (after Sea Change). Two words: hell yes

Almost a 5 for me but towards the middle and end of the album he lost me

Beck's that dude.

Lesser known greatness from Beck. He continues to crank out work and tours. Somebody I keep an eye on to see how their new work evolves from their 90s peak, like Ben Folds. They could be our generation's Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney.

Most of it sounded rather droll, a few good songs did not balance out the rest

A well made album with nice genre variety - the production didn't quite click with me so far - it has an unpredictable style I wouldn't quite call satisfying, but it has multiple enjoyable songs, including 'E-Pro' and 'Go It Alone'.

Ok.

Beck is so good at putting together an eccentric collection of sounds and making it work. Genuinely love this album, listened to it last night after getting it from the generator and again this morning just for funsies.

What you see is what you get here. Mid 2000’s Beck album, plenty of quirky musical ideas with Beck’s somewhat deadpan, instantly recognizable delivery. “E-Pro” felt a bit like a rehashing of what made “Loser” such a hit. I did really like Que’ Onda Guero though. Very funky, silly story over a chunky beat. I was so sure I was listening to the voice of Chris Cornell, not Beck, on “Missing”. Speaking on musical connections, “Earthquake Weather” sounds so much like an early Gorillaz song. Hazy and textured, rinsed with a slight raggae/dub quality to it. “Broken Drum” is pretty powerful. The little guitar melody that bookends every little stanza is so sticky. “Go It Alone” is just as sticky too. This is close to a 4/5 for me, and I wouldn’t blame you for giving it that score, but I’m just not super blown away by Beck’s voice. It sometimes felt too cumbersome and hampered down some otherwise cool production choices. Solid 3/5

looove this album, very nostalgic to me

The opening riff of "E-Pro" landed with an immediate and specific reaction — a strong desire to sit at the Hammond and add organ underneath it. That's not a critical observation, it's a musician's instinct, and it's one of the more honest signals a record can send. When a track makes you want to play rather than just listen, it's doing something right. Guero is Beck returning to the playful, genre-hopping, sample-heavy territory of his Odelay era after the quiet vulnerability of Sea Change, and the Dust Brothers production gives the whole thing a physical momentum that keeps the eclecticism feeling grounded rather than scattered. The beats are consistently strong — the foundation that makes the meandering feel like a feature rather than a flaw. A lot of the critical dismissal of this record penalizes it for exactly the quality that makes it work: the willingness to move freely between ideas without apologizing for the transitions. That said, "great but not something that sets a new standard" is the honest assessment. This doesn't rewrite anything or arrive with the kind of inevitability that earns a five. It's a joyful, well-produced, consistently engaging record that rewards attention without demanding it — which is its own legitimate achievement. A genuinely enthusiastic four. Different from the patient, mood-dependent four that Sea Change earned — this one just works.

Good album from a large catalogue by Beck

This definitely falls into the category of albums I wish I'd listened to back in the day. I always loved Odelay! but found that a lot of Beck's follow up stuff was just soft acoustic guitar whining. By the time Guero came out, I wasn't really interested in Beck anymore. Listening to this now shows he fully came back to form. I guess mostly because the Dust Brothers produced this as well. Definitely has a Odelay type sound, though it also goes in new directions and doesn't sound too much like he's just trying to ape his own style. Unlike Odelay, this one flows a little more evenly, though perhaps the greatest moments aren't as great as Odelay achieves. I'll definitely go back to this album. 5/5

Despite a couple of missteps, ‘Guero’ is consistently enjoyable, with memorable hooks, and inventive sampling and production throughout, courtesy of the Dust Brothers. It's comfortably my favourite of Beck's three albums featured in the book.

it's sort of interesting, but nothing really captivated me or stood out to me in this album. doesn't seem very cohesive, at least musically

A few great tracks on here but some snoozers. Love the blend of styles while still holding on to the early beck sound. It was One Foot In The Grave washed in 90s pop, with pinches of psych, electronic and hip hop. Not my favorite beck record but not a bad one!

meh, nothing special in my personal opinion

I have to admit that I wasn't expecting to enjoy this album all so much, based on the previous album by Beck, 'Sea Change'. I saw so many good reviews towards that album, praising the emotional change of sound, but I wasn't a huge fan... That is why this album was a slight surprise to me. Some of the songs just had fun, and I was all for it. The instrumentation is definitely experimental and fun, giving you something new with each song. My only thing with this album, which I wasn't such a fan of, was it seemed to go on for a bit too long. Yes, the songs were fun at the start, but after a while it got slightly tiring. Maybe this album wasn't made to be listened to top to bottom, but either way, it feels like one of those where you should listen to a couple at a time and then go back to it later on, which I ended up having to do. I did, however, absolutely love 'Que' Onda Guero' and I have added it to a few of my playlists. Favourites: Que' Onda Guero Hell Yes Girl (purely for the instrumentation)

This project has helped me conclude that I hate Beck and any music trying this hard to sound cool. Guerro is trying to replay the Odelay success with Dust Brothers production, which leads to it sounded even more derivative, detached and easily dismissable. One of those that I had to resort to playing in the background at work as it would have made the car journey too boring and painful.

A widely eclectic record. Not a lot of really great songs, and what is this, the third Beck record already? It’s alright, but we definitely didn’t need another Beck record.

Good musician

Great one from Beck. Sonically always on point and this one is as diverse as his albums usually are.

A tired, spent Beck is better than the sad broken Beck of Sea Change, but Guero felt like a flailing, desperate re-tread then and it still does now. Paul and I had being making the microchip beats of Girl about five years before this. We were hardly at the cutting edge, but to be so far ahead of Beck was embarrassing for all of us. The harmonically static hits of Odelay - Devil's Haircut and The New Pollution - compensated for their statis with an absurd ebullience, but, here, Que'Onda Guero gets stuck in one spot without any such charm, eerily reminiscent in form of Jump Around. Earthquake Weather is likeable and nothing is bad - we have heard much worse - but, although Beck is acting like his mojo had been sitting there for him to reactivate, Guero is a staid, safe record by a man who still hasn't recovered from a love lost and just wants to be loved by us. 1.5 ‘I ache in the places where I used to play’ Leonard Cohen, Tower of Song You observed yesterday that criticising Coldplay was an exercise in futility, before I expended one of my longest reviews (I think) in criticising Coldplay. Surely you won’t say the same of Beck’s Guero. Another of my longest reviews - possibly my longest - was bestowed on Beck’s Sea Change. This was because there is limitless intrigue when an obviously great artist loses his way, but mainly because lots of other people like Sea Change and there is nothing I like better than explaining that, if not exactly ‘why’, lots of other people are wrong. Well Guero isn’t much good either. And it is an especially sad thing for me that, actually, not so many people take the contrary view. Where Sea Change has its true acolytes, painting it deep, moving, and beautiful - no one is inspired to say so much about Guero. It was even one of the few albums removed from subsequent editions of the 1001 albums book. It sold. It pleases. It has Jack White as a guest. You can see how the original editors made their mistake. So why should I get the whacking stick out, really? The long and short of it is that Beck, post-Sea Change, went in search of his Beckiness again and didn’t quite find it. What makes Odelay great (mercifully that is the other Beck album on this list so the Beck selections weren’t a complete fuck-up) is the sense throughout that Beck either doesn’t know or doesn’t care that we are listening. He is having fun; he is amusing himself. Ditto Mutations and Midnite Vultures. Guero doesn’t have that. Beck knows we’re listening now. He wants us to enjoy ourselves. He wants us to dance. He wants us to think the drums and guitars sound awesome. The mix is careful and, frankly, commercial. The lyrics are careful and contained - even making sense a lot of the time. Beck is very talented but it is a deeply self-conscious record. Beck is not having fun. That much is plain as day. I could have stopped at the Leonard Cohen quote, couldn’t I? 1.5/5

Beckcellent

I forgot what a great listen Guero is. Solid production we've come to expect from Beck with some great licks and choruses. Catchy as all hell, even the singles that didn't make it to radio. Not a single skippable track front to back.

could ve been 4 nothing stands out really overall a decent album imo

mid

This was fine. I never knew that first track was called E-pro, I remember hearing that a lot on the radio.

Not even his best

Great vibes, vocals and rhythm

Felt like gorillaz x harry styles and i was very into it

Really interesting! I loved the different genres this album had

Appreciate the production and some guitar work but didn’t really connect with the vibe of the album

it was okay

there are songs here that sound like every other Beck song from this time. And there are some that sound a bit unconventional and then Beck starts singing, This means, that if you like Beck, you will love this. If you hate him, you will have a bad time. In my case, sadly, and despite his musicianship, i have a hard time finding something that i like from Beck. Is so alien to me, that i feel indifferent to his music, and keep forgetting him. It's not bad his music. Only forgettable to me.

I liked this a lot more than I expected I would.

Very boring. Kept checking to see when each song was going to be over.

A weird, varied album. From trippy alternative rock to pop/hip hop, Guero is all over the place. Not unenjoyable, but probably wouldn't come back to listen to this again

I've never given Beck a fair listen due to my loathing of "Loser". However, this is just really solid 2000s alt-rock. I was quite impressed. I still hate "Loser".

Beck? I though this guy was a one hit wonder who peaked in '97. Shows what I know. Actually this isn't bad. "Beck not bad" wasn't on my bingo card but here we are. The 13 year old version of me did not appreciate the same things the current version of me appreciates. Funny how things change. This album has great texture. Good stuff.

The Good: We get to learn a new word! The Bad: Changing the O for an A means dirty… The Ugly: Being a guero guarro… So I forgot an r… shit happens. Beck forgot an excellence, when creating this album. The real good news, however, is that this marks the last Beck album I need to listen to on this list. Odelay was enjoyable, this album, and the other one on the list, not so much. For me, it is starting to feel like Beck is more than a one-trick pony, he’s a shaman who’s been able to fool millions in believing him! Good for him. 2* to keep his hope alive...

Lowkey good

Stress inducing

This is kind of a vibe, I had this album in high school and kind of forgot about it but I enjoyed on this re-listen

He’s a foofer baby

I don't think this is Beck's best work, but pretty much everything he's done has something interesting and worthwhile about it. I enjoyed Guero well enough and think it's a low to medium four.

Pop rock from the 2000s. Pleasantly surprised, didn't think too much of it when the album was picked for me, but a good one. Favorite track: E-pro other picks: go it alone, farewell ride

Aside from the inescapable Odelay, I have never really explored much Beck. This was better than expected and well worth a proper listen. Still not sure it’s one I would return to, but time will tell…

A réécouter, lent et change de style

I struggle a bit with Beck, I think if I listened to this more it might grown on me

Much like a lot of Beck's albums, there are moments of real brilliance, but the rest of just doesn't chime with me as much as I hope and expect. I remember when this came out, and E-Pro was such an amazing track (and it still is) but I didn't take to the rest of the album. Today, I like it more than I did back then, and hopefully not as much as I will in another twenty years.

Not my genre

Super interesting record. Very eclectic and very upbeat in some parts.

I feel like Gordon Ramsay in that one episode of Kitchen Nightmares. "Finally, some good fucking food." After all the Incubus and Afghan Whigs and Jane's Addiction, I finally get some alt-rock that isn't incredibly boring. There's some really neat sample work and a nice variety to everything about it. It's a really mellow album, too. Nice to sway along with during a 10 hour car ride back from a concert.

Interesting Pop, Latin style of rock. Not my cup of tea but it is artistic

I've never got Beck. Either I'm an idiot, or it's a massive prank on me, but there seems to be a lot of people out there picking up on something indistinguishable to me. Live and let live, but I can only give this a 3 in the hopes that maybe someday it'll all come clear.

This is the first Beck album I spent a lot of time with, and twenty years later I still really enjoy its eclectic sampling and zany energy. It does get to be a lot of the same by track 12, though.

I've never been a big fan of Britpop, but I think this album is ok

This is a high school college throwback

This album, off the bat, is more akin to what I normally listen to. Started off very strong and catchy, and I'm always one to be pleased when an album flows well and the songs bleed into one another as you listen. Many of the songs are very much inspired by funk, which I enjoy. Would I say this is the greatest album I've ever listened to? No. Does it inspire me to listen to more Beck? Also no. But at least it wasn't a slog to sit through.

Much better than I expected. I thought it would be corny and boring but actually had some great musicianship from the first song onwards. Couple lulls but really nice cohesive album

Most successful Beck album.

Yeah i don't know what to think about this one. For one, I'm angry for 3 Beck inclusions, but then again, after listening to the whole album, this isn't so baad. Like a mid 3. Probably not gonna listen to it again, but there were some pretty good tracks on here.

Not my favorite Beck, but still pretty good.

It's good

Excellent album some of my favorite Beck songs are on this album and many songs are SO GOOD!!!! But fuck farewell ride and also I don't really like hell yes either

Good!

It is solid.

HIGH 4, doesnt stand out too much in the larger beck discography (the dust brothers production is notably restrained compared to odelay or beastie boys’ paul’s boutique) but i have so much nostalgia for all of these songs

It’s alright, pretty forgettable.

I like it

10/10

pretty good like - e pro, girl

nah

One of my favorites from Beck. Solid all around.

Groovy

I quite enjoy Beck.

Beck has such interesting music

Started off strong with the first 2 tracks. Guero in particular was energetic and fun. But the rest of the album kind of wandered around and felt more sterile.

Not my favorite beck album

Beck’s an acquired taste.

This is what I expect from a beck album. 10/10 no notes

Nothing special but listenable.

Over the first ten years of his career, Beck tried his hand at everything. He made albums in the styles of country, lo-fi folk, funk, and even chamber pop, but on Guero, he returned to what made him famous: a mixture of all of the above. And the album itself is decent, but somehow awkwardly disjointed. The upbeat opener, based on a sample from the Beastie Boys' "So What'cha Want," and the rhythmic toms of "Black Tambourine," are mixed with strange hip-hop about vegetable men in a vegetable van and country riffs played so poorly they could only have been done on purpose. It might seem like the artist simply doesn't know what he wants — the record is as resourceful as it is tedious and hokey. Another thing is that, most likely, this is exactly what Beck wanted when he decided to release one more album as if it were assembled piece by piece, among which there are both gems and trash.

Beck!

Guero came after a world class run of albums (Odelay, Mutations, Midnight Vultures, Sea Change) but rather than being on the edge of my seat for what would come next, I was too distracted irl to be able to engage with the new album at all. When I got around to it properly, I discovered Beck with The Dust Brothers was still a winning combination. The backbone is rhythm with track after track delivering a new way to get your feet itchy. Next is a seemingly endless supply of interesting sounds. Tying things together to complete the package are strong melodies, Beck’s confidently hip delivery of intriguing lyrics, and a generally good time feel to brighten your day. The emotionally weighted tour-de-force Sea Change was always going to be hard to follow, but while Guero may not have had the same impact as the upbeat albums he had previously followed more restrained efforts with, it is a worthy addition to an extremely impressive body of work. Also, don’t miss out on Guerolito; remix albums have rarely been as valid.

3.5/5 It's easy to see why this became a late-career highlight for Beck. It feels like an amalgam of all of his previous highs, with the post-modern blues of Mellow Gold and the irreverent pop craft Odelay meeting the downcast mood of Sea Change. A few tracks feel far too slight, like the catchy but forgettable "Hell Yes" and the plodding "Go It Alone". Overall, a solid record, but not one that's really transcended the moment of its release like some of Beck's other work has.

Y.. no esta mal pero no tiene nada de especial. Es otro álbum que me sorprende que este en esta lista.

I LOVE THIS ALBUMMMMMMMMMM girl is one of my fav songs ever, also love que onda guero

I was already a Beck fan but had never listened to this album all the way through - I loved it! It's the type of album that makes a very cohesive listening experience. Some songs are stronger and more memorable than others, but the other ones are still great and create a great sound and vibe. This album has so much relistinability and it's just a creative and fun take on alt rock. Love it! Top Songs: E-Pro, Girl, Missing, Earthquake Weather, Hell Yes, Rental Car

More Beck is never a bad thing, in my eyes. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

I’m at a 5. Who even is Beck, anyway? That’s what I asked when we got Odelay near the end of February, and I think I now have my answer. Beck is someone who does whatever the fuck he wants based on whatever mood he’s in, and somehow, it just works, every time. This album’s variety expands even further past “Odelay”, taking full advantage of the extra technology available & taking some inspiration from other acts that had popped since “Sea Change”; Jack White, in particular, gets a co-writing credit & a bass-playing cameo on “Go It Alone”, which is really cool. This album does feel like Beck’s own take on the garage rock revival of the early 2000s, but with his own flair behind it & an eclectic mix of instruments that create something unique for the time, sticking out in a way that feels ahead of pace for 2005. Just listen to something like “Earthquake Weather”, which feels like a Thundercat track through & through, yet still retains the neo-soul vibes of the late ‘90s that Thundercat was inspired by. It’s a great melding of what was & what was to come in the music landscape, and that general vibe permeates the whole album, with the mixture of grunge elements & electronica throughout that somehow fit cohesively together. It is harder to go track by track here, just because each track feels really instrumentally different in a way that is best experienced by listening to it rather than breaking it down, but I do want to give some love to the lyrics here; unlike Odelay, which felt largely like an afterthought that fit melodically, this album’s dichotomy between its generally poppier / upbeat instrumentals & the constant poking towards loneliness, heartbreak & death in the lyrics feels very intentional, and it’s consistently strong throughout. It’s obviously not as explicit & downbeat as “Sea Change” was, but a lot of these tracks feel like Beck’s expression of an identity crisis. The final 3 tracks in particular really work in tandem for me; “Farewell Ride” seems to be about an outlaw preparing to defy death despite its inevitability, “Rental Car” seems to be about someone actively seeking it out, and “Emergency Exit” is about someone who wasn’t prepared for it. It’s a good 3-track stretch to close out on, and it wraps up this album nicely. Ultimately, his was just really enjoyable; I think this is my favorite Beck album on the list, especially with the matured songwriting & variety in production present, and I’m glad it’s here. Unlike what that top review is implying, this was well worth a listen & it certainly was entertaining, at least for my tastes. I can think of at least one artist on this list who has 3 or more that are less deserving than Beck (their name rhymes with “Snorissey”). It’s a good trio of albums to put here, and I certainly want to listen to more of the guy. As far this album goes, it’s a 5, if not a little higher. Damn fine stuff here, Beck.

When to listen: Reading "my year of rest and relaxation." Not because this is restful or relaxing, the book isn't—it's just that funk, that rut, that sinking feeling. I enjoyed the music but have a feeling there's better Beck to come.

I like Beck. Overall it was a good listening experience, in particular I liked Missing as it’s reminiscent of beachy hazy guitars and vocals with strings often seen in Brazilian jazz

Decent album

no me gusto la verdad, no me gusto su estilo ni tipo de musica, no es malo tampoco pero la verdad no fue de mi agrado

Few good songs that added to playlist. Not fully my type of music but i get it Thinking 2

not a huge fan of alt rock tbh

It's a great beck record, but not my fav. He tries a few different things here, some are good, some not so much

Varför lyssnar jag inte på Beck. Svängigt, medryckande, spännande, kreativt. Aldrig hört en Beck-låt jag inte gillat. Märkligt!? En femma

it was good! I really liked the front half of this album (by which, I mean, like, the first four songs). The last half dragged a little. 'Hell Yes' was reaaaalllly not my thing. Rental Car was great, Que' Onda Guero is probably spelled all the way wrong. Girl was good too! Prob not gonna revisit this one. But it's nice to know who Beck is, now!

Basically just more of Beck doing Beck things.

A great album and a return to form for Beck. Two top tracks in E-Pro and girl and an assortment of other joyous offerings. Not quite up to the 90s stuff, but a great listen.

The Latino vibe just doesn’t really hit home for me. Which leaves you with just kind of OK Beck.

This album screams of David Lynch! A favorite, Earthquake Weather, has unusual instrumentals that works quite well with its otherwise happy-like song.

A solid album - with an even better companion album!

3.5, felt a bit all over the place at times but i thought it started off really strong, maybe this is just a grower.

Far from my favorite Beck album, but there's some good stuff on it and the production is often fun. I do think it sort of sounds like car commercials now, which isn't its fault.

It's odd. Lacking direction or conviction. None of it awful, just a bit jarring in terms of direction changes. Nothing stands out when it's all different.

I’m biased because this album has been in heavy rotation for me since I first heard the single girl not far after release around 2009. The king of samples, it felt like he might have specially recorded many of the ambient sounds and voices rather than just mash them up off other recordings. But the pint is he has created a perfect tapestry of rich urban Hispanic culture which perfectly keep the tone of the entire album. I loved the meandering chatter of the characters in the title track ‘hey guero…. ‘ ‘yeah bro’! So for there was much more conventional instruments used for many tracks rather than just the dust bros drum beat and loads of samples. Especially on some of the slammin rockier tracks such as the intro e-pro and black tambourine where it feels like they recorded with a full backing band and just got a jam going. He mixes acoustic and some dirtier electric guitar tracks in (check out rental car). and I also particularly loved the atmospheric slide guitar in songs such (emergency exit) which seems to tell a story of living to you have nothing left: ‘never paid my rent till the lights went out and I saw my sign coming up the road) and filled a last tank of gas and drove into the desert presumably to die! I loved the introspective stories he tells pointing to finding meaning in a pointless urban existence. ‘I push I pull, the days go slow into a void we fill with death. A noise that laughs falls off their maps all cured of pain and doubts .. in your little brain’. These contrast with his signature stream of consciousness spoken word rap in Hell Yes, which easily match the quality of the previous hits including Loser. Then there’s the disturbing portrait of a serial killer focusing on a target on girl ‘and I know I’m gonna steal her life .. take her soul belongs’. Disturbing lyrics in contrast to the rather sugary pop melody with its intro that sounds like a kids Yamaha organ and hand clap back beat .. and then that slide guitar in the bridge. I definitely recommend this as a listen, and if you don’t know much of Beck apart from Loser, this is an ideal album to introduce you. It may just change your opinion and showcase him as a talented songwriter with something to say. Also check out modern Guilt and, for something completely different, the wonderfully mellow acoustic Seachange. Five stars.

En del bra låtar med skönt sound i början av skivan, "E-Pro" och "Girl" till exempel. Sedan blir det mest halvbra. Väldig blandning av sound och genrer. Kanske inte skulle lyssna på skivan som helhet igen men jag blev sugen på att utforska mer Beck! 3:a

It’s only a 2 because Go It Alone elevates this album. Otherwise this has no heart at all

Enjoyed. His style is easy to listen to.

Not bad, sounds like everything else though

Really good energy to this

7/10 That intense guitar in e pro wasn’t what I was expecting off the bat but hell yeah! I like his voice a lot and I knew his song called loser. Hell yes seems to be popular but I don’t like it. The album felt like it got worse towards the end for me but I was a fan of a lot of the sound on here! Favorites: girl, missing, earthquake weather, go it alone

Kolejny album raczej nie w moim guście. Przyjemny, ale nic poza tym. Raczej nie przesłucham ponownie.

kinda long

Suprisingly good

Franchement album génial. Tout était extrêmement bien travaillé, à la fois au niveau des sonorités que du sequencing. En effet, c'est ce que je trouve particulièrement impressionnant avec le projet mais chaque titre a une identité radicalement différente des autres, tout en les mélangeant à une esthétique acide voir sinique grace à la voix suave de Beck. Les styles y sont donc nombreux, fusionnant Rock Alternatif sur E-Pro ou Go it Alone, avec du Hip Hop sur Que' Onda Guero ou Hell Yes, ou encore avec des genres plus exentriques proche du 8-bit sur Girl. Enfin, je trouve que l'album offre un panelle de tonalité plutôt agréable, allant du rap à la ballade. En résumé, le projet offre une très large gamme de sonorités, toutes très agréables et très bien gérées, vraiment très bon album

Decent 3,5

I guess Beck eventually grew out of the garage band tinkering and started making bangers like Rental Car. Youpi!!!