Reviews (page 3 of 14)
One of the best albums ever
Before: I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this. I only know Beck from the song Loser and this album cover does not look like it would contain music like Loser lol Standouts: The Golden Age Paper Tigers Least favorites: Guess I'm Doing Fine It's All In Your Mind During/after: Ok SO I was right that this does not sound like Loser. The harmonies in Golden Age are absolutely beautiful and a great opening to this record and an introduction to the interesting instrumentals throughout - the strings and bass in Paper Tiger go CRAZY. The strings in Round The Bend are amazing as well and create tons of depth - very "wall of sound." I'll have to relisten with higher quality headphones or speakers. Sea Change is an amazing heartbreak record that demonstrates the process of healing from a breakup. It feels like it really took a turn with Lost Cause and became more of a story than a sad mopey album. My one critique is that the first half of the album seemed stronger to me, but the whole thing was still wonderful. Beautiful, love it, chef's kiss, this will definitely be on the rotation. 5/5
This is a very familiar album to me. I’ve always loved it - super smooth, with an edge of despair.
Not as good as the Scott Pilgrim vs the World soundtrack. Just kidding. Very thoughtful great music that I wouldn't have guessed this guy made. I think I mostly think of him as a low produced grungy dude and this opened my eyes to what he is capable of. Lovely.
This is just lovely. Guitar so clear it plays in every room. On every level. Vocals that are enough. Enough is all you need. Lost Cause is very Elliott Smith. This just makes me listen because it's so genuine. Who knew I was such a Beck fan? It's all in your mind - and that's the gentle strength of this album. Perfect.
Beck goes from goofy quirked up white boy to the most maudlin man in existence and creates an incredibly powerful emotional album, with some of the most incredible crescendos and nakedly honest lyrics going.
Geggjað. Svo falleg plata.
Frábær plata frá frábærum tónlistarmanni.
this shit fucks.
Good
Staggeringly beautiful
Beck was real sad for this one. Fortunately for everyone else, that means we get a pretty great album. The music here is quite beautiful and really emphasizes the emotions that Beck was feeling when writing these songs. One of the songs (Round the Bend) reminded me of my favorite Nick Drake song, The River Man, which really sucked me in. Other great songs here are Paper Tiger (such a funky base line), Guess I'm Doing Fine, and Already Dead.
Great arrangements Good vocal production Meaningful lyricism
very good melancholy rock
I wasn't familiar with Beck's game
Stunning emotional record. It also led me to discovering Serge Gainsbourg.
Love, love, love this album. Not just for its status being one of theses deified "breakup albums," but because it's so musically rich and it just so happens that heartbreak goes well with some classy strings, punchy basslines and well written songs.
Sounded great on headphones
Je ne saurais pas dire quoi, mais il y a quelque chose qui fait que cet album marche très bien pour moi. Je trouve certaines chansons vraiment magnifiques
Probably my favourite Beck record, absolutely beautiful.
A very mature album, and very unexpected from the guy who made "Loser." Excellent use of soothing melodies and deep lyrics to make this a pleasure to listen to. Probably the best chamber-pop album I've ever heard, no weak spots or skippable tracks either.
It's a great album, melancholy with country undertones and guitar work on par with the likes of Nick Drake ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Beck is always gonna be great, but this was really something, and not what I expected from Beck at all. His dark brooding vocals really reminded me of Eddie Vedder in some places, and I really liked it. Very sparse instrumentation, and just all around nice to listen to. Five stars.
having only listened to odelay before, this was a massive change of style and i am loving this so much. it’s like a blanket for my soul. i’m hearing sounds of ryan adams, air, and nick drake. especially nick drake in the song “round the bend” - which is my favourite from the album.
I love this album. I love Beck and the fact that Sea Change is a Beck album is only part of the reason I love it so much. I would love this album if it was by a one and done I had never heard of before. But because it's a Beck album also helps make it that much better. With the complete departure of his style came an incredible, raw emotion we are not used to getting from such a whimsical artist.
Another album I was able to listen to on CD. My favourite Beck album, Lovely.
2002. Folk Rock. Chamber Pop. 9/10 The Golden Age/Paper Tiger/Guess I'm Doing Fine/Lonesome Tears/Lost Cause/End of the Day/It's All in Your Mind/Round the Bend/Already Dead/Sunday Sun/Little One/Side of the Road
I love sad Beck. Guess I’m Doing Fine is one of my all time favorites. One of the best rainy day albums in indie rock.
Great but sad
Not what I expected at all Excellent heart break album
Love Beck. Much more deep and nuanced than the songs heard on the radio.
It's like Beck has a psychotic break and writes a tightly focused singer/songwriter album. This one is really good. I like how the electronic and eclectic elements are still here, but they're used as support. I also pick up on some big Pink Floyd and Beatles vibes but through the lense of Nick Drake.
Favorite beck album. Incredible
gorgeous and so sad
Great and chill album!
Initial thoughts: a solid 4, but I had not listened to it for many years and had forgotten how good this album is - perhaps I like it so much due to the chamber pop elements, but the songs themselves are very strong as well.
Mood music
No private session used for spotify. I bought this album when it first came out. Listened to in regularly to start off a Sunday morning.
One of my favourite albums of all time. I listen to this weekly. The production on this is excellent and I think it is one of the best sounding albums ever. Although the songs are generally about loss and loneliness, I find there is a beauty and wistfulness that o keep returning to.
- one of the greatest artists of our time -
This is a chill masterpiece that helps reduce stress and keep me grounded.
LOVED THIS!
new fave
Absolutely one of my favorite heartbreaking albums.
Muy buena oportunidad para re escuchar este disco que tenía en cd. Es tranquilo, con hermosas canciones. Y la voz, imperdible.
This one has taken me a few tries over the years, but it finally did it for me. I don't think I really knew enough in 2002 for this to hit. Now it hits more. I like that it feels like an album for sure. Really great songs Guess I'm Doing Fine, Lost Cause, It's All In Your Mind, and Already Dead for me. But it's an album I want to hear in its entirety.
This is a great Beck album. I think he's at his best when he's in this acoustic zone with Sea Change and Morning Phase.
First song, Golden age: calming, peaceful, nice Second song, paper tiger: beginning is anticlimactic but the rest is good. I can imagine a show into using this as a theme. Think Dr House but the main character is a detective or a survivor of a zombie apocalypse and travelling around. Third song has a similar vibe as the second but it somehow feels... sadder?
One of my favorite albums
mellow sad beck back to back with suftan stevens have mercy this week
On this album Beck does a thing entirely different than he did on the album before -- Sea Change is part four in this series, and arguably the most successful. Every song on Sea Change is sad, slow-moving, powerful, and it's kind of impossible to think that the same guy that claimed songs as 'Mothefucker', 'Beer Can' and 'Jackass' came back a half decade later and put together this masterpiece. This album is someone getting over a breakup in full view of the public with beautiful melodies, and from his pain comes one of the greatest albums of the turn of the century. Paper Tiger, Lonesome Tears, End of the Day, Little One all pop for me on this album.
When a friend of mine lost his father, I drove by his house, picked him up and parked in a dark street. Not talking much, we drank a six pack and listened to Sea Change. He later told me that it had been a profound experience-- a healing one. I find it the same and it was the reason I shared it. This is probably my favorite Beck album. It is a powerful one with lyrics of grief and loss and recovery. I absolutely love it. Best of the best.
Jeremy Blake https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/01/suicides200801
Wow. Putting this on repeat.
I don’t love all of Beck’s music, but this is so lovely. Some all-timers on there for me. I was gonna give it 4 but nothing really matters so here we are.
a perfect album.
Really liked this album, very different from Odelay. It is much more laid back and almost folksy, much more instrument and less sample driven. At the same time it is very much a Beck album
Thoughts before listening: One of Beck's best. Its a slower, less playful sound from him with acoustic instruments and a focus on lyrics that really stands out as an outlier in his discography. I've always enjoyed this album although I definitely need to be in the right mood for it. Review: This starts out with such a great song in "The Golden Age" which employs a very organic sound with acoustic guitars and pedal steel adding texture throughout, but also some electronic/synth-based elements in the background to remind us that this is Beck and not some alt-country singer songwriter. "Paper Tiger" follows this up and is another fully textured song this time adding orchestral strings to the acoustic guitars to really flesh out the sound. Most of this album stays within a very similar sound and it makes for a very pleasant listen. Additional strong tracks include "Lost Cause" and "Sunday Sun". All in all I consider this one of the better albums by one of the best musicians of the 2000s and while there are a few boring tracks toward the end of the album, its getting 5-stars.
I've never heard this album before but I immediately thought of Keane, tho this was before Keane was popular. It was a nice calm but focus vibe.
Love it
The king of versatility. A perfect mellow album from the man who can do it all!
My favourite album from Beck and probably one of the saddest and most emotional recors about relationship breakout ever written. Never tired of fighting... I mean... Of listening.
Beck died for your sins so you didn't have to go through such heartbreak. A memorizing and hauntingly beautiful album.
Even though the mood of this album is somewhat melancholy and subdued, I really liked it. Great album for when you just want to put on some music, sit back and let it sweep you away. Even though the lyrics are a bit opaque and uneven, the melodies, harmonies and musicality are entrancing. The song "Little One" is a good example.
I always enjoy listening to Beck. I like his voice and his music. I didn't know Sea Change before. It's a nice album, even if it is a bit more melancholy. I'll definitely listen to it again. 5/5
Great album. Catchy yet so so melencholic. Not what I ever expected from Beck but he pulls it off wonderously
Un disco que disfruto mucho cada vez que lo oigo. Golden Age, Gues I'm Doing Fine y Lost Cause son mis favoritas.
Favourite Beck Album. The melancholic mood is almost too strong for me at times, but oh so sweet.
Empty, desolate, aching, pain, desperate, broken, hauntingly beautiful… great album. Looking into it turns out it’s widely regarded as a great breakup album. Someone really did a number on Beck.
'The Golden Age' could be off a 1972 Rolling Stones album. And, wow, I knew this guy could be diverse but this is something else. It could easily sit next to a John Martyn album or a Nick Drake album. I absolutely loved it.
Mega chill
Melancholy music done well. I prefer the bookend Morning Phase over this album but they're both excellent. Great album to listen to on the patio on a mellow summer morning at dawn. Just exactly perfect.
Beck with his - comparison alert! - newfound inner Leonard Yorke. Good on him! After Odelay, which I had earlier and which made he realize that I had actually never liked it, I was hoping to get a mature, actual songwriter Beck (haven't exactly sought out his music) and I'm not disappointed. This is quite beautiful, albeit a bit heavy here and there on the alt-country. Enjoyed this.
Love this album, quite mellow. Very similar to another excellent Beck album, Morning Phase
Fantastic album. I was familiar with this one, but it still plays well ~20 years later. I remember it was strange to get used to this more folksy style of Beck, as compared to the hip-hop/sampling/etc from his previous albums, but I ended up liking it just as much or maybe more. Also interesting that my favorite tracks (e.g. Paper Tiger, End of the Day, Round the Bend, Little One) are NOT the most popular ones (Lost Cause, The Golden Age), though I like all the tracks on this album.
Beck gerir allt rétt á þessari plötu. Dásemd.
This is really a beautiful album. It is pretty downbeat though. It is not an album that I would relisten to that often as it is pretty melancholy and introspective. There are times in my life where this would have been a welcome friend to listen to frequently. That is not where I am at currently but will keep it in mind should I feel the need for deep introspection.
In one of the most beautiful transitional albums ever made, Beck proves he has actual songwriting chops that extend beyond the goofball weirdo persona he acquired throughout his early discography. I went through a phase years ago where this album was on repeat, and now when I hear it, it’s incredibly nostalgic. I think the slower pace throughout can be a deterrent to some, but really letting this one sink in and get through you will do you absolute wonders.
The Golden Age starts the album off in a very depressing and saddening tone, speaking about giving up and letting go of everything else. Paper Tiger seems like it is continuing the themes of the previous song but in a more upbeat way. In Guess I'm Doing Fine, the tone shifts back to the drearyness of the first track. It seems that the album will center around the idea of losing someone and wallowing in sorrow, not wanting to escape it. No point in continuing these notes because the entire album is pretty damn sad.
It Is crazy that this album came after Midnite Vultures, one of his happiest and most absurd and over the top albums. This album is so stripped back and depressing, and I love the string arrangments. I've always been a fan of Beck's lyricism, and this album is no exception. The only thing I can say that goes against this album is that since it is so stripped back some of the songs start to sound the same. However, I still enjoy every song so it's not a big problem.
Beck's most beautiful melancholy album, followed closely by the pseudo-sequel, Morning Phase.
# Playlist track - Paper Tiger # Notes - I had the "privilege" of listening to this after a nasty breakup. It was great. - The instrumentals on "Paper Tiger" are just great and it finished off with an amazing "but there's no road back to you" line that fits perfectly. - The album gets a bit too depressing sometimes, like in Around The Bend, but it changes things around enough that it doesn't ruin your day. - Listening now, I'm tempted to take 1 star off as the album stales a bit towards the end, but that is pretty much in character for the theme, so this takes all the stars. 7/7.
nice
I love when you get an album by someone who's been featured in this project already and you get something so different and wonderful each time. Such is Beck. This wasn't a sound I expected, and when I got super strong Serge Gainsbourg Melody Nelson vibes my mind was blown away. Heartfelt songs and strings will always get me.
Wow! This is Beck? A totally different sound from what I know of Beck. That was pretty neat!
A different side of Beck. Loved.
Having already heard four Beck albums on this project, I couldn't help but wonder as I near the end of the 1001 list how necessary another is. Well, this is one of my favorite Beck albums yet. It is wistful, melancholic, and quiet in a way that really surprised me. I was taken by the beauty of the songs. What a beautiful addition to my library!
Oh boy, this is sad as fuck. Great record, and the kind of sad I enjoy listening to, but saaaaad. The Golden Age, Guess I’m Doing Fine and Lost Cause are all time favorites for me.
relisten. devastatingly beautiful
I've heard some of the songs on this album
Been a while since I listened to this.
Sad bastard shit. Love it
One of his best albums.
Weird little dude writes some very nice melodies with a wide range of instruments and effects.
Another all-time favourite of mine. This was a wonderful change in direction from Beck at the height of his career. After the success of Odelay things had really got a bit too "produced" on Midnight Vultures in my opinion. I remember seeing him at Reading Festival during that time and really struggled to work out what the hell was going on, it was like watching a rich white high school kid impersonate Prince. But this one is pretty sublime, it's obviously very downbeat and acoustic but also features very straightforward and powerful song writing, that doesn't rely on samples or studio tricks or a big slick band. Saw him do the sunset slot at Reading in 2003 and all was redeemed as we got most of this album with Beck and the band all just dressed in black jeans and t-shirts. That was one of my best gig memories. Wonderful stuff.
Brilliant album… amazing musician
Classic
Sea Change is a different album for Beck - but all of Beck's albums are different. This is closer to traditional acoustic folk that most of his other work, and this is a somber effort. Most of the songs are about loneliness and heartbreak. These were songs Beck wrote after the end of a long-term relationship. This is a beautiful collection of introspective, thoughtful songs, which is considered by some to be Beck's best work.
Maravilla dese el principio al final.
I’ve listened to this CD a ton
Favorite Beck album, and my favorite sad album. Probably a top 20 all timer for me. Really connected with me.
I love this record.
None of these songs were notable to me, but I loved how this album was consistent. I did my homework to this and each song had the same feel and gave the same vibe. Beck knew how this album wanted to be and went with it. A really spectacular collection of music.
Took a few songs to get its footing, but a real nice album. Kinda reminds me of like a modern day Neil young.
👍🏻
own it on vinyl
это разъеб
While I don't listen to Beck that much, this album shows this talent of a man Ed Sheeran wants to be. Beck really brings everything together here with great musical ideas and without any rap stuff but rather obscure piano chords here and there. I love it!
I normally hate Beck but this was fantastic
Makes me think of a more modern Nick Drake, or Nick Drake / Gotye hybrid
Not the feel-good album of the year, but a great album anyway. For those of you old enough to remember, this album came out in 2002, about a year after the Saudis orchestrated 9/11 and we were all still pretty shell-shocked from that shit. So this big-ass bummer of an album was kind of exactly the thing we needed. Also, the bass line on Paper Tiger is pure perfection.
Wantlist
Listen to it often
It was no Kanye west but still pretty good.
8.5/10 because it's personal
Changed my opinion on Beck
Smooth to the last groove. Just such a dreamy album that seems perfect for this overcast day. Also an album I've put a fair bit of time into in the past as well so an easy 5 for me. Faves: Paper Tiger, Sunday Sun, Lost Cause
Meeeeeeh L
Sea Change is much more low key than the other Beck album I've heard here so far. It really does sell the kind of "ocean like" aspect honestly. Acoustic guitars are decorated with all sorts of fun arrangement details, and the songs seem to ebb and flow. It sounds like a sunset, or a coral reef, or a sailboat. I don't know, there's just a sad serenity here. And, it's understated, but Sea Change is *very* sad. I haven't gotten to the bottom of this thing, but it's certainly gorgeous, and creative, and *very* good. I may have to work away at this one for a little in order to say something insightful about it.
Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album I kind of know it How do I feel about this artist? I am getting in to Beck recently, seeing him live in a few weeks. Pre-Listen Thoughts: I mostly like Bech, but I have never listened to a straight album. I predict 3–4 stars. Favorite track(s): Paper Tiger Post-Listen Thoughts: This album was super pretty. I was super tired today and this was kind of sad I can tell he was going through a rough break up, but still very good.
Feeling cheerful? This album will fix that. First time I heard it, I may have been mildly depressed and I hated it. Now I have better balance, it's still quite the dose of misery. It's rare that I want that, but if I am by myself and want to go there then Beck brings it. I would not listen to this with a friend I want to keep. Though I did hear him play "Lost Cause" live once, that was dope because I was surrounded mostly bt strangers.
A far more serious and mature album from Beck than his previous releases.
Right off the bat my jam. Smooth singer/songwriter stuff that I like way more than Alt rock/hip hop adjacent Beck from Odelay and his 90s hits. Has a Radiohead feel I like and apes a lot of others but hey I like it from first blush.
Enjoyment: 7 Replayability: 7 Cohesion: 8 Flow/Pacing: 7 Artistic Merit: 6 Weighted Average: 7 Review: This is the first time I've listened to Beck. Even though I'm not in the head space for it now, I can tell this would be a golden playlist for some sad boy hours. Liked Song(s): The Golden Age, Guess I'm Doing Fine, Lost Cause, Little One Disliked Song(s): Paper Tiger, Sunday Sun Recommend? Yes
Ну як без нього)))
Very chill compared to the other Beck songs I know. Pleasant with a few cool songs
Awesome
7 keepers in 12 (58%). Incredibly cohesive. No idea how to numerically quantify that. Certainly enough to bump to 4 stars.
It's mellow and it had a nice atmosphere for a rainy day. I'd give it a 3.5, but that's not possible so rounding up.
The golden age - 3 Paper tiger - 4 Guess i'm doing fine - 4 Lonesome tears - 4 Lost cause - 4 End of the day - 4 It's all in your mind - 4 Round the bend - 3 Already dead - 3 Sunday sun - 3 Little one - 4 Side of the road - 3
I liked this. Not as out there as some of Beck's other work. Solid 4 from me.
Fun!
Quasi dieci anni dopo Odelay, Beck pubblica un album diametralmente opposto al tipo di sperimentazione psichedelica e aggressiva che sentiamo nell'altro disco. In Sea Change emerge il Beck cantautore, con canzoni tranquille, dolci e ripetitive (forse sull'onda Radiohead). Sicuramente il lato alternativo resta in entrambi i dischi.
For all his whizzy inventiveness, this is the kind of Beck record I'm more likely to reach for. I was a big fan of Mutations when that came out, and this feels like more of the same, if not quite as good. Not sure I've listened to it properly before, for some reason but I'm glad to have done so now. It doesn't hook me in quite the same way as Mutations did, but I like the spacious, laid back, singer-songwriter vibe. It's a break-up album, apparently, but some of the best records are.
Absolutely iconic, revolutionary.. this guy has his own style and its instantly recognizable So many good songs here that I thought were spread out in different albums. More of this please!!
Crazy good album. Can't believe it's taken me 31 years to realise. I've listened so much to Morning Phase, and this just sounds like the perfect precursor for that album. Truly great, maybe even worthy of a fiver? Gotta see if it stands as tall after a couple of listens - might edit my review later! 4.1
J'ai pas trouvé du coup j'ai écouté une compil de the monks, au début jme sentais comme un vieux singe mais en fait j'ai kiffé c'est bien cheper mais cohérent bravo et très atypique
Starts off a little slow in the first track, making me concerned we're getting slow whiney Beck rather than funky hip Beck. But the second track is wonderful. Great slow groove. A few more tracks in and it's definitely whiney Beck, but somehow it doesn't bother me so much in this one. Most of these songs have a groove to them, despite being pretty slow. I still don't like it as much as Odelay or Guero, but it's pretty good.
If this album came out today, it would be the biggest thing in music ever. Although that's usually my opinion on anything produced by Nigel Godrich. Love half, the other half is ok.
am anfang hatte mich das SAU. die letzten waren bisschen zäh. aber trotzdem krass
Chill and moody pop music with rich instrumentation that's simple yet engaging. I love how the songs are all so layered. Paper Tiger and Sunday Sun were standouts but it was all pretty good.
This album makes me sad because he is sad. Really good.
This might be my favorite Beck album. It's a very specific mood, though. Sometimes it's just too melancholy. But when it hits right, it really hits.
I like all the Becks. But not all of them rise to a 5, this album among them.
4/5 - I like Sad Beck. Maybe I like Beck more than I think, and it's just Odelay that bugs me.
A way more introspective album than his previous ones. This guy is so talented that the switch is completely obvious and a total success. Favorite song: Lost Cause
I've dabbled with Beck's catalog but wouldn't consider myself a fan necessarily. I had never gotten around to Sea Change but this was pretty great actually. It's reserved and moody, the intricate musical details come through really well as this was fantastically produced. Paper Tiger is a standout track for me and this may be my favourite Beck album I've listened to. 4 stars
3.5
And another Beck album?! Also very worth listening, think Moby with more wit on acid. :^). The man is not a Loser.
Prior to this album, I was only really familiar with a couple of Beck's mainstream singles ("Loser", "Girl"). According to the background information, this is not a typical Beck album (I never get the most known work by an artist on this generator anyway). The music is gentle, acoustic country folk music. It's sad and so very beautiful. It was a soft, passionate listen, and though country elements aren't really my thing, other elements in here I enjoyed and made it a great listen. I would definitely listen again if I'm in the right mood for it.
This is great, but not exactly a pleasurable listen. Nigel Godrich is a master at misery with strings. The production is immaculate. It feels like a sad Beck album if Air replaced the samples.
Smutny chłopiec z ładnym głosem. Ale czasami brzmi, jakby był smutny, bo chciał śpiewać country, ale coś mu nie wyszło.
momentami muli, ale ładnie zoriekstrowane
This is another win for 21st century music in my book, and another data point that I most appreciate (contemporary) artists that blend styles together, both in terms of acoustic/electronic and in terms of genre. I recall a friend of mine lamenting how Beck was robbed at the Grammies some time in middle school, but I'd never listened to him seriously until now, so I appreciate the opportunity. He seems cut from the same cloth as Father John Misty. Many styles and influences, but clearly centered around indie/experimental country(?). The instrumentals are very novel and exciting; if these are all his arrangements I'm seriously impressed with his creativity. My only criticism might be that his voice sounds lethargic at times, but it's a minor complaint. He's clearly a skilled singer, so I think it's partially a stylistic choice. I feel confident with a solid 4
Before “Sea Change,” I had never listened to any of Beck’s work besides “Loser,” which is an interesting song, to say the least. This is probably why I was baffled to hear the soft, acoustic intro of “Golden Age,” but it goes to show how much genre experimentation he did (and I would too if I were him). It is insane how much this album parallels the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” era. I could hear the resemblance between the strings on “A Day in the Life” and countless tracks on this album; it’s not a surprise that when I Googled “Does Beck get inspiration from the Beatles?” the AI Overview gave me twenty thousand examples. Not to mention the hints of Radiohead, confirmed again by the fact that Nigel Godrich, the producer of this album, has produced almost every Radiohead album. Half of the songs on the album I would listen to on a chill, sunny walk in New York City, and half of them I would listen to while lying awake at 3 a.m. on a school night. This album does a lot of experimentation (quite psychedelic-rock-esque, maybe) while still falling under the indie rock umbrella, but I did find some aspects of the album a bit repetitive or reused. However, many lyrics and sounds are beautiful yet haunting; the best way to describe it, in my opinion, is being on the edge of a cliff, looking out at the setting sun, with nothing in front of you for miles. As a whole, the sound of most tracks complements the other tracks well, and his low-register voice is perfect for the instrumentals in the background. When I heard “Lonesome Tears” and “Little One,” I basically ascended. Although I did find some tracks to lack melody, I think this album holds up for what it is: the quintessential “breakup album,” which I will definitely come back to in my mid-20s or something, but not necessarily now (this is a lie; I revisited the album exactly one day after listening to it). It’s so funny that I originally thought Beck was this niche, underground artist, but after researching, I learned that he has eight Grammy Awards, which is insane. I am so excited that there are two more of his records on the list, but I'm surprised “Morning Phase” isn’t on it…I guess I’ll give it a listen myself. 4/5
Had never listened to this. Loved it
I really liked this album a lot. In fact I kinda love it. It's possibly my favorite Beck album. Definitely the best I've heard. It's very rootsy and folksy. I kept hearing this as a comparison to *Morning Phase* but there is more of a glossy cinematic approach to the latter album which kept me at arms length. This one feels more rooted... I liked it a lot more (9.2) ★★★★½
This is a cool album that kind of comes off as a more earnest version of *Mutations*. I like Nigel Goodrich's production on this, because it adds some spaciness to what normally be a sadcore folk album, and the result is pretty great. I do wish there was a bit more of Beck's trademark weirdness at times here as it does start to feel a little one note by the end, but there's still plenty of great tunes here, including "The Golden Age", "Guess I'm Doin' Fine", "Lost Cause" and "It's All in Your Mind". 4.5 stars.
I’m on a boat
A lovely listen. Very much enjoyed.
Initially it felt a bit sad for me, but it's so well made I put it on again.
This album caught me by surprise when I first heard it, which can be pleasant. Beck had flirted with folky, acoustic simple songs before, but never quite like this, and never for an entire album. I had put him in a box in my head of kinda-jokey alt-rocker and this album of love and heartbreak songs with strings and no samples or drum machines took a minute to square with my preconceptions of Beck as an artist. But this turned into an album that I have a lot of affection for and return to regularly. As un-Beck-like as it is, it may be my favorite Beck album.
Ik merk dat ik het lastig vind om hier een mening in te vormen, het heeft potentie om uit te groeien tot iets wat ik vaker zou willen luisteren maar het is er nog niet helemaal, ik kan er niet echt de vinger opleggen maar in feite bevat dit album wel veel aspecten die ik mooi vind: akoestische gitaar, mooie strucuren, originaliteit. misschien moet ik even wennen aan zijn stem, er zit genoeg in. ik geeft het t voordeel van de twijfel 4 sters.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Var inte så imponerad till en början. Men återigen med ett antal lyssningar började jag hitta kärnan och tillslut gav jag efter. Det är ett antal spår som jag verkligen tycker om. Albumet rakt, naket och ärligt och stuntals lite jobbigt (pgr av det personliga) att lyssna på. Det är mycket enklare och mer rakt produktonsmässigt och bygger mer på texterna än det jag hört från Beck tidigare. Jag kommer nog komma tillbaka till det, men man bör nog vara i rätt sinesstämning för att lyssna på det. Bäst är Thw golden age, Guess I'm doing fine, Lonsome tears, Lost cause, It's all in your head, Already dead
Fitting title, as this one is a departure in tone compared to Beck's previous work(not counting Mutations). Now how does it fare against choppy waters? Strongly, I'd say. There's a bit of a dip with Round the Bend and Already Dead, but those aren't even bad. Overall, very solid showing from Beck, second favorite of his behind Odelay. Highlights-The Golden Age, Paper Tiger, Guess I'm Doing Fine, Lonesome Tears, Lost Cause, End of the Day, Sunday Sun, and Little One.
Trodde jag hade svårt för Beck. Mycket bra.
Satte på albumet 05.40 när jag lämnar lägenheten för att ta tåget mot stan, sen mot Roskildefestivalen. Varm och fuktig luft ger en riktig utomlandskänsla. Samtidigt som första låtens första toner strömmar genom lurarna går ett rus genom kroppen. Fy fan vad fint det här ska bli. Svårt att ge en rättvis bedömning och en annan dag kanske det skulle varit ett annat betyg, men idag blir det fyra! Mycket trevlig morgonlyssning.
Spännande utveckling för Beck på bara ett par dagar! Tyckte det här var rätt vackert. Snygga låtar, fina stråkarr, smakfull gitarr. Han sjunger jävligt fint när han menar allvar. Växte med en andra lyssning, gick från ”är det här lite tråkigt?” till solid 4a!
There are definitely moments where it drags and I think I'd have to be in the right mood for it, but I think it's such a gorgeous breakup album. I love the guitar and the string arrangements. I like his voice, although I think it suits some tracks more than others. I thought it was a really good feeling your feelings album. It needs a little patience to get into, but I'm glad I gave it the time. Fav song: The Golden Age Least fav: End Of The Day
I love melancholic music; I thought the first half of the album was great, with its minimalist acoustic guitar and electronic influences
Very vibey album but I can't listen 1 song outside the album
This is unexpected. Yeah, I know of Beck, but not like this. The production, themes and style are consistent and strong throughout. As an album I imagine it rewards repeat listens. It is Beck does Nick Drake.
So glad this album found me during summer.
When this came out I was blown away by "serious Beck". Up to that point, as a fairly casual listener, I liked, sometimes loved Beck's albums - they were playful, clever, really well produced, genre-hopping classics. They never felt completely serious or honest though, and while that was never all that much of a criticism, the irony over the top always undercut any sense that you could get to know him easily through his music. Mutations came close, but still felt like a Bowie-style facade in many ways. This one corrected that - lyrically it's super sad the whole way through, a very sincere sounding breakup album, and the music perfectly suits that and has one distinct sound and style as opposed to the jump cut craziness that came before. Having said all of that, it isn't my favourite - Mutations and Odelay pip it at the post in terms of overall "Must hear before you die"-ness for me, but this runs a very, very close third on most days. And on the odd occasion when things are feeling bad and a heartbreak album is needed, this is Beck's best one.
I love sad Beck. He kept all of the complex instrumentation and honed in on words that make you feel. This one of those albums that make you sad to be in a happy relationship because you know these would HIT if you needed them to. Highlights: Guess I'm Doing Fine, Already Dead
I didn't know this record existed since I never really paid attention to Beck after his two big 90s hits. I'm quite enjoying it. It is a lot of sad, but was made more interesting because of his choices for the instrumentation beyond his guitar, like the strings behind "Paper Tiger." I was occasionally reminded of some of the stuff on Radiohead's "A Moon-shaped Pool” (which was coincidentally also produced by Godrich, but of course came out 14 years after this album). On hearing the whole thing I can say it's consistently good, and varied enough to be more interesting than the standard sad-guy-with-a-guitar material by other artists. You wouldn't think while listening to "Loser" that he would eventually come out with music like this - I'll listen to it again. 4 stars
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, a relaxing listen after a long day at work.
I had been meaning to buy this for a while, liked Odelay and loved Midnite Vultures, so was excited to generate it. I do like it, lovely melodies and interesting production. This time he has gone with a singer songwriter feel and that is not something I am going to complain about. But here is the but, none of the songs stood out, it all seemed like one song so I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I could have. But again, something made me relisten and I am beginning to really feel it, especially the second half.
An album for the sad bois. "The Golden Age" has been a favorite song of mine for a while now and has been the soundtrack to many sad or melancholy moments in my life.
The first few seconds of The Golden Age pull at my heart on a deep level, the yearning in the song is just so affecting. There are other good songs on here like Lost Cause end Guess I'm Doing Fine but nothing quite lives up to The Golden Age for me
For a depressing atmosphere
The Golden Age - 3.5/5 Paper Tiger - 3/5 Guess I'm Doing Fine - 3/5 Lonesome Tears - 4/5 Lost Cause - 4.5/5 End Of The Day - 3.5/5 It's All In Your Mind - 3.5/5 Round The Bend - 4/5 Already Dead - 3.5/5 Sunday Sun - 2/5 Little One - 3.5/5 Side Of The Road - 4/5
8/10
I really like this album. Hadn’t listened to it before but was a passing Beck fan based on his 90’s output so when listening to this I was really surprised by the style. I can hear a lot of Nick Drake and some John Martyn on some of the tracks. It’s not one to get you out of bed ready to face the day but it’s really great song writing. 4.3
Sad Beck is nice Beck
4/5. It’s a songwriter tradition to eventually have a breakup/divorce album. Whether that be Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks”, Marvin Gaye’s “Here my Dear” or Björks “Vulnicura.” Sea Change is Becks breakup album, seeing him tackle feelings of grief and loneliness after his decade-ish long relationship. And in being that, it’s the Beck album that feels the most emotionally sincere and honest, there’s none of that 90’s gen-X irony to be seen here. It also sounds much different than you’d expect for a Beck album with a much greater focus on live instrumentation, acoustics and orchestration. It was also produced by Nigel Godrich, most famous for producing a ton of Radioheads stuff and you can definitely feel his influence all over the moody sound of this album, and the production here is fantastic. I also took note of some Nick Drake influence here, especially on the song “Round the Bend” where the strings really reminded me of Nicks song “River Man.” Great album and I could honestly see a solid argument that this is Becks best.
Becking
I really enjoyed this one, and I actually suggested it to my son, who likes a lot of 90s music. I think this could be right up his alley. He likes to put on lo-fi music sometimes.
No. 213 I like the vocals and songs. It's worth revisiting once in a while.
324/1001 Beck - Sea Change Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Do I prefer the weirdness of the likes of Odelay? Absolutely. However, I do really enjoy this more stripped back, personal approach on this album.
Beck was always a sort of oddity in my music journey. I had never really given much of his work the time of day save for finding "Loser" to be a brilliantly written piece of surrealist 90s irony. I suppose I also maintain that "Devil's Haircut" is also an absolute banger. Being given Sea Change as my listen finally forced me to confront some of his catalogue for the first time, and I have to say, this album is pretty well exactly what I look for in a singer songwriter's oeuvre: drawn-out, dramatic vocal performances, a strings-and-beats instrumental and a flair for spacey production. I was shocked Nigel Godrich produced this over Daniel Lanois, because Lanois' airy dreamlike fingerprints are all over this thing. Beck also shocks me with this boozy, forlorn vocal that kind of sounds like a cross between Scott Walker and a despondent Bono. Really threw me for a loop when I first heard him. To some it would probably be very easy to dismiss Sea Change as a boring album: it's probably the most uniform Beck album sound-wise, with everything essentially keeping up that string-heavy folk style. Probably one of the least eclectic of Beck's releases, but that works in its favour and really makes Beck's songwriting shine here. One thing I can criticize here is nothing really stands out aside from the big singles on this "The Golden Age" and "Lose Cause," but I can forgive that as the bar for quality is pretty up there. It's also a pretty frontloaded album with most of the top-tier material showing up before track 6. I was pleasantly surprised by this album, a left-turn release from one of the most eccentric singer songwriters to come out of the 90s alternative boom. Turns out (ex-)Scientologists can make good music sometimes... Key Tracks: The Golden Age, Paper Tiger, Lonesome Tears, Little One
I don't know much about Beck, but I know this isn't what he generally sounds like. Very singer-songwriter and borderline dream pop at times. I like it a lot.
Rating: 8/10 I'm not really a Beck fan but Sea Change may just lowkey be an early 2000's folk masterpiece, probably his magnum opus. It's produced by longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, and you can definitely feel that influence even though the style of music is very different. It actually sounds a lot like the folk pop masterpiece A Moon Shaped Pool that Godrich would help Radiohead make 15 years later. He also seems to be doing his best Nick Drake impression sometimes, which is kinda fine by me. These elements make for a dramatic left turn from Beck's usual silly quirkiness that his previous music had. Instead it's pure melancholy. It's not the most original creative thing and the first half is better, but all around it's a really great listen.
standard beck, but the slow bits. 3.5
#22 I haven't heard this sad/ melancholy side of Beck before, but it's good. Great production quality, with beautiful use of strings throughout. I really like The Golden Age and Paper Tiger. No bad tracks, but I wish there was just a little more variation in the sound for an album this long.
Love it
maybe i'm biased because this my era but this just is nice. it doesn't piss me off. may not be a new sound but he does it well Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: maybe 3.7
One of my absolute goddamn favorites. Lost Cause holds deep personal meaning for me. Is the rest of the album as good? No, but some of it almost is. This is the sound of early 2000s disintegration, back when we thought the personal side of disintegration still mattered.
mega sadge and calm, i didnt expect it from beck, lol
Funky Beck is a 5, mellow Beck is a 4.
Beck might be my desert island artist. If I could only take one discography to an island to keep me sane and human, it could be his. I've always enjoyed this album, though I think he's strictly at his best when he's trying to be a bit looser, more fun, experimental. A few parts of this drift past me, but overall he is just a genius songwriter. The songs and compositions are beautiful, even when they're forgettable. Volcano is one of my all time favourites by him. So not my favourite Beck album, but far from a chore.
It's just a very very pretty album.
Beautiful and sad.
Mega depresso, but also kinda uplifting?
Good, but boring.
Slow vibe for a beautiful morning
Dream folk - I love the blurred amble of of so many of these tracks. I come away relaxed and introspective without even realizing what I was listening to. The bass line on Paper Tiger feels like it's straight from an Air album in the best way, with the strings keeping breathing life into the melancholy. This is great.
Más o menos conozco la discografía de Beck, pero justo este disco no. Para empezar, curioso que en menos de una semana haya escuchado dos álbumes con referencias directas a Histoire de Melody Nelson de Serge Gainsbourg, ya con eso me ganaron; muy distinto a lo que había escuchado de Beck, este álbum es más lento, más melancólico. Muy bueno.
I’ve heard this before and I own it. It took me a while to appreciate this album since it’s such a departure from all his earlier work, especially with the serious and heartfelt lyrics. Some earlier Beck albums have songs with heartfelt lyrics but there was always a layer of irony and absurdism to it. The music lacks any irony and the absurdity is limited to some odd electronic flourishes that are easy to miss. When you stop comparing it to his earlier work, it’s a strong album with good indie folk songs that are a cut above the rest of what was being done at the time, although very sad-sack lyrically and best to listen to when you’re in a particular mood.
This is a sad album. A really sad one. Beck obviously had some issues with his breakup and decided to bleed out on the pages of this album liner. His lyrics are honestly the most coherent I have heard at this point and I really appreciate that as I can only take the tongue in cheek absurdism that he usually writes for about half an album. You know, I really like this one. I have only been familiar with Lost Cause before (shoutout to Beyond: Two Souls for introducing it to me, you were a mixed bag of a video game) and it has become a breakup song that I put on every now and then. Beck has a great ear for music, and as much as I have mixed feelings on the first listens of his songs, they usually always grow on me after another listen. This album was a much more immediate enjoyment of the album - I think that everyone that has ever dated or have had a lost love can latch onto the sadness of this one. To me, Beck's other albums are a mix of emotions and you can have a sadder song followed by a bop that you want to dance to. This album is a bath in sadness, thick like honey that will take a while to shake off once you're done with it. I really enjoy it. Playlist Pick: Guess I'm Doing Fine
Very enjoyable. Packed with raw emotion and I adore the vocals
Used to remeber ts in a old apple itunes presentation lol
So nostalgic and full of emotions
I think I’m a Beck fan now? 4.5
Bosd
Love the dreamy feel of this album. Some great arrangements but feels like it could use a change of pace at some point. 4
This was very good. For some reason, I never paid attention to Beck, but I enjoyed this one. At times, it reminded me of Ryan Adams (in songs like "Guess I'm Doing Fine"). Quite, intimate...sad songs mostly. Some of the tracks sound simple, but they are not. Others have nice arrangements and sound more "atmospheric". Some songs I liked: "The Golden Age", "Paper Tiger" (loved the strings and arrangements), "Guess I'm Doing Fine", "Lonesome Tears", "Already Dead", "Side of the Road" (great guitar work). Overall, I think all songs are, at least, good. I think this is a solid 4 stars.
Beck stelt nooit teleur, dit is wel een groeiplaat denk ik
rustig ma opnieuw goe vr studeren 3.5
biennn
4/5
Such a relaxed album. Sat on the floor playing with my dog to it having a really swell time.
A beautiful, sad record and a significant departure from the usual Beck sound. Further listening could bump this up but for now it’s a solid 4
Tristesse en douceur
Wow. Only listened to Mellow Gold before this, and I really liked it, but I came into this one not sure what to expect. It's a much smoother album than Mellow Gold, but still really nicely displays Beck's unique take on folk music, this time combining a traditional Singer-Songwriter sound with some gorgeous orchestrations and then layering it with genuinely fascinating electronic textures. It's a beautiful, deeply touching album, and the subtle range of sounds that the album presents kept me fully engaged and left me sad when it ended.
I've drastically changed my opinion on Sea Change more times than I care to count, but after all these years, I think my opinion on the album is pretty much set in stone. First of all, I have to give some praise to Nigel Godrich. Overall, he's easily the best producer Beck has worked with and he does a great job here as well. Despite the dreary subject matter, Sea Change has a surprisingly warm and comforting atmosphere, mostly thanks to its polished sound and apt placements of the rare moments of messiness you'll stumble upon here. Beck's vocals are dark-toned, yet soothing and emotive, as well as perfectly mixed. The songwriting, well, it's a mixed bag. In fact, Sea Change is one of the most front-loaded albums you'll ever hear. The lyrics switch between creative and uninspired almost constantly, which is a shame because I can't remember Beck ever really fumbling in this department before this album. However, I really have nothing bad to say about Sea Change for the entirety of its first half. The second half is where the cracks really start to show. The album switches from a display of creative moroseness to a display of dejected boredom. I don't want to discredit the second half entirely, there are a couple of really great moments there as well, especially between Already Dead and Little One. Sunday Sun is the highlight with some surprising and welcome touches of neo-psychedelia. However, in general, the wonderfully emotional choruses of The Golden Age and Guess I'm Doing Fine, the fabulous instrumental breaks of Paper Tiger and Lonesome Tears and the sheer beauty of Lost Cause are all painfully missing here. The tracks I haven't mentioned are sadly a massive fumble in all departments and really bring the album down. Overall, though, it's a solid release, even if it pales in comparison to his best work. You'll definitely start to appreciate it much more once you try going through Morning Phase and his latest one-off ballads. Not even 300 days into this challenge and I generated all Beck albums from the list. Personally, I'd pick four of his albums for the list that do a better job of showcasing Beck's diversity and creative brilliance at the height of his songwriting abilities. Those albums would be Odelay, Midnite Vultures, Mutations and The Information. Favourite track: Paper Tiger
Beck wrote a The National album? I'm here for it
Play this album all the time in the morning. Its chill. Beck doesn’t disappoint.
2nd full length Beck album I've listened to. Very good, but I need to give it another proper listen
Maybe a bit unfairly criticized as a Serge Gainsbourg rip-off at the time of its release, Sea Change is otherwise an expansion of Beck’s acoustic, melancholic mode. I did a deep dive with it last summer and it’s maybe my 1A favourite Beck album alongside Odelay. His subsequent revisiting of the sound is a little too broad for me, but doesn’t take away or dilute the quality here.
8 - good chill album
Tosi rauhallisen ja hyvän kuulosta, hyvin tuotettua musaa. Tarvii tutustua tämän perusteella muuhun tuotantoon. Artisti nimenä tuttu, ja hittibiisejä varmasti kuullut paljonkin, levylistalta löytynee paljon syvyyttä hittibiisien lisäks. Enemmän ku mid
Heel aangenaam en rustgevend
So sick. Beck ran so Halloween Alaska and Pedro could also run
I listened to Beck's Guero back on album 38 (I'm at 338 now). I didn't like it very much, and that's been pretty much my attitude about his music since I first heard Loser when it came out. He's just never done anything I found all that interesting. I was floored by this album. Such emotional depth from someone I thought was mainly just a goof and who didn't seem to want to be taken seriously. But this is one that must be taken seriously. I am a sucker for depressing break-up albums in general, and this did not disappoint. Standout songs for me were The Golden Age, Guess I'm Doing Fine, Lost Cause, and It's All in Your Mind. If I have one complaint it's that the album is maybe one or two songs too long. Not that there are any bad ones, but there are a couple that could be removed and it would make for a tighter record.
Liked this alot.
Probs best one so far tbh
Beautiful record. I love Beck, he's such a chameleon. This acoustic laid back style of his is my personal fave and this album has some classics
Favourite Songs: Paper Tiger Lonesome Tears Little One
Pretty good sad and will revisit
I feel like this would have been a formative album for me if I had heard it during my moody high school years. As it stands, it feels a bit one note. It's a good note, but one note nonetheless.
Introspective and reflective. It's rather different to most Beck records that I've listened to, understandably so in light of the situation and motivation for making it. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
First Beck album I've listened all the way through. Always liked him, but never bothered before. This was good, obviously a divorce album
Wow, what a departure from what I expected from Beck. Tender and morose, there isn't a shred privacy on this album, he (they?) are wide open and vulnerable to the core. Sunday Sun is a phenomenal crescendo, a d the denouement doesn't leave me feeling cheated. Superb
Not my vibe
some indie, so far so good. upd - a solid listen, will listen again but not enthusiasticaly its a pleasure to learn ab the artist though
Really enjoyable. Lost cause an absolute banger.
Me gustó mucho Me hizo acordar un poco a coldplay pero este no me da bronca
Mellow beck is better than rapping beck.
Certainly a different vibe from Beck. Despite the gloom at points on this album, it was musically a really good listen.
Beck always finds a way to impress me
wow-this sounds nothing like Guero or Odelay. much darker, melancholy sound. enjoyed the arrangements and his emotions in the lyrics.
Eindrückliche und schöne stimme die eine gute Musikuntermakung hat
One of the best overall vibe albums that maintains a certain level of good. Not the best, but a great piece of art.
fucked with this heavy
Sumptous sound throughout, and I feel like I could detect a slight Gainsbourg influence in the instrumentation. Probably the most satisfying Beck album I've had generated so far.
Some nice tunes. I made the mistake of listening while working out. PSA - it’s definitely not work out music. Sad and mopey for when you’re on that kind of mood.
Very pretty songs. Lot's of instruments and stuff going on.
More lowkey and depressing than the typical Beck album. Enjoyed it, but won't be first on my list when listening to Beck.
Amazing record. Sad Beck is great Beck! This album is only second to Midnite Vultures (Wild n’ Fun Beck)
I’m generalising here but this isn’t the horny beck does Prince-isms of midnite vultures but is sad Beck does Radiohead. That is a generalisation but Nigel Godrichs production does bring a sad bond theme vibe. The palatte is much broader than that though- at times Beck sounds like Nick Drake and the lush orchestration and excellent acoustic playing doesn’t dissuade that view. A deeply personal album that has enough cracks of light to let you in
My friend was telling me how his dad used to play him The Golden Age when he was little, so I was a little familiar with this, but I was surprised by just how different this was from really anything else I've heard from him. Obviously Loser and stuff, but even his stuff later like Modern Guilt and such is just a lot more energetic. I really liked this though, I think slowing his sound down and making it more personal was a really smart move for him and I think it works really well for him here. Just a really solid album all the way through. Favorites: The Golden Age, Guess I'm Doing Fine, Little One
Smart lyrics, laid-back vibe. All of it really speaks to the loneliness we all know at some point. Deliciously alt-country. Closer to 4.5 than 4.
Sad Beck is still great Beck
Beck peels away the experimental instrumentation and production of his earlier albums in favour of a live, acoustic, almost psychedelic folk sound. The album has a lazy, laboured feel, and some lush melodies. But Beck is at his best when he engages the listener with unexpected melodies and instrumentation. While there are hints of this, such as in the melodic journey of the emotive "Lonesome Tears", such heights are few and far between. And thus for all Beck's talents, it is hard to see this project as more than a set of good, but similar, melancholic heartbroken tracks.
Unique artist, not afraid to experiment with different sounds, and genres. Good music.
Break up álbum, de verdad le dolió a mi buen Beck Su forma de externar lo que sentía fue hacer algo así de sincero Tiene algunas letras más profundas que otras, son embargo, creo que mantiene su esencia de sobre que trata sobre todo el álbum, merece revisita 3.5
Tosi tunnelmallista ja chilliä, folk ja kantri rokkia Beckiltä. Yllätyin kyllä. Tosi siistit nuo jousitaustat kappaleissa. Tulee vähän sellainen Radiohead fiilis niistä kappaleisiin. Ja sointuvalinnoista myös. Parhaat: Round The Bend, Lonesome Tears
Tää oli ihana. Miksen oo enemmän kuunnellut?
And i wanted to be And i wanted to be I wanted to be Your good friend
A lovely album. Knowing the context that it was made during his divorce, it makes a lot of sense. It’s very slow, with some beautiful guitar work. It has a more somber tone overall in comparison to Odelay. Not really an upbeat number in the bunch, but still a genuinely pleasant album.
The mellowness of this record can fool you on how great it actually is, as Beck makes his breakup album a massive introspection on the universe. It's very mellow, perhaps sometimes too mellow for a near hour runtime. But then again, it's also gorgeous, and the arrangements (done by Beck's father, a composer) are both lush and used as a flourish and feature. It's some of Beck's best work, even if he's best remembered as a freak folk, lo-fi pioneer.
Wow! Was not expecting this. Have never been a fan of Odelay and have therefore shied away from Beck. I could admire Odelay, but just didn’t like it. This on the other hand, is right up my street. Think it’s the more traditional production that draws me in better. I like! 4. Going into rotation
I feel like this album strikes a nice balance of being sad but not gloomy or self-pitying. I would put this firmly over Beck's other more laid back albums.
The easiest Beck record I have listened to. A way more melodic approach was used. Really liked it.
Kendte det meste, men blev draget tilbage til at høre albummet igen og igen og igen. Det kan helt sikkert noget særligt som album!
2026.04.03
Not his best but a very good album nonetheless
The whole album flows like a great and lush soundscape.
First track was a good start to the album. Melancholic record.
<3 lindisimo
Solid stuff.
I gotta listen to more Beck.
I sometimes find it hard to put into words why I really like an album. The feeling and emotion are hard to describe. I just really enjoyed this and will definitely come back to it a lot.
It's an interesting turn for Beck to just make a breakup album that barely even resembles his other work. It sticks out, but mostly in a good way. Surprisingly cohesive and I always got the impression of it being honest and genuine.
I liked it and I wasn't expecting to. The songs were mellow and developed and I got into them.
Beck has never been an artist I've been particularly interested in. Sure, everyone talks about 'Loser', how seamlessly it fused gnarly hip hop with dirty rock, and while I can appreciate its uniqueness, it's not a sound I'm naturally drawn to. I just don't get that 'white boy swag'. That being said, 'Mutations' entered my consciousness because of Nigel Godrich's production work, which I've obviously known from Radiohead, and the indie hymn 'Nobody's Fault But My Own'. With the much less sample-driven, more band-orientated sound I enjoyed Beck's motionless crooning a little more, so I dived into his discography a little more. 'Sea Change', I think, is one of his better albums, and certainly one that's gaining from its dense atmosphere. This is a break-up album, so everything reeks with tearjerking melancholy, juxtaposed with Beck's vocals – an indifferent voice, almost as if he's given up on even trying to put any effort into it all. This is the sound of a man that's been overtaken by the unpredictability of life: love and heartbreak. Usually, that's right up my alley, but something keeps me from really being emotionally attached to this. From the American avant-indie, I much prefer The Flaming Lips or the Eels' eccentricities. But this is still a solid album, with lovely pearly melodies and great songwriting.
For some reason I was convinced that I wasn't going to like this, but I actually really enjoyed it. I don't know how often I would revisit this album, however there's several songs that I would listen to again.
It's incredibly somber throughout... which I did kind of love, though I do usually sting an album for not holding much emotional variation. That criticism, if I am to keep any amount of integrity, still holds. Despite this, Hansen's voice is incredible from track to track and the instruments all hit the melancholic feelings perfectly. Stand out tracks for me were "Golden Age", "Lonesome Tears", "End of the Day", "It's all in your mind", "Round the Bend", Especially with "Round the Bend", the strings and soft guitar made for something both beautiful and horrifically tense for Hansen's voice to slalom around. Listened twice in a row; 3:17 is when that flood of relief feeling kicked in for me as the tension gave way to a warm wave of major notes. Overall a beautiful album, though with not a single upbeat or mood shifted song from the humdrum keeps it from the 5.
Hmmm. I’m torn. This is a beautiful album (Lonesome Tears such a great song!) but it has none of the quintessential Beck jaggedness and quirkiness. Beck needs to be weird, not a seasoned singer songwriter. It’s a great record but not the Beck you must listen to (probably Odelay or Midnight Vultures). Oh drum work on some of these songs is mind boggingly good, especially considering how this type of music doesn’t leave a lot of room for percussion. four stars.
When this album came out I was mesmerized and it’s good. But I don’t think it’s as great as I once thought. The second half in particular really trails off. That said, for Beck to do this after albums like Odelay and Midnight Vultures made him a household name, it’s a true test of artistry to go out in a limb like this. Stripped back, beautifully done, somgs of love and despair are a far cry from Loser and that’s what makes this a must listen.
Lots of very pretty songs.
Good music, interesting, hangs together very well as an album.
I really enjoy Beck’s voice. I think this album set the stage for what he would record with morning phase which is a phenomenal record.
This feels like a very intimate and vulnerable album, with the vocals sounding as if they were recorded quite close to the microphone. I've not heard this artist's other music, but I have heard that this album is quite different in mood to the rest... I think it's a really nice sound. However, I feel like you have to be in a very specific mood to listen to it. As individual songs, they work really well, but listening to it top to bottom as an album in one sitting, I can see how it would drag on slightly, with no real variation of genre throughout. I did, however, really enjoy the use of strings within the instrumentation. Standouts: The Golden Age Guess I'm Doing Fine It's All In Your Mind End Of The Day
This is beautiful. I also love the album cover. So vivid
molto bello, soprattutto verso la fine
Non l’ho finito ma le canzoni che ho sentito sono addirittura da 5, quindi nel dubbio do 4
Beck’s least silly but probably best album.
The first 6 songs are arguably the best ‘Sad Dad’ songs ever written. They’re easily 5 star. The back half is a drag at times but on the strength of those first 6 I can’t give lower than 4 stars.