Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Thanks to climate change.
Not his finest
Infinitely better than the last two Beck albums I was forced to endure here. I don't even remember their names they were so bland and inconsequential, but I do recall one of them being unbearable. Anyways, this was quite an enjoyable listen. I think the latter half of this thing really does detract from the first half. A lot of the songs towards the end feel like filler and lack a lot of substance. I just think Beck's melancholy and numbed style doesn't gel with me. I like sad music but Beck sounds more like he's bored than anything while he's making music. Still, if I had to pick a Beck album to listen to for the rest of my life - it'd be this one. I'd give this a 3.5 if I could but I cannot, so I'll bump it up to 4 for a significant improvement to the other Beck slop I had to endure and the fact I enjoyed a majority of this listen.
Absolutely not to my taste whatsoever. I will never enjoy music that is both slow and sad. Unfortunately I have to admit this is some of Beck's most well performed output of the three albums we've gotten so far.
One of my favourite albums of all time and remains such. Deeply melancholic and moving. From the portion of Beck's career were he couldnt help but make melancholic bangers. 10/10
I think this guy should experience more heartache and terrorist attacks. Seriously, his other albums have been pretty awful. Instead of slogging through one sitting like I did with other albums, I listened to this multiple times end to end. The production is great, the mood is well-crafted and it is thoroughly listenable. I am not the biggest fan of the vocals, which is the worst thing I can say about this album. A very pleasant surprise. Highlights: Lonesome Tears
Ok, decent album but can't quite see why it's on this list
I really like Beck. Very clever and original. Except this album. It just doesn't cut it. It is actually quite boring.
nice i like this
Beautifully recorded and mixed. A little too consistently downtempo for me.
good album, i didn’t connect with it the way i wanted to but it was a nice listen. it’s kind of the same vibe as pink floyd but in the early 2000s
Upbeat Beck is best Beck. This stuff is just boring
Absolutely love this album. Gets me every time and I have listened to it 100s of times if not 1000s. It is beautifully melancholy. It is truly an amazing album full of feeling and emotion that isn't often felt by hitting play on a record. A masterpiece.
not familiar with beck but will probably listen more after this
Typically languid Beck fare but he generally does it well. Doesn’t have the “pop” like some of his other work. 3.5
Maybe my favorite Beck record. A break up record with powerful lyrics and the beauty and depth of the music is incredible. You can feel the pain in every verse
Bleak, but Paper Tiger was great. 2.4.
This was unmemorable and fine. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5
I don't mind it, but he doesn't really do anything. It's just mellow and boring, and you'd forget there was supposed to be a musician making a recording. It's not really an album experience, more just listen to someone being sad in the hope that part of it connects to you.
I am only familiar with a couple of Beck albums, neither of which really sounded like this. Sea Change indeed. Ultimately, I didn’t find this one particularly exceptional
Sea Change is one of those albums that feels like it’s happening in slow motion, where every note lands with weight and purpose. It’s Beck stripped of all the irony and cleverness that defined his earlier work, replaced by something raw and weary but beautifully honest. The production is gorgeous — warm, cinematic, and full of space — the kind of record that sounds best when you’re alone and the world feels a bit too heavy. The orchestration from Nigel Godrich gives it that haunting Radiohead-era lushness, but Beck’s voice is what carries the emotion. Tracks like “The Golden Age” and “Guess I’m Doing Fine” hit with quiet devastation, while “Paper Tiger” swirls in strings and melancholy like a dream you don’t want to wake from. It’s heartbreak without melodrama, introspection without self-pity. What makes Sea Change so lasting is how it sits somewhere between sadness and peace. It’s the sound of someone fully accepting loss but still finding beauty in the ashes. Even after all these years, it feels timeless — not just because of how it’s made, but because of how true it feels.
You ever hear an album you haven't listened to for a while and hope it's still as good as you overplayed it years ago and it's even better cuz you understand music a bit more? Also, how is this the same nigga that made Loser
Finally some concrete proof that Scientology works! Why he disavowed it I’ll never know.
Certainly sets a mood
I own this on cd and really enjoyed it when it came out. I haven't listened to it again in years and was a pretty solid 4 star album I think
Another beachy, contemplative album, so close after Neil Young... and both are great. You wouldn't expect this sound from Beck after only knowing "Loser"
Beautiful album but I prefer morning phase similar vibe
Not as good as odelay. Very low key, needs an upbeat song or two.
Folk, well, boring. Too slow for my brain. I guess this is supposed to be a break up album. I guess his relationship was that uneventful. Sorry bro, not good.
Didn’t like it as much as I thought I would, based on what I’ve heard from beck before, not bad tho
Beautiful, peaceful music, ideal for a relaxing train journey
Musica molt chil. M'ha agradat, destac canço: "Lonesome Tears" (la tornare a escoltar)
Not what I associated with Beck. Feels heavily Nick Drake influenced, nice album.
Typical chill Beck
A hidden gem of an album
I bought it at the time and enjoyed it, but a bit meh now
Beck sait écrire de belles chansons c'est indéniable mais un album entier de balades tristes c'est un peu trop.
Better than I thought it would be.
Some really great and well written songs but this album drags
Pretty mellow album for Beck. I prefer his more upbeat stuff.
it's decent, i like the sound of this album.
Incredible, incredible album. No notes.
Beck has no edge on sea change but he’s riding sad boy wave pretty well.
Hey maybe I just listened to it in a good mood, but it was better than the other shit. OK, Beck. Good work I liked “Paper Tiger.”
106 No estaba mal, pero se me hizo eterno. En un momento sentí que escuchaba la misma canción una y otra vez. Si escuchara canciones sueltas tal vez me habría gustado más.
woohoo more Beck!
Enjoyable.
Mellow. Slightly monotonous
i normally enjoy beck's music from what i've heard but i didn't really jibe with this one. it has its moments, but mostly it is very subdued and acoustic, and quite frankly, a bit boring for my taste. i'm used to beck being very progressive with his production and this feels very regressive to me. it's not bad, but i didn't find it very interesting, and quite frankly, a little disappointing.
This is genuinely one of the best acoustic albums of all time. Paper tiger and little one are clear highlights for me. Side of the road is a great closer.
3.9/5 Now this is a nice change of pace... and quality! After RH got tortured for over 2 weeks with some of the most atrocious takes on music my ears had ever witnessed, we finally got a good album. Although I've obv. heard a couple songs from Beck, I've never listened to this album before. It's marked as Folk, but it's really not that. It's melancholic Alternative/Space Rock with a symphonic twist. Actually pretty likeable. What sticks out is that it carries a certain flow that forces you to slow down and chill, similar to works of Pink Floyd. Gotta say, I liked most of it. Many of the songs won't land in my fav list, but there's some gold in here, Lonesome Tears for example.
Pretty interesting ngl. Nothing spectacular
Not the biggest fan. The instrumentation and production was very well done and bumped it up to 3 stars for me, but didn’t really enjoy the voice or the lyrics much.
It was just inoffensive background noise, nothing special
Boring background music. His voice is alright but this could use something.
Relatively mellow Beck album. A good listen.
Love this album!
Beck's best album by a mile.
This was not what I was expecting from a Beck album and it wasn’t bad, but from start to finish the vibes/sound didn’t change much. I feel like it’s a three for now, but it might grow on me with future listens.
Very melodic, pleasing to listen to, and very well produced. Need to listen again
All-time heartbreak classic
I'll admit I've been pretending to have listened to more Beck than I'd like to be perceived to have. This was great, really intimate feeling.
Cool. But didnt quite grip me.
A lot of nice moments and interesting chord progressions, equally a lot of slow-burn inert atmos stuff, which eh
Nice album
This is one where helps to be in the mood for, but it is truly fantastic if you're in that space. I'm generally not this level of sad and depressed, but I still really appreciate it.
holy gen x yeah I am not the target audience for this it’s so boring, every song is so gloomy and dull and they all sound the same 2/5
6/10
I generally like Beck but can't really get into this album.
Beck's sad cowboy album? Technically solid, like a lot of Beck's stuff, but this one didn't grab me has hard as his other albums.
serge but less creepy
why does pitchfork hate beck? 10/10 no notes
mellow and sweet
3/5
The greatest breakup album ever made.
Nice listening but to slow for me.
Serious Beck makes serious music
Beautiful music. I felt like this album flowed perfectly. When taken track by track, the music doesn’t evoke the same response. As a whole, it’s a great example of what an album should be.
Meh.
This hardly feels essential? This feels like Beck said, I wanna make a Radiohead record and tried to do that and accidentally made a Flaming Lips record but it was boring. I'm not a beck fan. How many albums does he have on here? 7/19
Nope.
Good
Another early train ride album, this time in Paris. Definitely confused between air and beck. Good but nothing really stood out
From Country tinged Americana Golden Age, moving to more orchestral strings in Paper Tiger. Melancholic. Seems to be a bit of a break up theme. I thought Album was new to me, Odelay- was the album I had. This is different to that. But Lost Cause, It’s All in your Mind and Sunday Sun all seemed familiar - singles maybe? Eels like songs End of the Day and Little One were good. Round the Bend - first one where the sadness began to grate slightly or maybe just a weaker song. Given a 4 as it’s the best I’ve reviewed but 3.5 would be more accurate. Will listen again.
Thank you Beck for bringing a little interest / new discovery into this project.....the first half of the album sounds gorgeous, i love the acoustic guitars, lush strings and downer lyrics. First 6 songs will going onto my playlist. Was considering a 5 at that point, unfortunately the quality dips a little towards the end
As a fan of the breakup album, this is along with Midnite Vultures my fav Beck album, despite - or perhaps because of - them being polar opposites. Exquisite string arrangements by his da' throughout, this is an album that richly rewards repeated - and close - listens. The Beatles influences that I had largely previously missed had me swooning this time around, the Glass Onion to Day In The Life strings on Lonesome Tears, the harmonies and Helter Skelterish rising cacophony on Sunday Sun. Also loved the switch away from the Grounge revivalist style towards the end of Little One and the pacing of Round The Bend, so achingly slow it almost comes to a standstill..
I mean, it’s Beck doing Nick Drake, but not doing it as well as Nick Drake does Nick Drake. It’s introspective and a little boring at times. Not one of his more appealing works for me.
It was good but didn't impress me.
I guess this album demonstrates that Beck is a musical chameleon. When it comes to his slow music, I prefer Morning Phase album, however this one is perfect adequate for afternoon napping. Favorite Song: Lost Cause
Lullabies for grownups.
Good stuff. Note to self to listen to more Beck albums.
Beck is a considerably underrated composer. His melodies, progressions, and production levels sound fresh now, 23 years after the original release of this album. While some of his other music can have more energy to them, this album stands for cover-to-cover listening for those wanting a lower-key, calmer, but still musically very interesting indie rock exploration.
Actually enjoyed it. Meditative, delicate, acoustic album. Funny to hear Beck like a more grounded artist, rather than living off the hype of Loser.
I was previously familiar with Beck but not with this album. Like his other material, this is alt/indie rock which takes influences from electronic and other genres. This album seems to have a little more country influence than his other albums that I've heard. I liked it and would listen again.
like the vibes
Sad. Depressing. But amazing!
Alternative uit 2002.. Altijd afwachten wat er dan gaat gebeuren. Maar het eerste nummer raakt mij wel goed. Het is rustig, met een mooie begeleidende gitaar. Zijn stem is ook prima aan te horen. Speelt in op je gevoel. Als dit niet te zweverig wordt, dan kan dit best een leuk album zijn. Het springt er niet perse heel erg uit, maar het is wel gewoon een erg fijn album om naar te luisteren. Zou dit eigenlijk een 3.5 willen geven, maar dat gaat niet. Voor een 4 vind ik het toch te weinig, dus dit wordt een 3.
Honestly couldn't differentiate any of the songs
I appreciate it. But in comparison with Blood In The Tracks and other break-up albums, it lacks to me some of that emotional veracity, that emotional resonance. It's too reflective.
The only song of Beck’s I knew this was The Loser. Here, I’m pleasantly surprised. The songs are slow and thoughtful. Sang beautifully by Beck, and containing more than a handful of cathartic emotional releases. A very enjoyable, and easy, listen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've given this a few listens and I feel like there's an incredible album here that just hasn't revealed itself to me yet. This doesnt have his usual collage approach to sound design, or the immediate humorous hooks of a New Pollution or Loser - it's much more sedate, and frankly quite sad. I honestly thought 'Nobody's Fault But My Own' was on here (It isn't, it's on Mutations) - that's one of my favourite songs of his, and it feels like it would fit, so I'm giving this a pre-emptive bump up to 4 because I think it'll continue to grow. But yeah, not what I'd call a cheery album.
Sorry about your failed relationship and props to you for the introspection and willingness to change style, but this is all a little wispy and soft around the edges for me.
Familiar with this artist and album name for Lost Cause, but this would be my first listen all the way through. This album was a lot more slow and melancholy than I initially realized, even with the single I already knew. Upon closer inspection/second listen with lyrics I really appreciated the themes explored - unpacking a breakup and the feelings of depression experienced towards the end and after a relationship has ended. Lost Cause remained the standout for me, but I also enjoyed the sound of Little One found a new appreciation for the album in its entirety.
Bisschen langweilig, aber ganz gut
Lindo
Decent.
Very slow, can see this being good to listen to in a coffee shop
Overall pretty decent, although it could all be one long track. The little bits of silence throughout the album tipped me off that apparently one song ended and a new, different song was beginning. Without those, I'd be lost
OK, relaxing.
Not for me really.. just pretty sloppy and samey
Another album I haven’t listened to for 20 odd years. Pretty nice but a bit uneventful. I did save Lost Cause and Paper Tiger to my playlists.
Doesnt get much better than this as a complete album
pretty chill, early 2000s indie-alt vibes 6/10 enjoyed it but not sure if anything stood out for me to come back to
Just a pretty sad, mopey alternative/indie rock album. I didn't care for anything on it, and it's a little too long. Everything here is ok, but not great.
Not my favorite Beck
I was looking forward to this but found it very bland
Bit dull
Rv
Sooo sad, but beautiful. Need to listen to the first half more actively
I rememeber this album so well when it came out. I listened to it so much. Why isn't it in my regular rotation anymore? Don't know but it's going back in.
I remember when Beck appeared out of nowhere with the song Loser, a song he will be known for his whole life and beyond. I wasn’t too impressed and never really got into him. It seems I might have made a mistake. I thought Beck was just samples, bad white boy rap, and goofy nonsensical lyrics, then he gets his heart broken, and he makes a brilliant album about heartbreak and loss, which is not nonsense. In fact, it's brilliant. Beck’s Sea Change can be described with two words: beautifully dark. This isn’t a feel-good album, but the music, combined with the dark lyrics, gives the whole album this melancholy feeling of loss, disappointment, and grief. Beck broke up with his special lady friend and decided to just write actual songs with very personal lyrics. Then he had his dad, who composes music for movies, add string arrangements to the album. The strings put this album over the top. I read on Wikipedia that this album was a huge critical success when it came out, and it won Rolling Stone’s album of the year for 2002. I rarely agree with RS on its top albums, but in this case, I feel like they nailed it. In fact, Sea Change might have been a top 3 album of that decade. I can’t stress to you enough how good this album is. It made me feel like I was driving around Los Angeles aimlessly, trying to solve a problem, before ending up in the desert alone on the open road. Sometimes albums will put a specific location or setting in my head. Sea Change is one of those albums. I’m not sure if Beck’s other albums are this good, but Sea Change has made me want to explore more from an artist I had written off years ago.
Lowkey languid.
Listened to Guero a few weeks ago, and gave it 4 stars. So I have pretty high expectations for this one. The opener The Golden Age is solid, if a little repetitive. The song doesn't really go anywhere, apart from the chorus having a couple of distinctive high backing vocals. But the guitar and slow tempo are pleasant. A fresh, clean sound. Where Beck really comes to life is in the next track, Paper Tiger. The strings strike that perfect balance of beautiful and mysterious (even slightly menacing) that I came to love in some of Radiohead's tracks off A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). The bassline, when it comes in, is also fantastic here. Beck plays around with just a couple of chords to create a weird classical-blues genre hybrid. Lonesome Tears, though slower and more balladesque, is great for the same reason. A few of the songs suffer simply because Beck's voice is kind of... well, boring. And the instrumental can only do so much to help that. Guess I'm Doing Fine and Round The Bend are, collectively, ten minutes of indisputable filler caused by Beck trying to make a vocal-and-strings-based ballad and failing to do anything musically interesting with it. End Of The Day is, instrumentally, a very similar track – but it does more with its chord progression. Round The Bend and Side Of The Road are two other dull tracks that suffer from a lack of zest/oomph. Could be due to not having any percussion. In fact, pretty much all tracks here lack percussion, which I think works heavily against Beck compared to his Guero album (which has a diverse range of percussion sounds). I gave that one a 4. It's pretty reasonable to give this something lower. 3/5 Key tracks: Paper Tiger, Lonesome Tears, Lost Cause
3+ album. some great tunes and a better album then i remembered.
8,5
He sings as if he's asleep and talking to someone in his dreams. The music around him is very good, great arrangements, beautifully played instruments... all he needed was to shut up. 3 stars.
this album was pleasant, a bit slow all the way through, so this is a low 4
This just kept fading to the background. Couldn’t keep my attention even as I tried. I gave up by track 8.
Beck played at the Interstellar Rodeo festival in Winnipeg in 2017. I didn’t go that year, I went in 2016. That was the last year of Interstellar Rodeo and the host cited the festival’s failure was due to free concerts that also took place at The Forks, which might be true but in the pandemic someone tried to host a boutique festival at The Forks in 2022 that also didn’t fare well. Maybe people just don’t want to pay for stuff at The Forks. Thankfully this album is better than the ultimate outcome of Interstellar Rodeo and my story. I liked the strings on Paper Tiger, and happily listens to this album twice today!
I’ve heard of this guy Beck before. I can’t say I’d know any of his music. I enjoyed this album. It’s very chill and well mixed.
This was a really heavy but beautiful album. Definitely a heartbreak album
Would give 4.5/5 if I could, if I ever got broken up with or was really sad this would be a 6/5. Wanted to look into this album a bit more. He caught his fiance of 9 years cheating on him, with a guy from a different band.. he wrote all 12 of these songs in one week apparently. Even more impressive, due to how layered and complete each song feels. Really enjoyed this and will be checking out more Beck.
Not sure I get Beck but this is a good listen for a mellow mood. 3.5/5
Well produced, mournful indie rock.
this is beck?? its so weird hearing be so serious. not as quirky as his other work but that's not necessarily a bad thing. he's such a talented and versatile musician
His finest until Morning Phase, which is the standard. Hard to fathom that this heartfelt beauty comes from the artist who debuted with Stereopathic Soulmanure. But Beck is never predictable, always changing in the weirdest ways.
Really enjoyed this - different than I've listened to before but was a pleasant surprise
Paper tiger has Radiohead vibes with the dramatic violins Lonesome tears outro was cool in a kind of drifting in space way. It's a very mellow album with some interesting sections in the tracks. I particularly enjoyed the textures and production on Sunday Sun
3 1/2. Very mellow. Good background music.
Obviously a very different Beck than Odelay. Although I do try to allow artists to change, I don't think he would have rose to fame on this. The instrumentals are mostly the sort of slow, throbbing notes that I imagine make the band bored, leaving on the vocals that are not his strength. I respect him for daring to jump to the other end of the spectrum. Honestly I like Guero better. This does make me want to peruse more of the rest of his work though--there are a lot of albums that I missed.
Way more mellower and mature than Midnite Vultures. 4/5
Pretty boring to my ears. "Lost Cause" is nice.
Groundbreaking, boundary pushing and genre defining three phrases that do not describe this LP. At times lovely and at times dull. Beck is more fun when he’s having fun.
Started quite nice and most of the songs not bad but after listening too long starts to be a bit sleepy or even depressing.
Not bad, not great. Low energy.
Wow - glad to hear again. My personal favorite Beck album. Definitely a 'Sea Change" for him in musical style and structure. Some really beautiful pieces.
The first half of this album felt like how Phil Spector originally envisioned the Beatles' "Let It Be" to have sounded. Definitely requires a relisten, but enjoyed this more than I expected!
I didn't have an opportunity to listen while reading the lyrics. This is another album that will need more time to digest.
I have always liked Beck and this album does not change my mind. It's not his best but it's definitely worth four stars.
I listened to it twice because I felt I might not have been attentive enough the first time, but it faded to the background again. I want to like it, its good music, I just lose interest. 2.4 outta 5
I didn’t understand this album when Beck released it, but I’ve come to love it since. Sea Change and Morning Phase are my two favorites in his catalog.
I listened to this one a lot back in my Halifax days. Been a while since I gave it a full run. Great album. Might even make my burcules’ aughts chill vibes vol. 3 mix
I like this record okay. Beck does make interesting musical choices and though I’m largely impartial on his funkier records I do enjoy the more introspective singer/songwriter ones
Pleasantly surprised
As with Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left last weekend (an album Beck seems to be channeling here), I really tried. Three full spins and yeah, it’s a no for me dogg. Kinda boring, pretentious, fuckin mopey. A few moments.
Confort
Solid labum, not my style, for sure. I really like Beck, the music and what he represents and represented, just not these ones. I do not want to investigate too much if his other works are like this (are the album conceptuals or did he just "feel like" doing this), so I do not like these songs as much as the rest of his discography. Nonetheless, a good, albeight slowed-down, Beck record. Definitely not my favorite body of work.
Pretty good Beck album! I didn't finish it, so I need to revisit.
A thoroughly decent album, but it didn’t leave a massive mark on me. Got a bit bored at times. 3.1/5.0 Best Song: Sunday Sun?
Not as good as i remember, at its best its very Serge Gainsbourg, at its worst it was quite boring. I imagine it was mint in 2002 though.
I liked it.
If you gave me a stack of CDs with Beck's catalog of music, and I listened to that stack, and you then asked me about this CD in particular, I would politely respond by saying "oh right, that's in there too" but, to be honest, I probably would have forgotten about it by then.
Better than I expected.
melancholy but soothing, it grows on you but beck is just not for me. i hope he's having a good day though
omg i actually really loved this???? i think this is better than arcade fire LMFAO. the vibes are more my style
i think this is an album to listen to if you're in the vibe for it
A bit too melancolic for my taste
Not his best album but still has some bangers on and the string arrangements are an absolute masterclass.
Great songs and production, his guitar is a little Nick Drake in places
this album feels like laying on the couch after a long day, i love it so much
Beautiful melancholy-soaked album. Pretty evident the sad conclusion of long-term relationship has it's fingerprints all over this record. Much like his companion-album "Morning Phase" I like it more as a cohesive than liking enjoying specific songs. Although it can be overly mope-y at times, it is still great and I really like the orchestral additions that make it more than just folk rock.
Listened to this while playing Leviathan Wilds with my partner. We lost. This album brought me right back to college. I love the production on this album...the strings are so warm. A fantastic rainy day album...I guess I just never listen to it because I live in the desert.
Quero ouvir mais Beck, ele já está na minha lista faz um bom tempo, mas não pela sonoridade apresentada neste disco aqui. Não é desse Beck que eu tenho interesse e curiosidade. Eu prefiro bem mais o Beck colorido, com a saturação no talo, e bem texturizado. Infelizmente, não é esta faceta que ele apresenta neste álbum Mas de qualquer maneira, o artista continua intacto. É admirável e comendável a consistência sonora deste disco. De cabo a rabo, ele apresenta um tema sonoro e lírico, e se mantém firme nele até o fim. Além disso, o álbum tem uma fluidez espetacular, cada faixa derrete na próxima e desta maneira, independente da temática densa apresentada aqui, a escuta é fácil e leve. Mas como eu havia dito, eu achei este disco bem monótono e sem cor. Foi uma decisão consciente do artista, mas por isso, não consigo dar uma nota mais alta. Prefiro o som mais eclético e animado de Beck. 3/5
Wow, this album blew me away. Perfect for a hazy fall evening with the fam. Maybe the most slept on album for me on this whole list.
Really good album. I think Odelay or even Midnite Vultures are better Beck albums, but this one certainly deserves a nod.
It's ok, nothing ground breaking for me and a bit slower to some of the Beck tunes I've liked before. Quite long as well, not bad by any means
It must have been a pretty devastating breakup that was able to take the weird out of Beck. With the help of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, "Sea Change" is a beautiful and pain-filled album. There are plenty of good songs here with the major standout being "Lost Cause", one of the best he's ever recorded. But this isn't an album you would listen to if you were in the mood for Beck. If you're after melancholy, others also do it better. It's an accomplished album, just not one that I'd listen to often. But credit to Beck for stepping out of his comfort zone and doing it well.
Magnificent sad bastard work
Late night melancholy. It's good, but not what I'd go looking for.
Nice.
Never liked Beck, so naturally, I did not like this album.
Shows his range perfectly. Emotional album for Beck
Really liked this until about half-way through - Round the Bend and pretty much onwards. Droned. Before that it was groovy, surprisingly chill. Was expecting more racket, considering it's Beck.
I'll consider this one "Beck gets sad". Because that's pretty much what it is- a sad album, without anything else really to break that up. Even so, it was pretty good listen as a whole. Nothing here will blow you away, but it will make you feel something. My biggest issues with it were the constant melancholy tone and the length. I think it was a song or two too long, especially since it didn't have anything to give a break from the sadness. There were even a few songs where I thought "this sounds like a closing song", but then another one started playing. Even with its flaws, it was enjoyable. He traversed some different (as yet, for him) musical ground, with pared down, simpler instrumentation and styles. Some tracks sounded more country, others more folk, and some closer to straight acoustic rock. There was a lot of quiet and atmosphere. Perhaps it was seeing this other side of Beck, without the wackiness and strange music and lyrics, that made it more interesting. Maybe this type of music coming from him is what made it seem more meaningful. Either way, it was refreshing. I give this one points for its honesty and the quietness of its power. There are some issues with it, but not enough of them to make it bad. I found it pretty good on the whole. Overall: 3.4/5
It's good, there are some seriously off-putting vocal affectations that make otherwise great songs just par
Haven’t listened to this in a while. I liked it better years ago. Too samey now. But it’s still real good. Just more kike a 3.75
Beautifully emotional. Makes me feel like an emo/Batman. Going thru some shit with a girl rn lol so good timing.
The Golden Age. If you use some country inspired slide from the get go i am going to be favorable. This os going to be an album about love and loss which auits my mood of late. Otherwise meh song. Paper tiger. He sounds like he cant be arsed when he sings, like he cant be fucked opening his mouth too far. Otherwise quite nice this song. Like the bass lines. Guess im doing fine. Didnt realise he was so alt country. Lonesome tears. Very lofi feel. A little Air Moon Safari about this. Lost cause. Its growing on me this album. I think in the right mood it is one to let wash over you. He cant be fucked oepning his mouth cause hes just exhausted by this relationship hea in or has been in. End if the day. If youre onto a good thing stick to it. More of the same really. Its all in your mind. Round the bend. Already dead. I dont hate those album. I quite enjoy the meloncholy. It moves through stages of growf almost. Not sure id listen to it again and agaim. Sunday sun. There’s something almost Brian Wilsony about this, combines with the Beatles wall of sound. Theres a bit going on here. Really like this. Little one. The most Beck-like track so far. Side of the road. Im not very familiar with Beck and his catelogue. This isnt what i would have expected going into it. That isnits not what i thought a beck album would be (all samples and whacky instruments arranged to a pop sensibility, apmost post-punk pop but with an alt pretenscious twist - maybe i’m off the mark with him? ) so for that i am pleaseamtly surprised. Songs are pretty stripped back and the players fairly solid (likely better than Beck in the musicianship stakes). I maybe let my bias against Beck coloyr my view with comments like ‘meh’. Its probably not wrong on a certain track by track level but i after listening read he didnt release any somgs from this as singles, forcing people to take it as a whole and i think thats right and something noteworthy in it’s foresight im amd of itswlf. I suspect if i listemed to this over and iver it would grow on me. I like that and might gove it more of a go even if to listen to aomw great musicianship from the back band. This person clearly didnt have the album grow on them. http://analogue.io/essays/unpopular-opinions-beck
Never been into Beck, but this Album is great, although i read, that it is not representative for his other work. Anyways, good one. Fav: End of the day
Good working music
Expansive ennui, lush production
2* jęczenie
Can't tell if this actually impressed me or if I was just in the perfect mood to listen to it today. Either way, loved it.
There’s just nothing interesting here. All the same.
So I wasn't expecting a quiet album. It is wildly different than Odelay...very melancholy, self-pitying, dark self-reflection. "Days turning to sand, losing strength in every hand...days fade to black..." The lyrics are sensical, not like in Odelay. One has to be in a certain mood to listen to the whole album. I think he was going through shit in 2002.
Very very nice album, I listened to it with my friend who is a huge Beck fan. I might make my rating higher when I relisten, but I am not sure yet. Great album.
muy suave para mi gusto, pero buena musica
I want to like this album more, but somehow can't. Three really good tracks; Golden Age, Guess I'm Doing Fine and Lost Cause.
Stark 3a. Vacker, melodisk. Kommer lyssna igen. Lite tråkig och deppig dock.
Becks good but it was a little boring? Very calm
Really disliked this album. It was slow and I didn’t like his voice. Would actively avoid listening to these songs ever again.
Not my favorite.
This is a good example of how my tastes have changed. Twenty years ago this would've been a 5/5 from me. Now, it is still good, but not to the extent I remembered. A lot of moody heartbreak songs without much depth. Surface-level orchestration and blips and bloops throughout to cover mostly cliche lyrics and Beck's singing which is inconsistent song to song. Often it sounds like he has cotton balls in his cheeks, like distracting intentional mumbling-- "Sunday Sun" is a good example of this. Overall it just doesn't come together well enough for me. The standout song for me is "Round the Bend" which evokes Nick Drake. Most songs don't know whether they want to be organic or electronic and the blend doesn't quite work. I admire that Beck is trying something different here though.
I really like Beck.
Paper tiger's guitar solo combined with those strings is just lovely. Quite a diverse soundscape in this album so far. Really impressed with it, the range from 3's acoustic quality, to some of the more ethereal sounds we see. And it still flows well. Had only heard Beck's "Everybody's gotta learn time before this". which is a shame. This was a good listen. Gonna have to give it a 4 to be consistent with other ratings, but this is undeniably really good.
Sorry boring
white people music. I thought I was an indiehead but this was a boring listen.
Very nice.
Loš dan za ovakvo smeće od albuma. 1/5, 1.5/10
Bit boring
If it was food it would be stew
Enjoyed listening to this whilst working although it's not a memorable album and doesn't have anything that would be pulling me back to listen again. Its just a decent album.
Forgot I was listening to music tbh. Just fell into the background
Nice, mellowish album.
Es un excelente álbum. La calidad de la producción y los arreglos, la combinación de instrumentos de rock, electrónica y arreglos de cuerda es muy hermosa. Por momentos me recuerda a algunos trabajos de Radiohead. Me gusta la temática y estética del álbum, pero siento que es demasiado apesadumbrado en su totalidad. Si hubiesen algunos tracks más enérgicos, o si hubiesen eliminado algunos tracks para reducir la duración creo que la experiencia de escucha sería aún mejor.
Tasteful guitar, beautiful voice. Might be a new favourite.
Sympathique mais pas bouleversant
Какой-то унылое завывание. Где тот разноплановый Beck, которого я здесь слышал раньше?
Never listened to Beck before and found myself really enjoying this one. An infectious laid back groove and mellow vocals. Beautiful music arrangements with lush strings. Thumbs up for me…
I first came across Sea Change after reading an interview with Bruce Soord, frontman of The Pineapple Thief, who spoke highly of it. Given Soord’s knack for emotionally resonant songwriting and atmospheric production, his recommendation carried weight. I was curious to hear what kind of album could leave such an impression on a fellow artist known for introspective music. From the very first track, Golden Age, I was struck by the album’s mood—melancholic yet strangely comforting. Beck, often known for his genre-hopping and ironic detachment, completely sheds that persona here. Sea Change is raw, vulnerable, and beautifully restrained. It feels like a quiet confession whispered through lush arrangements and aching melodies. Listening to Sea Change after Bruce Soord’s recommendation felt like being let in on a secret—a quiet masterpiece that rewards patience and introspection. It’s not an album for every mood, but when you’re in the right headspace, it’s transformative. It’s Beck at his most honest, and for me, that’s what makes it timeless.
Just… beautiful till the end.
Not my style. Good vibes and a few excellent tracks but overall it just kinda happened.
Aburrido para mí al menos en esta primera escucha
I've liked some Beck before but I think it requires a certain mood. While it certainly wasn't a bad album, it wasn't my favourite. Top Pick: Paper Tiger Lonesome Tears Sunday Sun End of The Day Hitting a 3
Wanted to like it more than I did, just a pretty boring album. The instrumentals are great, maybe worth revisiting when I’m in a different listening space
Slower than I remember. Really an amazing album, but didnt tug on my heartstrings nearly as much as it did as a kid.
This album was fun and really peaceful. I enjoyed it. Sometimes Beck's singing feels a little lazy, but the album is solid overall. This album is definitely laid back, but is a fun driving album. "Little One" is so fun. Actual rating...3.5. Liked Songs: "The Golden Age" , "Guess I'm Doing Fine" , "Lonesome Tears" , "Lost Cause" , "End Of The Day" , "It's All In Your Mind" , "Little One" , "Side Of The Road"
liked songs: Paper Tiger, Lonesome Tears I liked this better than Odelay 3.75
Very Chill album.
# Album Name: Sea Change # Artist: Beck # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Beck is obviously going through a very emotional time on this album. Musically its very good. The production, as expected from godrich, is good. The music isnt bad. Its just quite a sombre album. 12 songs about a break up is a bit too much man. i dont care how much you loved her. You are BECK, you will bang plenty of other people bro. Theres some good tracks on here, just the tone really brings it down. You just need to be in one of those break up moods i guess. # Top Tunes: Paper tiger / end of the day / sunday sun / its all in your mind # Would I listen to it again? Maybe
This gave me "Beck as Nick Drake" vibes, and I was very here for it.
This is my 3rd album im listening to. I thought it was very nice but it wasnt really my type of music it was the first album that is closer to my generation so i could recognize the music more but it felt too slow and most slow songs have to be relatable for me to like so im gonna give this a 74/100
# In-Depth Review of Beck's *Sea Change*: A Heartbreak Masterpiece ## 🎵 Overview *Sea Change*, released in 2002, is Beck's eighth studio album and marks a significant departure from his earlier genre-blending, ironic style. Instead, it is a deeply personal and melancholic exploration of heartbreak, inspired by the end of Beck's nine-year relationship with his fiancée. Produced by Nigel Godrich, the album is often compared to classic breakup records like Bob Dylan's *Blood on the Tracks* and is regarded as one of Beck's most emotionally raw and cohesive works . --- ## 📝 Lyrics: Emotional Honesty and Simplicity ### Pros: - **Directness and Vulnerability**: Unlike Beck's earlier surrealist wordplay, the lyrics on *Sea Change* are straightforward and deeply personal. Songs like "Lost Cause" and "Already Dead" convey despair and resignation with lines like "There's too many people you used to know / They see you coming, they see you go" . - **Universal Themes**: The album explores heartbreak, loneliness, and introspection in a way that feels relatable rather than self-indulgent. Tracks like "Lonesome Tears" and "The Golden Age" use simple yet poignant language to evoke emotional resonance . ### Cons: - **Repetitive Tropes**: Some critics argue that the lyrics rely too heavily on clichés of sadness (e.g., "bluebird outside my window," "sun don't shine even when it's day"), which can feel unoriginal compared to Beck's earlier innovative style . - **Lack of Beck's Trademark Irony**: Fans of Beck's playful, genre-bending lyrics may find the album's earnestness monotonous or overly sentimental . --- ## 🎶 Music: Minimalist and Orchestral ### Pros: - **Acoustic Foundations**: The album prioritizes live instrumentation over sampling, featuring acoustic guitars, strings, and subtle electronic textures. Tracks like "The Golden Age" and "End of the Day" blend folk and country influences with Beck's signature melancholia . - **String Arrangements**: Beck's father, David Campbell, contributes lush orchestral arrangements that elevate songs like "Paper Tiger" and "Lonesome Tears" into cinematic experiences . - **Dynamic Range**: The album's pacing balances quiet introspection ("Round the Bend") with moments of cathartic intensity ("Lonesome Tears"’ string crescendos) . ### Cons: - **Lack of Energy**: The album's slow, somber tone can feel emotionally draining, with limited rhythmic or melodic variety compared to Beck's more energetic work . - **Overproduction**: Some critics argue that Nigel Godrich's production feels overly polished, stripping away the rawness that could have made the songs more impactful . --- ## 🎛️ Production: Nigel Godrich's Sonic Signature ### Pros: - **Atmospheric Depth**: Godrich's production creates a cohesive, immersive soundscape. The use of reverb, subtle electronic effects, and meticulous mixing (e.g., the reverse vocals on "Lost Cause") adds layers of texture without overshadowing the songs . - **Hi-Fi Quality**: The album is praised for its audiophile-friendly dynamic range, with each instrument and vocal nuance clearly articulated . ### Cons: - **Uniformity**: The production’s consistency can make the album feel monotonous, with fewer sonic surprises compared to Beck's earlier albums . - **Over-Reliance on Orchestration**: Some tracks feel overly reliant on string arrangements to evoke emotion, rather than allowing the songs to stand on their own . --- ## 🌊 Themes: Heartbreak and Transformation *Sea Change* is a concept album centered on loss and introspection. The title itself refers to a profound transformation, mirroring Beck's personal upheaval . - **Breakup Narrative**: The album chronicles the stages of grief, from denial ("The Golden Age") to acceptance ("Side of the Road") . - **Solitude and Melancholy**: Tracks like "Already Dead" and "Round the Bend" explore themes of isolation and existential despair, reflecting Beck's emotional state . - **Universality**: Despite its personal origins, the album’s themes resonate widely, making it a timeless breakup record . --- ## 📈 Influence: Legacy and Impact - **Critical Acclaim**: *Sea Change* is often ranked among the best albums of the 2000s and won a Grammy for its "companion piece," *Morning Phase* (2014) . - **Artistic Validation**: It solidified Beck's reputation as a serious songwriter beyond his "loser" persona, influencing later artists like Bon Iver and Phoebe Bridgers . - **Hi-Fi Benchmark**: The album remains a reference point for audiophile production, praised for its engineering and dynamic range . --- ## ✅ Pros and Cons Summary | **Pros** | **Cons** | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Emotional depth and lyrical vulnerability | Overuse of melancholic clichés | | Cohesive, immersive production | Lack of rhythmic and melodic variety | | Beautiful string arrangements and instrumentation | Overproduction diminishes rawness | | Universal themes of heartbreak | May feel monotonous or emotionally exhausting | | Influential and critically acclaimed | Not for fans of Beck's ironic, genre-blending style | --- ## 🎤 Conclusion *Sea Change* is a landmark in Beck's discography, showcasing his ability to channel personal pain into art that is both intimate and universal. While its minimalist, melancholic approach may not appeal to all listeners, its emotional honesty, lush production, and cohesive themes make it a masterpiece of the breakup album genre. Despite minor flaws in lyrical originality and pacing, it remains a powerful and enduring work . For further reading, you can explore the sources cited in this review.
> the Beatles
Consistently pleasant but it didn’t stand out to me. Maybe I just wasn’t sad enough or in the right environment to fully appreciate. But as it stands I prefer fun/dancy Beck. I imagine I’ll listen to this more, although also might completely forget about it
Uh oh, another DNF. And I generally like Beck! But I am not a fan of mopey breakup albums. I'm just not at that point in my life anymore. And honestly? Even when I was I still wanted to hear angry-sad as opposed to sad-sad. After six maudlin ass boohoo songs I was done. They're really well produced and the composition is tight - strangely so for a Beck record! - but they're all slow weepies and that's definitely mood-dependant music. If you're having girl problems I feel bad for you son....
Ok
Serious Beck is not really my thing. I prefer nonsense Beck.
Ziemlich gut, manchmal etwas langweilig
Not the best Beck album.
An easy 5 star, by far the most intimate thing Beck has ever done
Favourites: The Golden Age, Paper Tiger, Lonesome Tears, End Of The Day, It's All In Your Mind, Round The Bend, Sunday Sun, Side Of The Road
I’m just stunned. I love his beat- and sample-heavy sounds, and then he drops this gorgeous, introspective, heartbreak album full of warm guitar notes and beautiful misery. The songs take my breath away.
The Golden Age - 8.5/10 Paper Tiger - 8/10 Guess I'm Doing Fine - 8/10 Lonesome Tears - 8.5/10 Lost Cause - 7.5/10 End of The day - 8/10 It's all in your mind - 8/10 Round The Bend - 7.5/10 Already Dead - 8.5/10 Sunday Sun - 8.5/10 Little One - 7.5/10 Side Of The Road - 8/10 81/100
Вже не гітарний, а радше "оркестровий" альбом Бека. Все ще доволі цікаво, звісно ж чути і його надзвичайний талант як мелодиста, але на мій смак трохи нудно.
Boring
Enjoy the alternative vibes. Quite mellow but in a really good way.
awesome chill album love beck <3 my fave other than morning phase....i miss english class :(
Was fine but I wasn’t very into it
I was just not vibing with sad and depressing sorry beck I like your other stuff better 2 star
Sad boi album that rly resonated with me
I've always appreciated Beck indirectly. His influence on other artists, respect you notice but don't immediately look into. I could not name a single track of his for the life of me. Here I am now, listening to a Beck project for the first time. Sadness. Maybe it's loneliness, maybe it's appreciation, it fluctuates and feels organic. But the project itself, its feeling, it's sadness. The musicianship is great, if you love a well played guitar this album should stand out. Personally, recognizing his vocal dominance as an instrument, I still can't find myself really appreciating the way his voice sounds. Hard to ask someone else to sing it the way he does, though. I'd have this in my collection. There's a mood for this and it hits the spot. I'm just not in that mood right now. 3.4/5
okayish - good for mindless listening
Chill and enjoyable, not sure if it stands out though. Maybe a bit generic.
Forgot how good he can be! He’s pretty diverse in his output but this is my kind of Beck
Honestly I couldn’t deal with yet another Beck album, didn’t get much attention what I heard was boring. Please no more
Lost cause is a cracker and I do like this album but it’s a lot of the same. Perfect for a certain mood but a 3 nonetheless
Sad vibes
Really well done... I'd just have to be feeling some kind of way to listen to the whole thing again. I think it's probably a 3.5 for me, but it's good enough to round up.
Lost Cause still hits. Very mellow Beck record. Gives you the feels.
Pretty good. Maybe not as good as the very similar one 10-13 years later.
Immaculate. Anything less than 5 stars feels wrong.
хороший но ничем не примечательный для меня
Relaxing, simple, beautiful and stunning!
It's unbelievable that this album is from 2002. The sound is incredibly modern. But despite that, I don't like it that much. The lyrics are a bit sloppy.
Country beck
It's alright
better than I expected. My American experience is limited to the one radio hit here (Red Wine), from another album. This is a well rounded of global flavors
Favorite Tracks: Paper Tiger and Lost Cause. This album feels a bit ahead of its time - i feel like it could have sounded like it came out only a few years ago. String arrangements throughout were the highlights for me. This is the saddest I’ve heard Beck, too - decent album but not my favorite! 3.25 out of 5
A few absolute hits but quite a few duds
all sounds the same
This is part of my collection. Great album.
Didn't know this artist. I paused and listened. I enjoyed it although a few of the tracks were too melancholic for me.
Very different genre from the previous album, but still not feeling it.
like Radiohead but acoustic. very different from later Beck but not bad
Muy bueno. Muy distinto a los early Beck, cosa que es buena ya que muestra madurez como artista, pero en el camino algo le pasó o alguien lo dañó muy, muy feo, porque se siente hasta un Beck distinto. En sus letras hay mucho dolor y agobio. Me gustó mucho pero siento que escucharlo seguido me bajonearía considerablemente.
The epitome of a heart break
I’d heard of this record before. I knew it was considered a reference quality audiophile record. It sounds awesome. Musically, I’m wasn’t sure it was my style, for I’ve tried to listen many times, but haven’t fully gotten into it. But this time, it really clicked. There are truly some great moments throughout this album. Overall, pretty mellow, which I enjoy for decompressing and thinking. But, it’s bursting with interesting bass lines, pleasing progressions, unique sounds. The longer the record went on, the more I found myself vibing. I enjoyed it more than I expected. Every time I listened to this, the more it grew on me; I found myself gravitating to melodies that were beautifully different, yet pleasing and shockingly emotive. Right now, I’m feeling 8.5-9 Standouts: The Golden Age Lonesome Tears Lost Cause Little One
The guy who wrote Loser got slapped in the face and started taking things seriously.
Too slow Boring Sad
Beautiful.
What happened to Beck? I must admit that if I had heard this album under a different name my opinion may have been different. However, I just could not get over what I knew Beck to be and it took me out of being able to possibly enjoy this album.
I wanted to like this so bad but it was almost an hour of what sounded like the same song and I just couldn’t get into it.
I am convinced one of the author's of list favorite genres is this slow country tinged dreamy rock. I'm only about 11 albums into this journey and almost all of the rock albums have had this same sound. It's telling that not only is this album itself nor a single song featured are on Beck's most popular albums on Spotify that I'm not alone in being unimpressed. The whole album is so damn boring. None of the songs are memorable and barely differentiable. I'm not sure how this album made it on here compared to all the millions of others.
Wow this was great! Perfect for my melancholic mood today.
I like this side of Beck.
It’s a decent album but I’m not sure it should be on this list. I sure hope Odelay is on here!
There are so many sides to Beck in the first ten years — Mellow Gold to One Foot in the Grave to Odelay to Mutations to Midnite Vultures is a crazy melting pot — but I remember still being pretty caught off guard by Sea Change, an autumnal breakup album that rarely has a groove to ride or cares to bring us out of the muck. It's a whole album of “Nobody’s Fault but my Own,” which I don't remember clamoring for. But there's layers here — Nick Drake doing David Bowie or visa versa, with a little Patsy Cline sprinkled in — and it's a rewarding listen, elevated by Nigel Godrich's gorgeous production. Catch it in the right mood on a long stretch of starlit country highway and it may leave a lasting impression. It gets a little long in the tooth by the end — shave off two tracks and maybe I would have returned to it more over the years — and I always feel compelled to like it more than I do because of the critical love it usually gets. Another 3.5 star album that I have to round up or down. It's lovely, and “Lost Cause” is maybe my favorite song he’s made, and I haven't done myself any favors rounding up on that eels record and Coldplay's debut. Still, I just so rarely come back to it. I guess that's a good thing?
Sad Beck
Good background morning music
No huge standout songs for me on this album, but overall it was pretty pleasant to listen to. I was looking for a bit more memorable tunes though.
Beck's saddest album..... but it's super chill. Feels like you're floating down a river with sad Beck.
incroyable
It is a really nice album. Have listened quite a few times over a month. Some songs stand out more than others and by the end of a listen I was always ready to move on. 3.5.
Nice selection of songs and great production by Nigel Goodrich, but I just don’t like his voice!
Another tough one. From what I knew of Beck’s music previously, I expected more excitement, innovation and risks. I get that this is about his break up, but the result is a maudlin, ploddy record. Musically it’s ok. Some arrangements that hint at being really good but never quite get there in my opinion. Again, I’m aghast that this is ranked here among truly great albums.
My favorite Beck album. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of how to get drums to sound as amazing as this album, really it boils down to hitting them as soft as you can while mainly using close mics, very little to no room mics. This is an approach that you can hear on all the instruments and with all the layers it creates a bed that is super cozy to lay in. I love it. Beck has gone from bombastic colorful albums to this subtle masterpiece and it’s another reason why I feel he is not talked about enough outside of the usual “loser” or “two turn tables and a microphone” narrative that follows him. This is also a perfect break up album on a par with 808’s And Heartbreak, Lemonade, Vulnicura, Blonde, etc. You’re hurting, you have a hole in your chest and these albums temporarily fill that hole till you truly move on. All the artist’s albums I just listed went through that pain too but also archive those emotions into songs. In some cases there’s an empowering feeling of independence as in Beyoncé’s Lemonade but in the other examples and this album in particular, it’s loss, loneliness and almost a fear of what’s next. You hate to hear that someone went through this but it’s inspiring to hear that they used their art to move on. Easy 5 for me.
I already know this is a 5, and I can't wait to listen to this again. Man, I love a good breakup album. Beck does a great job releasing the sorrow on this one, and I've sobbed several times listening to this in the past. Too many good ones for me to name a favorite. Probably, Lonesome Tears. Fantastic album.
Not what I expected from Beck. This is the most mellow that I've heard from him. It was an ok album.
Only a quick listen really, but I was surprised how much of this didn’t land with me. This is definitely a great introspective record, just a bit slow and wandering. I have a better relationship with his other slow and wandering record Mutations. Still giving 4 stars as this is a good listen and I think it would grow on me with more listens.