Reviews (page 7 of 14)
I love this album. Lush strings and some extremely well-placed devastating chord changes. I fell in love with Beck's music from this album, and is still the one I go to if I want a fix o' Beck.
Had to listen to this twice to really get a feel for it. The music kind of sits in a comfortable place between country, folk, and Coldplay/Radiohead-style early-2000s rock. It's very pleasant to listen to! Beck's vocals are very low-key and underplayed, while still packing in quite a bit of emotion. I've been oscillating between 3 and 4 stars, but I think I talked myself up to 4. Lonesome Tears is the track that did it for me.
A really nice surprise- I love a bit of chilled acoustic Beck (morning phase being a good example) and I’ve clearly let this pass me by back in the day - loved it and will be back for more
its a bit dull at times but it is a great work. Lost Cause is a timeless classic even if it did not top the charts. it is the most convincing change of direction on their 8th album by any artist.
Chill vibes and really nice acoustic instrumentation. I never really got into Beck for whatever reason in spite of liking a lot of similar music but I dig this album.
becks a weirdo but he makes a good album
Nice and sad, easy to listen to
Very Beck, I think the opening number is so similar to his number morning from 2014. What can I say, It is one of the most sundayish albums, a relaxing and mellow feeling that I really like.
Revisiting this album is both a blessing and a curse. The songwriting is still so far ahead of contemporaries, but now comparing it to the later Morning Phase album shows a less polished effort. Even when stacked against that, this album still shines, just not as bright.
I love Beck, although this is his slowest and most somber album. As a standalone I'm not sure it works, although it does have some songs I like. But, as part of the Beck discography it fits in and is critical, in a way.
nice album, great sweeping, serious songs. runs out of steam a little by the end but very good overall
Hadn't heard this album before. Much more chill and less rock-heavy than very familiar albums like Odelay and Guero, but I liked it. It showed some strong melody and had a consistent lower-key mood about it.
Gentle
Nice background music
love it!
Very chill to listen to at night while working on art!
Never listened to this in full prior to today. A really good album that I will definitely revisit.
Beck’s voice seems to be part of the fabric of a lot of music I’ve enjoyed from the mid 90s through to now, whether that be his own stuff or guest vocals...and yet I’ve never listened to a full album of his. Enjoyed this...good music to listen to over dinner. Reminiscent of Nick Drake, The Beatles (sorry Ash), Pink Floyd and even Zero 7 in places. Solid album which I’ve added to my Spotify.
Od takiej strony jeszcze nie znalem Becka, bo sluchalem jedynie 2 pierwszych albumikow, ktore wydostaly sie z podziemia, wiec mellow gold i odelay, bo wczesniej chyba nagral 3 inne, ktore jednak nie sa zbyt szeroko dostepne, wiec Beck kojarzyl mi sie zawsze z indyjskim rockiem, ostrymi gitarkami elektrykami, liryka buntowniczej punkowosci i dziwnosci, a na tym albumie pokazal sie z calkiem innej strony, wiekszosc kawalkow to kompozycje napisane w oparciu o akustyka, nie ma tutaj energii ktora byla w wielu miejsach wrecz szoutowana zamiast spiewana, jej miejsce zajely szepty na iscie donowanowych hipnotycznych melodiach, lirycznie jest to material ala blonde on blonde, czyli opowiesc o rozpadzie zwiazku, jest to motyw przewodni calej plyty, wiec mocno gloomerowe viby, osamotnienie alienacja, caly ten jam, o wiele lepszy poziom instrumentalny niz na poprzednich albumikach, zwazajac na to, ze sam Beck opierdziela 6 instrumentow na albumie, to jeszcze 10 osobowa ekipa grajkow studyjnych zostala zebrana i efektem jest krispowy brzmiacy wysoce estetyczny smutek w formie zapisanej w formie dzwiekowej, po tym przesluchu mam uczucie jakbym odkryl artyste na nowo, wiec bedzie czeba dac szanse rowniez innym albumikom jesli bedzie czas i okazja, na plejke wrzucam paper tigera, already dead i end of the day
Beautiful album.
Nach wilden Jahren juveniler cut up / hiphop Collagen mit viel Indie Charme und nerdy Ekklektizismus waren mir Beck‘s nachdenkliche „Larvenstadium“-Alben die liebsten. Ehe der schrill-funkige Weird-Pop der „Midnight Vultures“ sein neon-bunten Schmetterlingsflügel ausbreiten konnte, brauchte es „Mutations“. Nach schmerzhafter Trennung von seiner langjährigen Freundin/Verlobten war ein Bedürfnis nach erneuter Introspektion, Bestandsaufnahme und Veränderung groß. „Sea Change“ war diese 2. Verpuppung, und strahlt dabei die weltenflüchtige Wärme eines Songwriter Albums der Siebziger aus; dezenter Elektronik-Flitter setzt leichte Akzente und hilft ein Gegengewicht zu halten zur meist nachvollziehbar melancholischen und dunkel orchestraler Grundstimmung. Es klingt so vertraut und wächst noch ein Stückchen über sich hinaus; dies wäre auch heute noch eine bemerkenswerte Neuerscheinung. Lobende 3.9
Muss erstmal rausfinden wer die Arrangements geschrieben hat - und wer ihm DAS angetan hat, was er da auf Albumlänge verarbeitet. Meine Güte, diese Opulenz! Dieses Schwelgen in Schwermut! Und dann auch wieder diese Kargheit und Reduktion, bei den Lyrics und selbst beim Orchester - denn hier ist ja kein Streicher und keine Slidegitarre zu viel eingesetzt. Huh, und bei Round The Bend weiß man gar nicht wohin mit sich, vor lauter Grim und Frost und Wärme und Panik und Lethargie, und die Sunday Sun schien auch schon mal freundlicher ... War dieser offenbar große Sea Change der Grund für Kurs auf den sicheren Hafen Scientology? Ich weiß es nicht (würde zeitlich aber passen). Was ich aber jetzt weiß: wie sich Umbruch im Hause Hansen anhört. Volle 4,4 dafür.
Highlights: The Golden Age, Paper Tiger, Little One This is a strong, but uncharacteristic offering from Beck, which normally you'd expect genre-stretching folk rock; Sea Change is a little more relaxed, letting Mr. Hanson stretch his legs a bit and dwell a little bit more on the details. Sandwiched between 1999's vivacious Midnight Vultures and the hand-bangin' Guero of 2005, 2002's Sea Change is a brisk 180° change in both directions...It's calm and melancholy, possibly because this was a fresh post-911 world. If Beck's mood swings make your head spin, buckle up, baby, you're gunna get plenty dizzy, because Beck is one of the most versatile musicians alive, and isn't afraid to take on new challenges.
Tasteful palette
Sea Change is not just a record, it's a mood. Which makes it a great album to throw on and listen to in whole.
Could tell Beck had been going through some tough times even if I hadn't read that beforehand. Good, atmospheric stuff. 7/10
false
I was not familiar with these songs from him, but I really enjoyed them!
This is really good. I was only familiar with Beck songs that are fairly popular, but haven't listened to any of his albums all the way through. Really mellow and thoughtful. 4 stars.
Needs another listen. Very cool though
I purchased the CD when it came out and was disappointed at how chill it was. I can appreciate it a lot more now but I think Beck is better when he is more funky
Sadboi Beck. Def solid songs. A changeup from the Beck I'm used to. Never knew why I never touched down on this record; I own Odelay, Guero, Modern Guilt, and Mellow Gold
muito bom mas deprimente
Easily my favorite Beck album
Honestly, this warrants another listen as well. Beck is typically pretty nuanced, and maybe I just have to be in the right emotional state to have it hit real good. I wasn't this time, but I think I'd like to be.
quite nice really
mmmm ambience
Considering the motivation of this album... nice chill listen. I should really consider listening more of Beck
Really well made album, it sounds great, but it's not what I go to Beck for.
I definitely prefer eclectic genre-shuffling upbeat Beck (Odelay, Guero) to Sadboi Breakup Beck (Sea Change) but this is still really darn good!
I like Beck for no reason I can actually identify. This album had a couple of tunes on it that I really like, and I didn't dislike any of them. Somehow, I think that makes it a 4 star effort?
Beck is not a loser, baby. I like the dark acoustic landscapes a lot.
Very emotional album. I’ve always really enjoyed it and I think it’s great 8,5/10
Own. Fave song “Lost Cause”. Kind of a classic. Kind of falls of 2nd half.
Sad space music. Isolating, cold, like having your face against a cold window. The window consistently catching your breath. Its well and snow comfy
prefer his other work but Sea Change still a classic.
Beck traded in his two turntables and a microphone for an acoustic guitar and an atmospheric sound, and it works. Melancholy was in in 2002, and this is among the best that era has to offer. Best track: Round the Bend
a little monotone but really good! I'll listen to this again, definitely
Never heard it before. Not bad. Not really heard a lot of Beck before. It was decent....I especially liked Golden Age and Sunday Sun. Will give another go at some point!
My man was in the Down Bad Hall of Fame when he recorded this huh. Some really good tracks on here like Lost Cause or Paper Tiger, but I just prefer ironypilled Beck to sadboi Beck.
Største comebacket siden Lazarus. Sterk 3-er
Sikkert et vanlig navn, så dette er vel en annen. Ganske decent
Buenas cancionesss.
Beautiful sound. Very slow and sad though. More for a certain mood.
01) The Golden Age - 7,5 02) Paper Tiger - 7,0 03) Guess I'm Doing Fine - 7,0 04) Lonesome Tears - 6,5 05) Lost Cause - 7,5 06) End of the Day - 6,5 07) It's All In Your Mind - 6,5 08) Round The Bend - 6,5 09) Already Dead - 6,5 10) Sunday Sun - 7,0 11) Little One - 7,0 12) Side of the Road - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,83 (68/100) Current ranking: 632/1037
Beck's heartache is certainly noticeable with this album, but it never feels like any of the songs really manage to properly deliver a real emotional gut punch or pull you into his feelings. Not bad, but could've been so much better I feel.
Produced by Nigel ‘Radiohead’ Godrich, this was Beck’s most organic and sonically traditional album to date. There are some nice arrangements and still a mix of Americana, psychedelia and some classic rock moments. I’m not sure Beck’s voice is what some of the songs need and there are times I want a little more, melodically, but I do hear the sound Godrich was to get from Macca three years later. I like it but don’t love it.
Fullkomligt mid album. Musiken som spelar i en dålig romcom när paret har bråkat och de sitter på varsin plats och gråter i ca 5 minuter. Nja
Okay, the album was overall alright just leaving in the background while I'm doing other stuff, but it's just a bit meh. Nothing too exciting, but that doesn't mean that it was bad. It was overall an okay-ish experience.
Beautiful but trending towards monotonous over time.
Well crafted but hasn't hooked me at all. 3/5.
Achei 'uneventful'.
quite lovely
Nice, but all kind of just blends into one, very boring, but nice background chill music
Sort of just a forgettable album. Might be good on a Furrowed Brow listen.
not bad, but pretty forgettable
If you are in a mellow mood and want to stay there, you might like this one. I know I did.
definitivamente o melhorzinho dele que passou por aqui. o mano deveria ser traído e ficar deprimido mais vezes (PIADA HUMOR RISADAS) dito isso, ainda nao eh bom nao.
Not necessarily playing to his strengths with this one. While there are some beautiful songs, there are also some boring ones. I respect changing it up from his usual though.
Not what I was expecting - loser and Devil’s Haircut were my main points of reference - this is much more mellow - quite enjoyed it, decent if not exceptional
Perfectly listenable though inoffensive album.
Used to love this as a heartsick teenager but going back to it it dragged a lot in the second half
Beck's whole thing before this album was being tongue-in-cheek and playing around with styles and vibes - not 100% sincere or easy to pin down. But this is very much a personal, depressive singer-songwriter album. I was a big fan of Beck in the late 90s and had all the CDs leading up to this one. While I enjoyed it, it's the first album that I feel he isn't pushing in a new direction - it's a bit of a rerun of Mutations. It's very well written and produced but left me cold and bored in places.
Pretty and pleasant.
What the Beck! This was better than expected!
I was hoping to like this more based on the few Beck songs I know, but I was kind of disappointed. Maybe I’m just not in a sad enough state to connect to it right now.
Sad Beck makes a record, and it’s probably more accessible. Only knock is that it probably gets a bit much at the 45 plus minute mark. But if you’re not in a happy place your not in a happy place. Liked it, if it was a little more streamlined at say old fashioned album length would have liked it even more. 3 Star
Buen disco. Música tranquila y reflexiva. Nada que ver con sus primeros trabajos, pero ahí está precisamente el valor de Beck.
Beautiful album but one note (purposefully so).
Wow, I'm pretty suprised as I've never heard this album before. The only Beck albums I've heard is Odeley and Guero and I haven't listened to them for 10+ years. This album is very different, starts off like a Neil Young track. The music is well done, Beck's lower range suprised me. There's talent here. The album is an impressive work of art so I can see why it was highly appraised by the critics, but not re-listenable for me to justify keeping it. "Golden Age", "Lost Cause" and "All in Your Mind" were standouts for me. Miserable but bright notes or interesting music. "Lonesome Tears" and "Round the Bend" were next best I guess. "Guess I'm Doing Fine" was OK, but needed to be sped up a tiny bit. "Already Dead" starts off sounding like a slowed down Blind Melon - No Rain to me. I can't get over that - even if I'm wrong I feel like brightening myself up and going to play that instead by this time in the album, so this is where I'm over it. That said I do like 'Sunday Sun' and 'Side of the Road' so I persevered. Pros: Personally I like the change in direction Beck took. Cons: listening to a whole album of melancholy gets a little tiresome to me these days. I usually listen to music to learn something new, or to lift myself up as gone are the days when I'd seek out music to match any sad mood I had because that's a bad habit. This is new to me, but fails on the second point. A rating of 5 means I have to have it and will listen to regularly, a 4 means I want it and will play it every so often, a 3 means I can appreciate it but maybe it's not for me. Anything less I question why it's on the 1001 albums list. This is a 3, because I'm done with break ups and melancholy about them.
Very big departure from his upbeat mixes. Super interesting to hear all the instruments played instead of his typical studio blend of samples. Deeply personal and sad after apparently a big heartbreak. Unfortunately that gets pretty old when you listen to a whole album of sad songs that all being to sound the same. What keeps me interested is the thoughtful lyrics and super creative arrangements. He’s brilliant.
- in the first track, there were a few moments where I thought "that's a bit Radiohead," then I saw Nigel Godrich was the producer for this album (even back in 2002, "Paper Tiger" sounds an awful lot like the punchy strings in "The Numbers" from A Moon Shaped Pool) - a little too slow for me and kind of boring (I prefer the more rock-focused Beck songs), but the lyrics are very nice. "Round the Bend" sounds a little like it could be a Nick Drake song from Five Leaves Left - inoffensive, slow, probably someone's favorite but just not mine
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
Good one. Very calm and honest. However, it became kind of predictable after a few songs. I liked the end, though.
6.5/10 - I felt neutral positive about this. It’s nice for a bit (4-5 songs) and then it just kind of meanders. It’s got a nice sound and I like how he sounds, but it’s not something I would feel like I need to own.
I like alternative music. This album is fine. A little middle of the road but ok listening.
I think Harry Styles’ eponymous 2017 album took its cues from this album.
While I do really enjoy this album I've never understood why it's the darling of all the critics. Is it because he went from two turntables and a microphone to slamming on the brakes and going mellow? What sets this apart The songs are good, and beautiful at times. "The Golden Age" has a production quality that makes it so welcoming. "Lost Cause" is just a gorgeous song and one of my early 00's favs. "Guess I'm Doing Fine", "End Of The Day" & "It's All In Your Mind" are solid tracks but none of them really have a hook of any kind. On the flipside, "Paper Tiger", "Side Of The Road" & "Round The Bend" never find their mark. The remaining tracks are all monotone and average, nothing stands out positive or negative, the definition of vanilla. I'd give this 3 stars. Two really enjoyable songs then a bunch of blandness.
New to me. Feel a significant influence of Serge Gainsbourg here, (particularly on Paper Tiger) and looking up, yep. Also Nick Drake (on Round the Bend) S'OK. I've listened around a few times. I wasn’t sure I'd return to it, preferring to listen to Serve Gainsbourg or Nick Drake. But it has grown on me with listens. 3.5
Très très mid
This was alright, but mildly disappointing? For lack of a better word, this was more "mainstream" than I was expecting. Wasn't bad and Beck is a good singer, but this album just wasn't weird at all, which is kinda what I expect from Beck. I enjoyed "The Golden Age" "Lost Cause" and "Side Of The Road"
Decent singer-songwritery album, just not for me 3/5
This is a good album, but it's got very low energy, and I just wasn't in the mood for it today, so that's coloring my enjoyment. On another day, maybe walking in the woods or driving on a long, empty road, it would hit just right. More in the mood for Guero or Odelay today.
ну вообще есть прикольные песни, но для меня скучновато
3/5 Favorite Song: Paper Tiger
Lugnt och melankoliskt album. Lite som Nick Drake i en del låtar. Round the bend bäst.
i only remember she lost and she's a lost cause
i mean its alright
we have OK computer at home
Interesting
Sad album, but easy to listen to
Interesting to listen to full Beck album for the first time in my life, was only aware of his biggest hit. This is quite not bad, I smell a lot of interesting influences in this music, but despite that there are not too many memorable moments, at least not at first. Productions is alright and songriting is pretty good, probably right in the middle with 3 stars.
Some great songs on here and some that are a little too self indulgent to really get a hold of.
Melancholy, strays into country at times, strays into Chris Cornell acoustic territory. Didn’t mind it
Hmm, very pleasant, melacholic stuff. Let me just get more comfortable... to listen more closely to... melancholic sounds... zz... zzzz... Maybe one day I'll catch the Cosmic Blues, feel completely and deeply understood by this album and accordingly crank up the score, but as of right now, it's just a bit too easy to doze off to.
I liked it, but nothing more
Repeat listen
3 stars
Very good album. A slight departure from his first album.
There are some nice moments on this album: End of the Day, Sunday Sun and Already Dead but otherwise this seems a decidedly average album from an artist who has had some interesting releases. This seems a much straighter album and largely lacking as a result.
No prior listening. I did not take time to listen to the music or lyrics, background during driving and work. Cozy, sad, hope and absent of joy. I might’ve misinterpreted the tone but I didn’t get happy listening to this blankly but it was soothing in a way. No song stood out to me and I didn’t register that a song changed often so a nice “röd tråd” throughout
A very mellow CD for Beck. pretty gloomy at some spots. i was disappointed.
This was very very good background music. Didn't really hold my attention but was peaceful and kept moving.
Seems very meloncoly(sic) and insightful. It seems the artist is just drifting along expressing his thoughts in a dour way. Glad I was exposed but would not be my girst choice to listen to again
Beck is sad and now he’s not a loser baby
Pretty chill but not his best
pleasant listen but firmly in that "pretty good but not noteworthy" zone
Quite a sand and melancholic atmosphere created throw this album. I will say is not quite for me but I can appreciate it 3/5
The Golden Age 3.4 Paper Tiger 3.3 Guess I'm Doing Fine 3.3 Lonesome Tears 3.4 Lost Cause 3.6 End of the Day 3.5 It's All in Your Mind 3.2 Round the Bend 2.8 Already Dead 3.1 Sunday Sun 3.6 Little One 3.1 Side of the Road 2.9 Score: 3.3
nice vibe, i like it
Not bad at all, but too uniformly slow and mournful for my taste. I like Beck more when he rocks a little.
6/10
Overall Rating - 3.25/5 (6.50/10). Early 2000s melancholy navel-gazing, but done well.
Sad-ass Beck album.
another vry generous 3. tracks 8 & 10 were a nice surprise. otherwise flat and uninspired .
Chilled depressed out break up album.
Sea Change is perhaps less smart and witty than Beck's previous albums, but it is heartfelt and stirring.
Trippy, virkelig gode sange til akustisk guitar. Vil gerne lære et par af dem når jeg bliver bedre
The production and mixing are impressive, it really sounds amazing. Unfortunately I find it a bit boring. I much prefer fun Beck.
Straight up meh. There's better Beck albums. Not sure why this one is necessary. It's Beck in his Nick Drake phase. Which in itself isn't bad. The results though are just... Meh.
Not bad, not something I’d really come back to
5/10
I don't have much use for ironic, hippity hip hop Beck. I just think the scattershot, Americana thing has been done better other places. Good for a single's worth of time (guess which single) but not something I'd throw on regularly. With that said, sad-sack chamber pop Beck surprised me. The guy has never struggled in the hook department, and I think that stripping back the 90s cynicism and letting his emotions eek out was a great call. 52 minutes worth of a great call is a hard sell, but I'm probably just being a curmudgeon because this site generated two Beck albums back to back for me. (Beck burn-out? Beck-out?)
Really just okay. Nothing bad to say about it, nothing much to praise either.
The weakness is that all the songs are pretty similar, all morose. The strength is the slide guitars, strings, and other instrumentation, plus the echo effects. They make a beautiful soundscape. It's reminiscent of the American Southwest. I think my favorite songs are "Guess I'm Doing Fine" and "Round the Bend." I also like the lyrics of "Already Dead"
A good Beck album; he's not my favorite artist, but I always appreciate his craft. His discography is varied and his song writing and music making skills are wonderful.
3.5
Probably a 3 because I don’t remember any tunes off it but there are some nice sad stringy moods. I would substitute this one for Midnite Vultures or better yet more Prince, maybe Dirty Mind.
oh no beck is sad! anyway
The only beck album I owned back in the day was odelay. This one is pretty chill. Not my style but I wouldn't turn it off.
Not my thing — I get why people love him but it ends up fading into background for me.
"Paper Tiger" is the standout. Other than that, this is too sad and sleepy for me
A lush album. I haven't interacted with any Beck outside of radio hits. This was a surprise. I like the meager lyrics.. not descriptive really, just longing. The production and orchestration is what is pulling me in.. slight use of electronics (you can hear a lot of Air in here, I think). Fascinating use of synths, guitar, and strings. And, slide guitar.. haunting. I found all this arresting. I didn't care for Beck's vocal delivery. It just isn't for me, particularly when he is being emotive. But, I can hear how great this album is. A singular artistic piece from an artist with a strong vision. "Lost Cause" is a standout to me. A beautiful song, with appropriate vocal delivery from Beck. I like "Round The Bend" as well. Sparse AND lush. I love Nigel Godrich's production more than the material I think. It looks like it played on the album, too. 3 stars because of that. I'd rate it 3.5 if that was an option. After this album, I put on Air's Talkie Walkie.
I know of beck, but I don't actually know any of his music. I do know that he is pretty popular and celebrated so I’m pretty excited for this! This album is actually quite good! To be honest it’s better than I expected. A definite highlight is the lap steel guitar! Although the albums starts to get pretty repetitive and you can guess where the song is going and when certain instruments are going to come in. Another thing is that the album is definitely over produced, so much that it takes away from the instruments and melody. I’d recommend Paper tiger, Guess I’m doing fine, Lonesome tears, Lost cause, End of the day, Round the bend, Already dead and Sunday sun.
Svårt att säga om det är bättre. Eller om jag bara föredrar typen av musik. Det är iaf bättre enligt mig! Det här skulle jag nog kunna lyssna på igen. Speciellt om man var på väldigt ledset humör.
beck deppig
Liked, not loved. Again, long time beck listener, and this was all new to me. Definitely not as experimental as some of his other stuff. Overall I like the moodiness of this album, but it kind of causes a monochromatic effect — it all runs together.
There's a bit of Nick Drake to it which I really like, but he's not quite reached Nick Drake quality levels. Got a bit fed up with the moppiness by the end, give us a smile Beck, cheer up pal. Favourite song: Guess I'm Doing Fine Least: End Of The Day
cool pop
Fine
This isn't the most exciting album. It isn't bad, but I'm still not sure I understand the hype surrounding Beck.
I don't know man, I feel this is a bit of a reach. First class talent, no doubt. I do not think this album cracks the top half of this man's output. Bit of a downer.
Chill album with some pretty melodies, an easy listen, but nothing really jumped out and caught me.
6.22.26 Certainly not the vibe I was expecting from my (admittedly limited) knowledge of other Beck songs/albums. The slower, more somber sound is certainly what I appreciate most about this album, but it also is what makes this less of my preferred vibe. While some of the songs blend together a bit, I still enjoyed this one (the highs are high!), though I prefer Beck's other work. Favorite Song: Little One Rating: 3.5/5
Some good songs, some ok songs.
i thought this was surprisingly meh considering i had absolutely loved another one of his albums (guero) when this website suggested it a few weeks ago
Beck again... making an album that becomes such a bland collection of songs that, at some point, becomes pretty uninteresting. I've liked some ideas in here, but the delivery is not impressive at all, and, even though there are some beautiful moments, those are so ethereal that, in the overall of the album, become completely insignificant and forgettable. So, I've liked certain parts, but it's an album that is very superfluous.
To be honest, I had my expectations too high up for the album. It has good songs, but I don't think I would listen to it again, I was thinking about putting 4 starts but then changed it last minute
3.5
Apart from Lost Cause, it’s, err, a lost cause
Decent 3,5
It was good. That’s all I pretty much have to say. Most of the songs feel very similar though and I def need to relisten cause I think I will appreciate it more on a 2nd listen.
This reminds me of a sad country album that really resonates at certain parts of your life. The songs are good, they're just rather specific to heartache and healing and introspection and I'm not in that... or something. I really "get" the lyrics. They're super personal and very sincere. This is the kind of record people who love sad songs LOVE. I know people like that and they're all Beck fans.
Relaxing, well written with strong compositions. A bit maudlin.
you know, I don’t love this and I generally don’t care for Beck (at all) but I still found this kind of charming. Something about capturing a particular point in time, and an unpleasant one, in a way so far removed from his usual music style humanized the guy for me. Probably wouldn’t listen to it again, still not a Beck fan, but a pleasant surprise this morning
Very much giving Erased Tapes and I’m here for it.
It was more mellow music but it wasn't terrible- a lot of the songs I loved it's just not my style
Probably the best Beck album out of the three I've listened to so far. Might be worth revisiting in a less busy time in my life.
Probably the best Beck album I've heard. The soundscapes are good. Beck himself is at his best when he's sounding like a Nick Drake tribute act (make of that what you will)
It’s fine. There’s a lot of Beck albums on here though and I think it’s overkill. We get itttttt
There’s a curious problem with this album. It is very obviously good. The songs are well written. The performances are excellent. Nigel Godrich’s production is meticulous without becoming sterile. David Campbell’s string arrangements do an enormous amount of narrative work. Every decision feels considered. Every sound appears to have been placed with care. And yet, after fifty-two minutes, I found myself admiring it more than loving it. Part of that may be Beck himself. For an album born from the collapse of a long relationship, it is remarkably short on accusation and surprisingly reluctant to tell a story. Instead it deals in atmosphere, perception and aftermath. Roads disappear. Diamonds fracture. Sleep becomes respite. People push against themselves. The songs circle around emotional states rather than pinning them down. Sometimes this is powerful. The opener hangs in the air like a ghost inhabiting its own life. Elsewhere the strings become increasingly austere and dissonant, carrying tensions that the vocal refuses to dramatise. One song ends like a CRT screen collapsing to a point. Another spirals into something resembling an anxiety loop. Throughout, there is a recurring sense of damaged transmission: signals exist, but connections fail. What fascinated me most, though, was Godrich. By the end I became increasingly aware of his fingerprints. Descending ostinatos. Harmonic drift. Frayed endings. Songs that refuse to resolve cleanly. A nagging sense of forward motion without arrival. Sometimes it is exactly what the material needs. At other moments I found myself hearing the producer’s habits as much as Beck’s songs. Perhaps that is why the album never fully landed for me. The emotional weather is vivid, but the human drama often remains obscured inside it. Compare it with the very greatest breakup records and you notice the difference. They populate their worlds with people. This album often populates its world with conditions. That sounds harsher than I intend it to. There is much to admire here. More than once I found myself stopping to appreciate a line, a texture, a string figure or a production choice. The album rewards attention. It rewards careful listening. It rewards thought. But admiration and attachment are not quite the same thing. In the end, I came away with enormous respect for what Beck and his collaborators achieved. I can hear why it matters to so many people. I can hear why it is often spoken of with reverence. I just never quite found the road that led me all the way in.
Boring, beautiful production but boring
When first hearing it I liked it but it grew on me even more after playing it a lot.
a little too slow for me but some good cinematic songs. favourite: end of the day - i like how it sounds like a broken ice cream truck
Little sleepy beck for me. not my fav
184. better than his other ones
Sea Change has always been hailed as one of Beck's best albums, and whilst I don't disagree that it's certainly one of his most consistent - and most emotionally affecting - it is something of an outlier during the peak of his career. Personally I find myself a bit cooler on it these days. I sort of wish he was still able to find a bit of space for his more eccentric music stylings as I do think this becomes a little one note towards the end. But despite that it remains a very accomplished record if not one of his best for me.
Very different sounding Beck. Toned-down Snow Patrol vibes. Nothing outstanding, but no duds on a chilled, decent album.
Good but way to dragged out. Would be a 4 if it was shorter
i don't really know what to think of it. i like the bits of orchestral quirkiness. spacey, vibey, sad in a good way. favorite is maybe Lost Cause. soft 3
A couple of melodic ballads are fine but an hour of them… too much.
not my type kinda right there really need a mood to love it
Standouts The Golden Age Guess I'm Doing Fine
3 / 5 Best: Paper Tiger Worst: Sunday Sun Weirdest: Sunday Sun, Little One Honorable Mentions: Guess I'm Doing Fine, Lonesome Tears, End Of The Day Very, very slow and depressing at times but nicely mixed overall. Clean guitar strumming and pretty great string instrumentation. Has a crisp autumn day feeling to it. Some neat bass lines peppered in if you can hang in there with Beck's post-breakup sadness.
It's. Just. Radiohead. Now, I still liked it. It's still very pretty with beautiful arrangements, and Beck's voice fits the music nicely. But the arrangements themselves, the chord progressions, the sound design, it's just goddamn Radiohead. This is what happens when you listen to Karma Police or Lucky or Nude or Fake Plastic Trees exclusively. When it doesn't remind me of them, it reminds me of Neil Young. So at least it's not a monolith. Only after typing that paragraph did I realize that the album was produced by Nigel Godrich, who also produced almost all of Radiohead's stuff. So I guess I can't place the blame entirely on Beck. But I still fear that the album is too derivative for me to get that much enjoyment out of it. Whenever I listened to it, I could only think about what I'd rather be listening to instead. But still, I didn't hate it. I just don't feel like I got a strong sense of what Beck is actually like. I just know where his music tastes lie.
Album #107, Sea Change, Beck ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don’t know, man. When your high watermark is something as impressive, interesting, fun, and endlessly replayable as Odelay, I expect a bit more than fairly basic, earnest singer-songwriter stuff. I’ve looked into the history of the album, I get it. It’s a breakup album. He went in a different direction. I would never bash an artist for trying something new, but for Beck, this just feels a bit too simple for me. It’s not the kind of music that I come to him for and I don’t really see why I’d come back to this when there are other artists who I think do this style a lot better. Bill Callahan, Tindersticks, Nick Drake to name a few. It gets three stars because there are definitely some really strong songs on it, especially at the start. The Golden Age and Paper Tiger open the album really, really well. My favourite track is Around the Bend, which reminded me of my beloved Scott Walker. The strings are nice, but it can be a bit dreary. I was never big into The National and this veers too close to that. It kind of turns into background music sometimes. It’s too long as well. I will say the production is excellent. When you really tune into it, it sounds fantastic. But I just found myself losing interest as it went on. So it’s a light three for me. It’s got none of the humour of Mellow Gold, and none of the weirdness or unpredictability that makes Beck so interesting to me in the first place. It’s totally competent and well made, don’t get me wrong, but I do think this is maybe an example of an artist having too many albums on the list. He already has Odelay (a masterpiece) and Guero, which I’ve yet to hear. Surely there are other artists with albums you need to hear before you die that deserve a spot over something like this. I suspect this will be a negatively received review, but it’s my review nonetheless.
Sort of a giant slow bummer. I like my Beck playful
A bit slow for my taste. Interesting instrumentation at time.
That was much better than I thought it would be. Wish it was the one with the sweater song though.
Voz que no conecta conmigo solamente en 2 canciones, entiendo que crea ese ambiente melancólico y la producción muy bien poco más que decir
It was the coolness of Beck, but mixed with a horrible post grunge vocal tone. I liked parts of it, but it missed the quirkiness I've enjoyed on his other albums. The back end was alright. 3 Stars
This album is like getting all excited to go out sailing on a nice sunny afternoon, only for the wind to die down fifteen minutes after you raise the mainsail. You're longing for that magical feeling of being well-headed with a stiff wind, and your friends who have come along are pumped up to see what all the fuss is about (you've been harping on about sailing for quite some time). But now here you are, sitting in the cockpit of you yacht, barely needing to hold the tiller because you aren't going anywhere. Your friends are laughing at you, but also pretty frustrated because they were expecting more. It's pretty pleasant, but not offering much.
We are in the middle of a late May heatwave and this is a great album for a hot sunny morning. It is so chilled, sea breeze would perhaps be as appropriate as Sea Change. The crescendo at the end of Lonesome Tears is almost Beatlesesque. This is Beck in full on acoustic singer songwriter mode. Generally its a really solid album with the occasional dip, yes Round the Bend, I am talking about you. Overall this is a 3.5/5 but i dont think it’s quite as strong as a 4 so 3/5
This feels like a less experimental, more stripped back version of Beck. A bit Wilco, very chilled and a lot different to Odelay which I previously loved. The backing vocals on The Golden Age reminded me of Mike Mills from R.E.M. so there's obviously bonus points for that. Adored the strings on Paper Tiger. I like the chorus of Sunday Sun a lot. Overall it is unfortunately a little too chill for my liking - I generally prefer a bit more upbeat, and while I think it's really beautiful in places, it does feel quite one-tempo. I like it, but would have preferred either a shorter album, or a bit more variety. 3/5
If you're used to older Beck, it'll be weird to hear live instrumentation here. This signaled the beginning of his artistic changes I guess, hance the album's title. Also quite emotional and personal, both in Beck's voice of course, but the lyrics too. Wistful, lonely, desolate, don't expect to hear the goofy white boy stuff you're used to hearing from Beck. It's kind of too much at a point, but I can also appreciate the emotional vulnerability and maturity that Beck displays here.
This is my second Beck album and I am once again annoyed at the list for giving certain (usually male) artists so many albums while women artists are left off completely or only have one album. Beck is fine, but not good enough to warrant the number of albums on this list. I love a good breakup album, and I have been known to love the “sad guy with a guitar” trope but Beck misses the mark. There are a few songs that break the dreary, samey mold- Lonesome Tears especially. But overall, this is incredibly boring.
I prefer a weirder brand of Beck.
3.0 Album was fine, Beck's vocals kinda surprised me here, pretty good and fit in with the songs. Sea Change makes some pretty tasty beers if you get your hands on some. Id rate the beer 4.2
so far i love, Guess i'm doing fine and lonesome tears
Surprisingly depressing
kind of boring, but better than “Morning Phase”
this was not as fun for my bus ride lol. beautiful though
Melancholy bois only. I enjoyed the backing music more than the lyrics. I’d give it a 2.5 but will round up to be nice.
lovely stuff
Interesting but bland
Good! Very mellow and acoustic. I don't love his voice....
Meh
Yusu beetje saai
I don't know. Too sad. Too slow. Too long. It gets the atmosphere, it gets the feeling, but you need to put something more on the table for me. The first song that made me think "I like this one" was the one that automatically started after the album ended. Turns out I really like Beck when he's in other artists projects. Not that much on his own.
I prefer my Beck to be lo-fi, angular and experimental. This Beck is acoustic and sad. I didn't mind it, but it doesn't reach purchase material levels. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 ★★★☆☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 320 Already owned : 72 Purchased : 15 To buy : 4 Nope : 229
Suena bien, pero demasiado lentorro
3.5
There’s bits I liked and bits I found a bit slow
Beck hace discos con altibajos, este es con bajosbajos. Me guardo Paper tiger, Guess I'm doing fine y Lost cause. Y se queda con 3 estrellas porque últimamente le doy 2 a cualquier cosa y este al menos tiene algo de interés. Lo mejor de este disco es que a ratos me ha recordado a Nick Drake.
Better than other Beck albums, I am surprised I find it so boring
This was alright, a little too long for a redundant downbeat album
Sad Beck is not my favorite Beck.
It was pretty, and sad, and didn't make much of an impression on me.
Really good album. Enjoyable. More consistent than earlier albums but no songs that get your attention…, like loser.
Best Track - "Lost Cause"
Pretty good
Ensinnäkin, ihan hirveä levynkansi. Jos entisajan Anttilan levypuolella olisi pitänyt valita mielenkiintoinen levy kansikuvan perusteella niin tämä ei olisi milloinkaan tullut mulla valituksi. Alkupuoli levystä kuulosti mielenkiintosemmalta mitä loppupuoli, levy vähä niinku väsähti. Välillä tuli jostain Nirvana-fibat.
Un album muy conceptual
Saaier dan we can Beck gewend zijn, wel enkele mooie liedjes
Beck is able to do something that Radiohead can’t, make a sad mournful album interesting to listen to
Es un buen álbum. Siento que está muy tranquilo y de pronto lo sentí tedioso. Nada contra los albumes tranquilos pero tal vez falta un poco de fuerza de vez en cuando
Aburrido pero no tan aburrido como otros, el anterior sin ir mas lejos. Si los otros son un 2.5 este es un 3. Te falta algo amigo beck, una vueltita de rosca y capaz que va bien ya. No queda guardado.
Out of all the Beck albums, why this one? It was mopey as fuck. I kept waiting for a Cell Phone Is Dead song or something cool. There were a couple of ok songs but overall this was a lame ass album. Hope Beck has found a new girlfriend and starts making better albums
It was chill and decent. Nothing really compelling.
Not my fav Beck album.
Ahh such downtrodden beck, always kinda is but with a little more pep in the step. Though I knew this one when it came up but not really I guess, tracks as it would not have excited 13 year old me 3+
Odelay kind of set Beck up to be the 90s version of David Bowie or David Byrne, and Guero furthered that idea but felt a little darker overall. I would have guessed this record was the third of the three I've mentioned, but it was released in the middle. Weird! It's an aptly named record for Beck's transition to simpler and more emotionally charged songwriting. Guero makes more sense as a "return to form" record now, in that it gets back into more experimentation again. I'm not sure what to make of this one though... I understand why critics would have liked it, but I'm not sure it totally connects with me. Perhaps I need to listen to even more Beck albums to appreciate what's happening here? If I rated Guero a 3, that's gotta be the ceiling for this record too.
*2002. *Sad, somber album. Sounds a lot like the Rhett miller album that came out the same year. *I only knew one song - Lost Cause. *Overall fine, but forgettable. RATING - 6.5/10
Beck's sad breakup album. Totally different sound for him than prior albums. Some songs sound like Nick Drake, some a little like a Nirvana ballad. It's good, but nothing truly great. Pitchfork: 6.9 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #436 (2020)
perfectly okay album to have on while you're working. Not extraordinary; not disappointing.
Tranquilo y relajante. Me gustó pero siento que es un mood muy especifico. Algunas canciones medio largas.
More a general wave of chill vibes than what we'd come to expect from a Beck album, I always come away from this one relaxed and unsure if there was a single track that stood out. Not necessarily a criticism; when you're looking for that kind of thing, this one fills the order.
Bij Beck heb ik soms het "Eels-gevoel". Soms wel, Soms niet. Nu is het momenteel "Niet"... Morgen een nieuwe dag. Een neutrale 3...
By all fairness, this is a gorgeous listen. The instrumentation is beautiful, Beck’s vocals—while not my favorite—convey the deep melancholy this album’s going for. It’s just mush to me. Melancholic mush. I’ve never been a fan of sad-boy-with-acoustic-guitar music. I don’t think I’d listen to the entire album again, but there were many individual songs I’d play, like Paper Tiger and Sunday Sun.
Kinda mid, the production is nice and it’s filled with ear candy but I hate his voice and honestly this is not my favorite style in the slightest. The end of the album is the best part, this end made up for the first half of the album. I loved the guitar riff on already dead. 4/5
buen album para ponerlo de background y trabaja. creo que ninguna canción es realmente rescatable. A veces con toques de NIRVANA
The sea will rock you to sleep.
Never followed Beck. No good reason why. So, this is pretty much my introduction to him. The songwriting is excellent and heartfelt. Breakups are painful and he expresses that eloquently. The music and production are are brilliant. Liked it very much.
5.5/10 Beck throws songwriting and composition standards out the window on this album, which is clearly an artistic release for what was a low point in his life. Most songs have no defined chorus, monotonous delivery, and all of them are particularly sad. It's a good album that is somewhat difficult to get through as there's just so much sad in here without reprieve. The raw acoustic guitar tracks seemed to grab my attention the best. Lost Cause, The Golden Age and Guess I'm Doing Fine were my favourites. Overall it was a nice, albeit sad listen. Best track: Lost Cause Will I revisit?: No
I wouldn't be a good friend to Beck Because I'm really not interested in listening to sad Beck. I'm sorry Beck. How about I give you three stars instead of two? Would that cheer you up at all?
It gives a sad chill vibe, like when you are in your room smoking and looking at the ceiling, it's the kind of vibe this album bring, and it also a calm serenate one, you can listening while you are reading a book o Just doing something else
Fine. The arrangements were cool I guess. I really didn't like this as much as Guero. Decent but not incredible.
I enjoy this version of toned down beck much better but still doesn't seem that impressive of a recording- there are many deep cut folk and country rock records that do a better job of conveying the same message
Würde ich auf jeden Fall nochmal hören! Schön entspannend. Finde das Cover hat auch was! Gefällt mir. Wobei die Lieder alle immer bisschen zu lang sind. Also zieht sich dann immer.
Probably my favourite Beck album so far (heard quite a few already, not sure if this is the last one.) It's quite melancholic and dreamy, it's the perfect album if just want to feel the just plain old sadness. It's different from other Beck albums I've heard (Odelay and Guero) in that it's not eclectic, but who cares, an album with just lovely arrangements that do nothing but enhance the sorrow that is expressed on the album. Highlight Song/s: "Sunday Sun"
While this is not Beck album I would have chosen for this list, it’s a melodic and fun listen.
not as good as odelay
Sad Beck is better than shitty rapping beck Will I listen to again: 10%
A little sad. Overall good but a bit to downbeat and melancholy. The track Lost Cause was a standout.
I like his party albums but Beck is nonetheless a genius.
Muy tranquilo,de ambiente,agradable
"It must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can" ~ Florence Welch (who is missing from the list) Didn't mind this! Very nice actual music. Couldn't really tell what he was moaning on about, but it didn't distract from just listening to the music in the background. Good!
Great album. Already heard it many times, downloaded and passed down from my pops.
Not my favorite Beck album
Sad and slow
A depressing journey. You find yourself surrounded by an overwhelming, noisy combination of chords and words that touch the darkest parts of us. Sad is the sea of change.
Good, just maybe not the right time for it for me
J’ai bien aimé l’ambiance mais je ne l’ai pas trouvé très marquant.
Album muy melancólico. Buena voz y letras. No es movido, más bien muy tranquilizador. Lo que sí senti que las estructuras de las canciones se hicieron repetitivas
A reflective, bleak, low-key, semi acoustic album. A good, three-star album. 1 "The Golden Age" (4/5) 2 "Paper Tiger" (3/5) 3 "Guess I'm Doing Fine" (3/5) 4 "Lonesome Tears" (3/5) 5 "Lost Cause" (3/5) 6 "End of the Day" (3/5) 7 "It's All In Your Mind" (3/5) 8 "Round The Bend" (3/5) 9 "Already Dead" (3/5) 10 "Sunday Sun" (3/5) 11 "Little One" (3/5) 12 "Side of the Road" (3/5) Total - 37 Average - 3.08 298/1001 160/298 albums reviewed were new to me
This was new to me, having not really kept up with Beck after Midnite Vultures. Really enjoyed it, would definitely listen again.
A few really great tracks on this (Lost Cause being my favorite). I wanted more memorable choruses, though, and a bit more range tempo-wise. 3.5 rounding down.
Favorite track(s): Paper Tiger, Lost Cause, Already Dead, Sunday Sun
This reminded me a lot of Nick Drake, and I should have liked it more than I did. I should come back and give this another shot sometime, but it didn't do anything for me at the time
this was fine. good music sometimes. his voice made me want to yawn but not in a bad way?
me dio vibes el mato, nada más que sin la onda más electrónica de el mato. me gustó pero no conecte mucho
Enjoyed the blend of traditional countrified acoustic guitars with synths and spacey effects. Strong 3.5
me encantó, muy chill, profundo, deep pero no tanto. no lo conocía, lo volvería a escuchar
It wasn't bad but after listening to the whole album I can't say anything really stood out...
This is gonna take more listens to really get
Tenés que estar en un mood muy específico para realmente disfrutarlo. La música lenta, no pretenciosa y triste me parece preciosa, aunque ahora no estoy en un momento de mi vida en que me identifique. Es por eso que le daré otra oportunidad en el futuro.
Whenever I listen to Beck – which is rare, I confess – I find myself thinking that I ought to listen to more of his music. Or that it just doesn’t move me. This album is certainly one of his best. Beautifully sad, a love child of the Velvet Underground’s debut and early Radiohead, slightly drunk, introvert and definitely depressive. And yes, I understand why he was (or is?) such an important figure during the decline of rock music, and I do like what I hear. But even this album doesn’t quite resonate with me. Maybe I'm getting too old for this kind of music. Or I just have enough of this music in my collection. Still, I’ll put it on my to-listen-again list.
not my type of music but i could see the hype
Pleasant, but not a single standout song
Meh roots/country album
it was okay, they have better songs
Good; pleasant listen but maybe a bit dull
meh
Not really a fan of Beck, a little too run at the mill. Composition and production quality is redeeming though
A nice chill salve for a stressful day. Beck is cool as
vibe
While at first I thought it would be a sad and whiny album, it was not bad at all. But it still was sad and whiny. I particularly Paper Tiger, found myself listening to it quite a few times.
Was OK but a bit slow and mellow for me.
Pretty chill album with some good moments
It starts off a bit plain but by 'Round The Bend' I started to get into it more. There was one song that sounded almost like it could have been a Nick Drake song. I only owned 'Odelay' so that's really all I know of Beck outside of 'Loser'
Pretty calming, It's All In Your Mind was my stand out. Don't remember a lot though. 5.5/10.
Not my bag really but certainly not a bad album
I could take it or I could leave it or I could could it or take could take it
was alright i guess
Melancholic but not gloomy Nice production A little overlong given the fact that the subject matter and overall sound of each song is fairly similiar. Overall, worth hearing but not going to be in my regular rotation.
Sad melancholic, but good
Très difficile de noter, ce n'est pas mon style mais je n'ai pas détesté donc on va dire 3, c'était chouette à découvrir dans tous les cas !
I never really paid much attention to Beck. I suppose because he was just such a staple of 90’s-00’s radio rock. This is a decent record but I don’t know if I’d placed it in the top 1001. But I’m not really in the mood for something like this today so it’s worth a relisten.
It was okay
A melancholy, acoustic album of break-up songs, a change of direction for Beck at the time, or so it seems, I don't know because I've never really listened to him. Anyway it's a pleasant enough listen.