Beck Modern Guilt
Interscope
2008
Why is Beck such a mystery in 2008? Beck Hansen is one of the most important artists in the last twenty years; he single-handedly molded elements of hip-hop, Latin, folk and rock into mainstream success of Odelay. But ask about Modern Guilt and most will say Beck, who? It's such a shame. Though Modern Guilt may be missing on many 2008 year end lists, here at Treble, we recognize the importance of this ever-evolving artist and his collaboration with Danger Mouse. Modern Guilt is an album that percolates inside and slowly takes you over. Songs like "Gamma Ray" and the title track captivate you with their addicting back beats. But it's the dark lyrics that linger inside: "Misapprehension is turning into conversation/ don't know what I've done but I feel ashamed." It's as if Beck feels claustrophobic inside of his persona and he's looking for a way out from the past that haunt him so. On Modern Guilt, it feels like Beck is slowly stripping away all of his sampled studio gimmicks that made him infamous. I'm looking forward to the next step in the evolutionary phase in Beck's career. Who knows where he's going, but if songs like "Volcano" and lyrics like "I don't know where I've been/ but I know where I'm going…" is any indication, we're starting to see the true Beck coming into light, and what we're hearing is luminous and incendiary.
Adrian Ernesto Cepeda
12.15.2008
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