IN REVIEW: Beck - "Morning Phase"

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Of all the varied and eclectic of Beck's albums, perhaps none was more of a left turn than 2002's Sea Change. When it was released, critics stood agape at its rawness and emotion. Go figure: after almost a decade of pushing limits with slacker folk, warped hip-hop and gonzo disco groove, his serious singer/songwriter turn was the one that they didn't see coming.

Still, Sea Change is arguably Beck's most well-received album; a heartbroken and haunted set of tunes, it (perhaps more than any other Beck album) demands a specific mood. It won't have any of your good times, optimism or foot tapping, as there's nary an upbeat number to be found. The songs are pulled off wonderfully, but they're almost alienating in their relentless sullenness. As someone who prefers bold, genre-defying Beck to moody, despaired Beck, it's not one of my favourites even though I respect its vision.

So, when Morning Phase was heavily compared in advance press to Sea Change, I couldn't help but lower expectations. This isn't just because I'm not personally a fan of Sea Change; more so, why try to follow up what many consider your greatest work with something that aspires to be so similar? Especially once you've forfeited the element of surprise that Sea Change had going for it?

To be fair to fans (and to flip off mainstream press of the record), Morning Phase isn't quite the "sequel" it has been advertised as in some circles. It's a slow record, to be sure, and one that favours quiet reflection over wild experimentation, but that's where the similarities start to dry up. More relaxed and assured than vulnerable and hopeless, Morning Phase isn't born of the same heartache and fears that Sea Change was. An album like that can only come from one place at one time, so it's a foolish and contrived endeavour to try and replicate it.

Heart Is A Drum is enough of an illustration of the differences between the two albums, a mid-tempo ray of sunshine that sounds like Slayer compared to Sea Change's fastest numbers. Also, the use of orchestration on several tracks (especially around the album's midsection) is a clear sign of separation. Many songs that would have been stark, cold tunes on Sea Change reach for the stars here, shimmering with dramatic flourish.

Overall, by using more colour and a greater variety of tempos, Morning Phase is a more enjoyable album than Sea Change. However, these moments of enjoyment are brief entries into a sum that's more ballad than breezy. Moreover, when compared to albums that are NOT Sea Change, it still feels especially timid and sluggish. Call me a stubborn old goat, but after waiting about six years between studio albums I'm a bit let down; I wanted reason to be excited for Morning Phase, but I'm afraid excitement isn't what Beck's looking for this time around.

February 25, 2014 • Capitol
Highlights Morning • Heart is a Drum • Blue Moon

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