Others say...

"Beck's First Mature Album"
It's been a fun ride since Beck's earlier strange, exotic meanderings from folk to hard core to funk to noise blow out experiments and his mellow acoustic pit stops. But Beck has finally settled down into a real groove, thanks to his Danger Mouse collaboration, into a consistent sound that is the apotheosis of his previous work. Lyrically, it is as mature and insightful as Sea Change, but a lot more fun. There is still word play but hardly the out-of-left-field surreal imagery he's whipped out in the Odelay or Midnite Vulture days, but worry not; there are still plenty of creative juxtapositions to remind you that, yes, it's Beck. Stand out tracks: the old school rock and roll of 'Gamma Ray', the psychedelia of 'Chemtrails', the electronic funk of 'Youthless', the glitch-inspired 'Replica' and the immensely beautiful 'Volcano'. Beck is aging gracefully and it's good for music lovers.

"just ok"
as a big Beck fan, I gotta say I was slightly disappointed. not a lot of hits on here. just ok. seems like Beck's every other CD is good. this is not as good as The Information but better than Midnite Vultures.

"RI (and only if) YL"
how Beck would sound with Danger Mouse producing. I love (or seem to love) almost anything that Danger Mouse produces - his update on the general sound vibe of the '60's is something that never seems to get old for me (and he always seems to make his albums under 40 minutes or so).

Danger Mouse gets the first mention because Beck's sound is ALWAYS different. There's always something to get into your system upon the first listen or so, there's a good distorto-track ("Walls") with some good lyrics about ego destruction that could operate as the sequel to "Just A Thought" from "St. Elsewhere".

I like it because after "The Information" I dismissed "Guero" as being too light. This one got me to listen to the lyrics as well as the production and I remembered a mention about "Guero"'s happy soundscapes belying (sp?) the darkness in the lyrics, so I went back and appreciated (the?) "Guero" more.

If you like Beck and buy his CDs when they come out (like me), you probably already have this one - but I think this one is up there with "Mellow Gold" and (maybe?) "One Foot In The Grave" as far as Not Knowing What To Expect meeting up with Pleasant Surprise to hang out for a night, talking conspiracy theories ("Chemtrails"), politics, technology and distribution of affluence ("Modern Guilt") and crashing at one's place (Volcano") after the other realizes that everything's about to change ("Walls").

"Misunderstandings of the Experimental Music Genre"
If I may say that I'm a pure-at-heart-lover of real music...meaning this, I pretty much have to like ALL of the songs on a individual(s) album before I buy it. I've read some of the reviews after buying and listening to the album...and I truely feel that some on too critcal when it comes to this album. All Beck's doing is finding another route as of music...most of the songs of Modern Guilt sound like some of his past work but with a twist and the lack of his usual one-liners and jokes. I mean those that are saying they are fans can't really be because if they were they would know that this album is part of the experimental genre...which as he claims himself to be...or maybe some people don't know what the definition of experimental music means. Perhaps bring more experimental/electronica to his sound was a mistake to the critics...then again that's a mistake with most artists that been out for years and trying something new...a gamble of music...they either win with the fans or don't...Beck has surely won with me. So for those that are trying to get into Beck...you don't have to listen to Odelay and Guero first...you have to be into the genres of experimental and electronica...if you're not then don't buy the album, period.

"Electronic Psych-rock"
If you have any experience with Beck's music you know his lyrics are always interesting and unlike most other musicians. This album is no different offering Beck's obscure lyrics, explosive sound, and synthesized beats. Several of the songs have a psychedelic feel to them including the opener Orphans. Gamma Ray, one of my favorites starts off like the theme to a James Bond film then kicks into an infectious groove. Chemtrails starts off slow, with a soft vocal then opens up into a rockin' drum track. Modern Guilt is also one of my favs, starts off with a distorted drum beat, adds piano, a mellow vocal then includes a cool guitar riff. Youthless is next with all kinds of synthesized beats wrapped around lyrical melodies. Beck uses words that rhyme together to fill the vocal track alot, but it works. The next two tracks are my least favorite with Walls being just over 2 minutes. On Soul of a Man it starts out with a odd mix of bass & drum which takes a few listens to get into, this became one of my favs quickly. Profanity Prayers is one of the best tracks on this record... it begins with a hammering drum track followed by Beck singing about spiritual concern, in midsong breaks into a slide guitar solo then crosses to electric guitar riffs and finishes out strong. The final track slows down from the rest of the album, with a song that tells us about someone who's at a breaking point in their life and possibly on the verge of soul searching.

To sum up... essential Beck with more of a rock sound overall. The usual beeps, synth sounds, and out of the world lyrics. Also very hard hitting bass different than previous albums. When played on an amplified system the bass sometimes seems too much, although it fits the rest of the record. Compared to Becks last album 'the Information' which has a much smoother sound, Modern Guilt brings out the electronic rock that has been heard on a handful of tracks from Beck's older records. Maybe not the best album he's put out recently but definitely superior to most music that's being produced these days.