Sea Change
by Beck

Maybe "Sea Change" connected with me at the perfect time or not, but this is one of the best albums about loss, helplessness, and trying to move on, but being not truly able to move forward yet. Over years of weekly listening, I've found that once you move past Beck's own story about the creation of this album, it has many pieces that are applicable to thew struggle of Depression day in and day out. Musically, this record is top notch: Nigel Godrich's production really brought out some great ideas from Beck, his father, and the band. From the Shepard Scale in "Lonesome Tears" and intricate guitar weave on "Already Dead" to the lush swell on "Little One", this is an album that demands repeated listening to understand the scope of thought that went into each piece and how they fit into the overall scheme of the album. The synth textures and space noises on "Golden Age" can sound like a car accelerating off into the night and the deadpan vocals are forlorn and depleted just like the narrator would be in that situation. There's an aching honesty that permeates the record until you feel swallowed up into the dark atmosphere. Maybe that is why I think "Little One" is so effectively placed. No matter the listener, start with "Golden Age", it's Beck's greatest song.

"Sea Change" is just the third Beck album I have come across, and among these three, it is by far the most melodic and most easily accessible. The other two are "Mellow Gold" and "Odelay" and on those two I was challenged on several tracks.

"Sea Change" is a rather subdued album with a strong roots point in both country and folk-music. Along the way I came to think of Nick Drake several times; and also artists Alex Chilton and Kurt Cobain might sources of inspiration for Beck, on tracks like "Side of the Road" and "Little One".

My great favorite song is "Lost Cause". A very melodic and quite catchy song, with evocative background sounds. The track was one of two singles pulled from the album and it did well both in the U.S. and in the U.K. ‘

The second single was "Guess I'm Doing Fine", which is a slightly melancholy and country-influenced song. A nice but also less remarkable song than "Lost Cause".

Among other songs that are worth highlighting is "Already Dead", which is so catchy that you might think you have heard the song before. Lovely acoustic guitar and one of the songs that reminds me of Nick Drake.

"End of the Day" is also very nice - melodic with a nice some quirky theme.

"Little One" was a track that reminded me a bit of Kurt Cobain's more subdued tracks from "Nevermind" and "In Utero".

"Sea Change" has to a great extent changed my impression of Beck as an artist, and he now appears to me far more nuanced than before my meeting with this great album. (Edited)

From junodog4 TOP 100 COMMENTER 04/29/2012 00:28 | #41156 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Other artists could learn from Beck. He lays himself out for this album. Bares all. This is so very sad, and not in the cliched ways attempted by other artists. You feel and understand his pain without taking ownership of it - it's his. Beck is remarkable.

From Mdemauri 04/29/2014 16:46 | #110352 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Currently listening to this album on a rainy day and it fits the mood perfectly. So different from other Beck albums, just his singing voice, acoustic guitar and orchestral arrangements, playing straight forward songs. Highly recommended if you are going through a break up, or even if you are not!

Stands as one of the best he has put out. It's got quiet buttferly in the cave of the human mind. It doesn't disturb and doesn't get the party started. It simply thinks. reminisces to the the time they stood on that cliff looking out to sea and the private beach below. No one was allowed to swim there. No people can't even leave there flats. Got a desperation for the intrapment of modern life quite like Ok Computer. However this is mostly the work of one man, slumped by the wall. Sad and hurt inside but all still there. In one piece. Stabbing for courage before they take the food rations away. Take a shot. I won't mention any of the songs as they wash into a sea of pale slumber. It's a pleasant journey though.