Beck's Guero: Give the White Boy a Chance

18 Features April 12, 2005 THE RETRIEVER Beck’s Guero: Give the white boy a chance I tend to expect a become synonymous with the album as a “Broken Drum,” and “Go It Alone” are wel- lot from Beck, ever whole, I wrote it off as a moderately come interludes between the grooves of the since I first heard mediocre effort. But, mark my words, that’s middle and latter halves of the album. “The New Pollution” the last time I will refer to the album as When I bought Guero a week ago as a when I was 12; he mediocre. Like all great albums – cost-effective experiment, I was attracted by was someone I could Pavement’s Brighten the Corners, Smog’s Beck’s ability to capture an audience. While enjoy by myself and Dongs of Sevotion – Guero is one that you the album took a few listens to set in, don’t in a group, and he return to, every time anxious to hear a dif- write it off. The pizzazz of his prior album’s was also someone ferent song. Sometimes, even when you stylistic revolutions are present in his that people would want to stop after the third or fourth song newest product; however they reveal them- “ooh” and “aah” in to switch albums, you get so caught up in selves one listen at a time. passing after finding the introductory hook of the next track that out I owned a couple you forget to change albums altogether. Oliver Baranczyk is the Business Editor of his records. I On Guero, Beck samples the Beastie at the Retriever. He can be reached for com- bought Mutations Boys’ “So What’cha Want” and employs a ment at [email protected]. sight unseen, expect- killer blues bass riff from Jack ing the formal fol- White, as well as a banjo riff with Courtesy of beck.com low-up to Odelay but Nintendo-esque background Midnite vulture: Beck has a ‘beautiful way’ with the guitar, his voice, and getting something beats. Perhaps the best part about dozens of instruments. completely different: Beck is that a variety of people a charming, sobering, really enjoy his music. OLIVER BARANCZYK country tinged algorithm of what makes me Subsequently, Beck seems to Retriever Editorial Staff like music. And Midnite Vultures was, and enjoy everyone else’s music and still is, the perfect New Year’s Eve album incorporates it to create his own “Oh, it’s Beck’s return to the style of and the party mix you create using only one style. “Go It Alone” could have music we really loved – its Odelay part two, artist. I’m not a huge fan of Sea Change, very well been a B-side to the right?” “He’s working with the Dust but I will give it credit for holding a steady White Stripes’ “Elephant” (see Brothers again – they helped him put mood and tone, but I can’t say I return to Jack White appearance) and “Qué together Odelay – the new album is going to that album often. Onda Guero” should appeal to all be incredible!” “He’s going to have more Guero seems to be the album between of Molotov’s fans. than just a guitar on this album, anything is the raw craziness of Odelay and the satiric Nevertheless, each listen of better than Sea Change.” funk of Midnite Vultures. But, of course, I this album, one that I have lis- I mean, I could really elaborate more would like to not start basing Guero as the tened to regularly since I impul- on the main points of what I have read product of any other Beck trend or process, sively snatched it up last week, for about Beck’s new album, Guero. And I read for it deserves more respect than that. $9.99 at Best Buy, has made me a lot of reviews. Yes, he is working again At first glance I thought the album a happier. The banjo twangs and with the Dust Brothers, who proved crucial little derivative of Beck’s former styles; addictive hooks (found on “Black in melding so many disparately related there is so much promise within every Beck Tambourine” and “Rental Car”) Courtesy of amazon.com styles into the one Beck album that every- album. Because I couldn’t single out more become more and more pro- No ‘Lost Cause’: Latest Beck release holds a treasure trove of one knows – and for good reason – Odelay. than three sure-fire anthems that would found. The subtlety of “Missing,” new sounds for listeners..

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