Every musician looks to push the boundaries and explore the musical unknown as they continue their career. Keeping things interesting is how an artist stays at the forefront. Musical genius Beck has once again delivered with his ninth studio album, “The Information.”
Early reports stated it was to be a hip-hop album with influences from his work with producer Nigel Godrich. Anyone who knows something about Beck’s career knew that these reports weren’t too helpful.
Beck doesn’t stick to hip-hop norms, or even his own. He is a walking musical genre.
Beck’s newest album, “The Information,” is an hour-long saga that is messy and perfectly-off-the-wall. The album hops from kooky and unconventional tracks like “Cellphone’s Dead,” to traditional guitar and piano driven songs like “Strange Apparition” without the listener thinking twice.
The bumping percussion and ambient soundscape of the album guides listeners into Beck’s freak show and Godrich’s ghostly and psychedelic electronic eruptions keep everyone guessing.
It’ll take at least two listens to absorb all that the album offers.
The album is openly innovative and clearly reminiscent of the roots that made every previous Beck record unique at the same time. The opener, “Elevator Music,” displays his signature goofy rap flow and even goofier lyrics: “I shake a leg on the ground / Like an epileptic battery man.”
Another track, “Movie Theme,” has Beck inviting us back to his introspective side, with music that forces the mind to let go and just drift. He hasn’t lost his ability to not only draw in a listener, but to connect with them.
The album is packed with a diverse array of sounds and beats. It is layered with lyrics about other-worldly beings and places, as well as the journey to new spiritual grounds.
Beck forges ahead yet again, even managing to throw his own twist on poppier songs like “I Think I’m In Love,” which could stand on their own against any of the songs that dominate radio play.
“The Information” will reach out and grab new fans like all of Beck’s records do, but his extreme creativity may also turn people off.
As a musical chameleon, he isn’t necessarily easy to keep up with and he can’t always be accessible. It’s worth the hour, and the album comes with a blank cover and stickers to decorate it with. On top of that, it comes with a DVD complete with music videos for each song. Go for it!
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