Beck becomes an upbeat “Guero”

Beck, the experimental alt-rocker of the ’90s who has been, at times, so eclectic that he defies classification, is back with a new album, “Guero,” which was released on March 29 on Interscope records. Some might be familiar with the record, as an unmixed version was leaked (some say intentionally) in late 2004, with 15-minute jams that were eventually pared down for the album cuts. The songs, though, still retain that signature Beck flavor that has kept listeners since the early 90s. Overall the record is a refreshing change from 2002’s “Sea Change” singer-songwriter (think: Bright Eyes) attitude, with upbeat numbers like “Girl” that include simple, catchy choruses. You may remember Beck from 1994’s “Mellow Gold,” which (excuse the pun) struck gold by fusing indie-pop, lo-fi and electronica in a swirl of contemporary psychedelia, and gave us the single “Loser,” which taught me a little Spanish at least. Beck is in his mid-30s now, and has become a father in the meantime. For some this might spell doom for a pop music career (if Beck can be legitimately called “pop”), but his new found perspective only serves to enhance the record as a whole, with bits of wisdom infused in his rapid-fire lyrics. The first track off the album, and the first single, “E-pro” is receiving a lot of rotation on VH1, MTV (when they play videos) and FUSE. Its wordless chorus and heavy, droning guitars match perfectly with the quirky Atari feel of the video. The title track, “Guero” (slang for a white guy) comes from Beck’s childhood in Los Angeles, and includes a Latin beat and a melody that could very well come from the horn of an old Cadillac, with plenty of “atmospheric” vocals. Some highlights on “Guero” include “Missing,” an upbeat bossa nova number, that is, a mix of American jazz and Brazilian samba, with elegant string arrangements reminiscent of Nick Drake’s “Bryter Layer,” “Black Tambourine,” which borrows a bassline from Deep Purple, and “Earthquake Weather,” that is drawn from Beck’s funk influences. Beck’s “Guero” has been hailed by fans as a sequel to the very popular “Odelay” from 1996, and it very well might prove to be, in sound and in sales. Be that as it may, Beck is back, at least for a while.