Day 47: Beck - Morning Phase

Artist:   Beck
Album:  Morning Phase
Source:  http://www.npr.org/2014/02/16/274773496/first-listen-beck-morning-phase

Pre-listening Notes:  Today I have something that I've been kind of excited to hear since the first single was released.  Beck's new album!  Beck has been making music for a long time.  He had two albums out before he got more mainstream recognition with the song Loser.  Then he put out an album, which flew sort of under the radar, before really exploding with Odelay.  Since that album, though, he has never really reached that level again, however he has been a critical darling and has put out some outstanding albums, with Midnight Vultures being my favorite, but pretty much every one has it's merits.  This is his twelfth record and the early word is that it is outstanding.  So yeah, Beck.       

Initial Reaction:  After a quick intro, acoustic guitar starts it off, nice mellow tune with vocals kicking in and fitting in very nicely.  Nice choruses, it picks up the mood a little during these parts, but this first song has a real melancholy vibe to it.

Random Thoughts:  Definitely a more mellow vibe going on here.  This song has a little more a peppier feel to it, though, than the first song.  Some nice piano mixed into this too.  I get the impression that this whole thing is going to be acoustic.  This next song, Say Goodbye, is shaping up to be one of the stronger tracks so far.  There is a simplicity to this that I am really loving.  So far, this record is really impressing me.  It's pretty mellow, but the songs remain pretty interesting.  I've lost track of what song I am on, but it's okay, because I am really enjoying this all.  Nevermind, the NPR write up just told me the last song was Wave, which was just was an ambient song with Beck singing "Isolation" over and over.  And the song, Blackbird Chain, is another really strong, standout song.  The album goes out on another great song, Waking Light.  This is the song I have been listening to over and over.

Final Reaction:  This is a fantastic record.  You have to probably be in the mood for something this mellow, or does something this mellow put you in the mood?  I like something about every single song on this record.  The songs Say Goodbye, Wave, and Waking Light are the three best ones in my opinion, but I don't think any of those are being released as singles, at least not yet.  The word is that Beck wanted this to be a sequel to Sea Change, which some people think is not only Beck's best album, but put it on all kinds of lists.  Personally, I think this might be better.  I would recommend this to Beck fans and non-Beck fans alike.    

Final Grade:  9.5/10