If there is one thing Beck Hansen had this past Tuesday, it was a reason to celebrate.
Not only did the singer-songwriter turn 38 years old, but his eighth studio album, Modern Guilt, hit stores. And if wisdom truly does follow age, then it is no accident Beck's latest should arrive as the artist steps closer toward middle age - the fittingly titled album is possibly Beck's most thoughtful, introverted effort yet.
Modern Guilt, on which Beck collaborated with producer Danger Mouse, carries the tinge of 1960s British rock, resonating strongly with the sound of The Beatles and early Pink Floyd. Not so much a drastic departure from his previous albums as it is a retooling of emphasis, Modern Guilt is at its best when Beck highlights his psychedelic rock influences in the singles "Chemtrails" and "Gamma Ray."
Known less for the range of his pipes than for the creativity of his style, Beck brings a welcome change of pace with the slow, choir-like vocals on "Chemtrails." The more upbeat "Gamma Ray" has the sort of appealing hook that made recent Beck singles, like "Girl" and "Nausea," successful.
With Modern Guilt, Beck penned lyrics that constantly cross between provocative social criticism and meticulous introspection. Beck hints at anti-war feelings while singing during "Youthless" about "a plastic hand grenade/ That tried to turn emotion into noise."
Some may dispute that Modern Guilt borders on self-indulgence, and there may be some merit to that argument. But the beauty with Beck is even if he is making the music for himself, he can still draw you in with his imaginative instincts. And with 20 years of experience and eight albums on his resumé, Beck has proven his instincts are worth following.